Original subtitles

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,

THE BIGGEST WARSHIP EVER BUILT \h\h\h\hFOR THE UNITED KINGDOM.

\h\h\h\h\hLONGER THAN THREE FOOTBALL FIELDS

AND STANDING TALLER THAN NIAGARA FALLS.

IT’S TAKEN 10,000 WORKERS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hEIGHT YEARS

\hTO BUILD BRITAIN’S FIRST SUPERCARRIER.

\hMan: PUTTING THE GREAT BACK INTO GREAT BRITAIN.

WHAT A WONDERFUL THING \h\h\h\hTO BE PART OF.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT AS THIS GARGANTUAN CARRIER TAKES SHAPE

AND PREPARES FOR SEA,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHERE IS ONE VITAL MISSING INGREDIENT.

\h\h\h\hMan: THE SHIP IS JUST A METAL BOX.

IT’S ONLY WHEN YOU ADD IN \h\h\hTHE HUMAN COMPONENT

OF BLOOD AND FLESH

DOES IT BECOME A WARSHIP.

\h\h\hNarrator: THIS IS THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY

OF THE MEN AND WOMEN

WHO MUST BREATHE LIFE INTO THE SUPERCARRIER.

[OFFICER SHOUTING COMMAND]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: HOW WILL THESE NAVAL PIONEERS

\h\hTRANSFORM HER FROM FLOATING BUILDING SITE

TO FRONT-LINE SHIP OF WAR?

FROM GALLEYS TO GUNS?

AND FROM POWER PLANTS \h\h\hTO PROPELLERS?

IT WON’T BE CLEAR SAILING.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

Man over loudspeaker: \h\hFIRE, FIRE, FIRE.

[BOOM]

FLOOD, FLOOD, FLOOD \h\hIN EIGHT-ROMEO.

\h\hMan: CASUALTY, CASUALTY, CASUALTY!

Narrator: WITH EXCLUSIVE ACCESS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOVER TWO YEARS,

NOTHING IS HIDDEN \hFROM THE CAMERA

AS THE SHIP AND HER SAILORS ARE \hPUSHED TO THE BREAKING POINT.

\hMan: IF ANYONE THINKS IT’S EASY,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEN THEY’RE... THEY’RE FOOLING THEMSELVES.

THIS IS TOUGH STUFF.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THIS IS THE INSIDE STORY

OF BRITAIN’S FIRST SUPERCARRIER.

♪

MAY 24, 2016.

\h\h\h\hHMS QUEEN ELIZABETH IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION

IN ROSYTH DOCKYARD \h\h\hIN SCOTLAND.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SHIPBUILDERS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK

TO GET THE SUPERCARRIER READY

FOR HER CRITICAL SEA TRIALS \h\h\hIN ABOUT NINE MONTHS.

\h\hMANY OF THE SAILORS WHO WILL BE CREWING HER

HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED.

AND TODAY, ONE MORE SAILOR

\h\h\h\h\h\hWILL ADD TO THEIR GROWING NUMBERS.

BUT NO ORDINARY SAILOR.

Man: COMMANDING OFFICER \h\h\hAPPROACHING, SIR!

♪

Narrator: 49-YEAR-OLD JERRY KYD

\h\hCOMMANDED BRITAIN’S LAST AIRCRAFT CARRIERS,

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS AND ARK ROYAL.

Man: RIGHT!

HALT!

Narrator: BUT THEY WERE \h\hA THIRD OF THE SIZE

OF QUEEN ELIZABETH,

\hTHE SHIP THAT CAPTAIN KYD WILL TAKE TO SEA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Jerry Kyd: RIGHT.

WELL, GOOD MORNING, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.

I’M NOT SURE, GUYS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHERE HAS BEEN A PEACETIME ROYAL NAVAL CREW

WITH AS MUCH EXPECTATION \hAND AS MUCH EXCITEMENT

THAT CURRENTLY RESTS \h\hON OUR SHOULDERS

PROBABLY IN THE LAST COUPLE \h\h\h\h\hOF HUNDRED YEARS.

THE WORLD AT THE MOMENT \h\h\hIS PRETTY FRISKY.

THERE IS LOTS AND LOTS \h\h\h\hOF TURBULENCE,

SECURITY THREATS EVERYWHERE.

\hAND SO THEREFORE IT IS OUR MISSION

TO GET QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\hIN THE FRONT LINE

AS SOON AS WE CAN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION,

\h\h\hTHE SHIP IS MOSTLY OUT OF BOUNDS TO SAILORS,

BUT EVERY NEW ARRIVAL, INCLUDING THE CAPTAIN,

GETS A SHORT TOUR.

Kyd: IT’S STARTING TO COME TOGETHER.

\h\h\hYOU CAN START SEEING THE FABRIC OF THE SHIP NOW

BEING FINISHED OFF.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: MANY OF THE NEW ARRIVALS

ARE SO-CALLED "BABY SAILORS," \h\h\hFRESH OUT OF TRAINING.

Man: JUST FORM A SEMI-CIRCLE \h\h\hROUND HERE, THEN, TEAM.

WE’VE GOT A RARE TREAT TODAY.

IF YOU LOOK UP ON THE MASTS \h\h\h\h\hAS YOU WALK DOWN,

ON THE AFTER MAST YOU HAVE \h\hOUR MEDIUM-RANGE RADAR,

\h\h\h\h\hWHICH IS TURNING AND BURNING AT THE MOMENT.

EVERYBODY HAPPY?

GOGGLES UP THEN, TEAM. \h\h\h\h\h\hGOGGLES UP.

Narrator: WHETHER THESE SAILORS \hSERVE FOR TWO YEARS OR TWENTY,

MUCH OF THEIR CAREER \h\h\hCOULD BE SPENT

ON THE SHIP THEY’RE SEEING FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY.

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH WILL BE \hIN SERVICE FOR 50 YEARS,

MEANING HER FINAL CAPTAIN \hHAS NOT YET BEEN BORN.

\h\hKyd: ALRIGHT, KEEP GOING, YEAH?

Man: SO, JUST TAKE A FEW MINUTES

\h\h\h\h\hTO JUST HAVE A LOOK AT THE SIZE OF YOUR PLATFORM

THAT YOU’RE GONNA SPEND MOST OF YOUR CAREER ON.

JUST HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU’RE GONNA BE PART OF.

Interviewer: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

\hWoman: I DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO THINK, TO BE HONEST.

Man: IT’S REALLY HUGE, ISN’T IT?

Man: YEAH, IT’S MASSIVE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hInterviewer: YOU LOOK LIKE YOU’RE IN SHOCK.

Woman: I AM A BIT.

Kyd: I’M SORRY IF WE’RE GETTING IN YOUR WAY NOW.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE \h\h\h\hA BED OF ROSES.

\h\h\hIT’S AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT THINGS WON’T GO AS PLANNED.

IF YOU WERE BUILDING A NEW CAR,

OR A NEW JET LINER,

OR A NEW MOBILE PHONE,

\h\hUH, YOU WOULD HAVE HUNDREDS OF PROTOTYPES,

EACH ONE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER

\h\h\h\h\hUNTIL FINALLY THE PRODUCT’S ACCEPTED.

\h\h\hYOU GO, "THAT’S THE ONE. IT’S NOW FAULTLESS, IT WORKS."

AND THEN YOU MASS-PRODUCE IT AND SELL IT TO THE CUSTOMER.

AH. WE DON’T DO THAT WITH SHIPS.

IT’S JUST TOO EXPENSIVE.

\h\h\hSO, THIS SHIP IS FIRST OF A KIND.

\h\h\hIT’S THE PROTOTYPE AND THE FINISHED PRODUCT

AND THE ONE THAT’S GONNA \h\h\hGO AROUND THE WORLD

FOR FIVE DECADES, ALL AT ONCE.

\h\h\hInterviewer: NO PRESSURE, THEN.

\h\h\hKyd: THERE’S NEVER ANY PRESSURE IN THE NAVY.

Man: JUST WATCH YOUR FOOTING

AS YOU’RE COMING UP \hTHE STEPS, TEAM.

IT IS A BUILDING SITE,

THERE IS LOADS OF TRIP HAZARDS.

RIGHT, WELCOME ABOARD \hHMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,

THE BIGGEST PROJECT THE NAVY \hHAS EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN,

\h\h\h\hTHE BIGGEST SHIP THE NAVY HAS EVER BUILT.

Narrator: THE QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\hIS SPLIT INTO 17 DECKS--

EIGHT ABOVE THE FLIGHT DECK \h\h\h\h\h\hAND NINE BELOW.

SHE HAS FIVE MILES \h\hOF PASSAGEWAYS

AND OVER 3,000 COMPARTMENTS.

\h\h\h\hMan: THIS IS THE OPERATIONS ROOM.

\h\hEVERYTHING ON THIS SHIP REVOLVES AROUND THIS ROOM.

FULLY INTEGRATED COMMAND SYSTEM \h\h\h\h\hINTO WEAPON SYSTEMS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT’S AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AS WELL.

THIS HANGAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO HOLD 22 F-35 AIRCRAFT.

JUST DRESS IN THERE, TEAM.

ALL THE OTHER CABINS \h\hFOR JUNIOR RATES

ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.

\h\h\hTHEY HAVE GOT EIGHT BEDS IN THEM,

BUT THEY’RE ONLY HELD \h\hFOR SIX MEMBERS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSO YOU CAN FLIP ONE OF THE BEDS UP AS A SOFA.

LOADS OF ROOM FOR STOWAGE.

IT IS A HUGE AMOUNT COMPARED TO ANY OTHER SHIP WITHIN THE FLEET.

HAPPY DAYS.

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

\hHAS BEEN BUILT BY A CONSORTIUM OF BRITISH ENGINEERING COMPANIES

KNOWN AS THE AIRCRAFT \h\hCARRIER ALLIANCE.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE WITH THIS CARRIER

IS NOT SO MUCH HER TECHNOLOGY,

BUT THE WAY SHE’LL BE MANNED.

AN AMERICAN CARRIER \hOF A SIMILAR SIZE

NEEDS 3,000 SAILORS.

\h\h\hTHE QUEEN ELIZABETH WILL NEED LESS THAN 700.

CALLED LEAN-MANNING,

THIS IS A REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT \h\h\hIN THE WORLD OF WARSHIPS.

Jon Pearson: AND THIS IS THE SHIP CONTROL CENTER,

SO HIGHLY AUTOMATED.

THE WAY WE DESCRIBE THIS

IS THIS CONTROLS EVERYTHING \h\h\h\hFROM POWER TO POO.

SO, ALL THE SHIP’S MACHINERY, FROM PROPULSION, VENTILATION,

ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSTEERING,

IS ALL CONTROLLED FROM HERE.

IN A NORMAL CRUISING STATE,

THE MACHINERY FOR THE SHIP WILL \hBE OPERATED BY JUST SIX GUYS.

Interviewer: SIX? IS THAT IT?

\h\h\hNarrator: LEAN-MANNING IS NOT JUST ABOUT EFFICIENCY.

IT’S ALSO ABOUT SAVING MONEY FOR A TIGHT DEFENSE BUDGET.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPearson: ONE OF THE INNOVATIONS WE’VE GOT

TO KEEP THE MANPOWER COSTS DOWN

IS THE HIGHLY MECHANIZED WEAPON HANDLING SYSTEM,

\hA SYSTEM VERY SIMILAR TO AN AMAZON WAREHOUSE.

MOST OF THAT AMMUNITION \hIS STORED IN MAGAZINES

\h\h\h\hTHAT ARE RIGHT DOWN IN THE BOWELS OF THE SHIP,

\h\h\h\hAND TRADITIONALLY THAT WOULD BE MAN-HANDLED

\h\hWITH TROLLEYS FROM THOSE MAGAZINES TO THE FLIGHT DECK.

ON THIS SHIP, THE SHIP’S CREW \h\h\h\h\hCAN PRESS A BUTTON,

SELECT A WEAPON,

AND IT’S AUTOMATICALLY

\h\h\h\hTRANSPORTED UP FROM THE DEEP MAGAZINE ON LIFTS.

SO, THE WHOLE OPERATION IS ABOUT 30 OR 40 GUYS CAN DO THAT,

WHERE AN AMERICAN CARRIER \hTO DO THE SAME OPERATION

IS ABOUT TEN TIMES \h\hAS MANY PEOPLE.

Narrator: FOR THE SAILORS \h\hYET TO MOVE ON BOARD,

THE SHIP IS VERY MUCH \hA WORK IN PROGRESS.

\h\h\hNAVIGATING AROUND IT REMAINS A BIT OF A MYSTERY.

Woman: CAN WE GET THROUGH TO FIVE-UNIFORM THIS WAY?

Interviewer: STEVE, DO YOU KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND NOW?

Steve Prest: YEAH, PRETTY MUCH. \h\h\h\h\h\hI’M GETTING THERE.

IT’S A BIG SHIP TO LEARN.

AND IT’S ALSO...

\h\hIT’S ALSO, UM, A BIT LIKE HOGWARTS

BECAUSE AS THINGS GET BUILT

AND AS WORK’S DONE ON BOARD,

THE ROUTES YOU CAN TAKE \h\h\h\hKEEP CHANGING.

SO, IT’S ALMOST LIKE \h\h\hTHE STAIRCASES

KEEP MOVING ALL THE TIME.

♪

Woman: WAIT.

I’M LOST.

Prest: IT’S BLOCKED OFF.

\h\h\hSEE, I TOLD YOU, IT’S LIKE HARRY POTTER.

IT’S LIKE HOGWARTS.

CAN’T GO THAT WAY TODAY.

WE’LL GO AROUND THIS WAY.

♪

Narrator: MOST OF THE TIME,

THE SAILORS ARE NOT ON THE SHIP AT ALL,

BUT LIVING HERE,

IN TEMPORARY CONTAINER HOMES \hJUST OUTSIDE THE DOCKYARD.

AND THEY REPORT FOR WORK \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEVERY DAY

TO THIS NON-DESCRIPT OFFICE \h\h\h\h\hON THE QUAYSIDE,

WHERE THEY JUST PRETEND \h\h\h\hTHEY’RE AFLOAT,

\h\hFROM THE LOWEST RANKING TO THE CAPTAIN, JERRY KYD.

\h\h\hKyd: FOR THE MOMENT THIS IS A STONE FRIGATE,

AND THIS IS WHY WE’RE SO KEEN \h\h\h\h\h\hTO GET ON BOARD.

ONLY THEN CAN YOU REALLY START \h\hGETTING A BOND WITH A SHIP

\hIS WHEN YOU MOVE ON BOARD, LIVE ON BOARD, EAT ON BOARD.

\hTHE PRIMARY AIM NOW FOR ME IS LET’S JUST GET ON BOARD,

BECAUSE THAT’S WHEN YOU GET \h\h\hTHAT EMOTIONAL BOND.

\h\h\hNarrator: THE ONLY THINGS GETTING ON BOARD AT THE MOMENT

ARE SUPPLIES--

EVERYTHING FROM BAKED BEANS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO BULLETS.

\h\h\h\hFiona Percival: THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF ITEMS

TO GO ON BOARD THAT SHIP.

\h\h\h\h\hIN THAT CORNER THERE, THERE ARE THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

AND OVER HERE NOW,

THIS IS ALL PART OF \hTHE FIREFIGHTING

AND DAMAGE CONTROL EQUIPMENT.

AND EVERYTHING WE PUT ON BOARD \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAS TO BE WEIGHED

BECAUSE THE NAVAL ARCHITECT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hNEEDS TO KNOW

\h\hHOW MUCH WEIGHT IS COMING ON BOARD

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE WEIGHT IS DISTRIBUTED

IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND

\h\h\h\h\h\hHOW THE SHIP CAN MANEUVER AND HANDLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S AMAZING HOW MUCH STUFF YOU NEED.

Interviewer: YOU DON’T WANNA BE GOING TO SEA AND THEN FINDING--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPercival: YOU’VE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING?

\h\h\hInterviewer: YOU LEFT THE BOTTLE OPENER AT HOME.

\hPercival: YOU BETTER NOT HAVE LEFT THE BOTTLE OPENER AT HOME.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SHOT \hOF THE TOILET ROLLS.

\hTHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMODITY WE HAVE ON BOARD.

EVERYTHING ELSE CAN RUN OUT, \h\hBUT NOT THE TOILET ROLLS.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE SHIP ISN’T JUST BEING STOCKED UP,

SHE’S BEING POWERED UP AS WELL.

THERE ARE SIX ENGINES--

\hTWO GAS TURBINES AND FOUR DIESELS.

\h\h\h\hBruce Milne: WHAT WE’RE DOING NOW,

\h\h\h\h\hWE TURN THE ENGINE, PUSHING AIR ONTO THE PISTONS,

UM, JUST TO PROVE IT WORKS.

\h\h\h\hTHIS IS ALL PART OF THE PRE-START CHECKS.

[AIR HISSING]

\h\h\hMan: GOOD TO GO FOR THE MAIN ENGINE.

SO, AS IN GOOD NAVAL TRADITION,

HAVE THEM ALL STAND CLEAR \hOF INTAKES AND EXHAUST,

\h\h\h\h\h\hABOUT TO START HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH’S MAIN ENGINE.

PRESS THE BUTTON.

Man: READY!

[KNOCKING]

[WHIRRING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPrest: OH! DIESEL WAS JUST STARTING UP.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT IN ITSELF IS QUITE EXCITING, JUST TO...

\hYOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALMOST FEEL THE VIBRATION THROUGH THE DECK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT’LL BE THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SHIP

FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ON CONVENTIONAL WARSHIPS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hENGINES DRIVE THE PROPELLER SHAFTS DIRECTLY.

BUT ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH,

THE ENGINES GENERATE POWER \h\h\hFOR THE ENTIRE SHIP.

WHAT’S NEEDED FOR PROPULSION

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS SIPHONED OFF BY HIGH VOLTAGE OR HV CABLES

CARRYING 11,000 VOLTS.

BUT THIS PRESENTS A BRAND-NEW HAZARD

IN THE EVENT OF A FLOOD OR FIRE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBECAUSE, ALTHOUGH HEAVILY INSULATED,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLARGE-SCALE TRANSMISSION LINES LIKE THESE

STILL HAVE AN ELECTRICAL FIELD \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAROUND THEM.

\h\hMilne: WE’VE GOT THE HV COMPARTMENTS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IF YOU START THROWING WATER ROUND IN THERE,

POTENTIALLY 11,000 VOLTS,

THERE’S NOT GONNA BE \h\hA LOT OF YOU LEFT

IF YOU GET ELECTROCUTED.

\hSO, PEOPLE HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR MINDSET,

\h\h\h\h\h\hESPECIALLY THE OLDER SAILORS OF US

\h\h\h\hTHAT HAVE COME FROM TRADITIONAL SHIPS,

THAT YOU HAVEN’T HAD \h\h\hAN HV ELEMENT.

YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE AN AWARENESS.

YOU CAN’T JUST COME IN HERE \h\h\hAND BE BLASÉ ABOUT IT

’CAUSE IT WILL KILL YOU.

Narrator: THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF ANY AIRCRAFT CARRIER

IS ALSO THE MOST DANGEROUS--

THE FLIGHT DECK.

Man: WHOA!

Narrator: A FLOATING AIRFIELD \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR WARPLANES

\h\hLOADED WITH FUEL, BOMBS, AND MISSILES.

THE RISKS ARE ENORMOUS.

Man: READY TO TAXI.

Narrator: COMPUTER SIMULATION

\hHELPS THE AIR CREW PLAN FOR THE WORST.

Man: LAUNCH THE JET.

Man: WHOA.

[LAUGHTER]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMark Deller: MARITIME AVIATION AT ITS BEST.

\h\h\hOPERATING AT SEA IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE,

BUT OPERATING AT SEA IS BLOODY DANGEROUS.

\h\h\hYOU KNOW, THERE’S A WHOLE OF LOAD PEOPLE

WHO’VE GONE BEFORE US

\h\hWHO HAVE LEARNED THE HARD WAY AS TO WHY YOU DO CERTAIN THINGS.

I’D BE A BLOODY FOOL TO IGNORE \h\h\hWHAT OUR FOREFATHERS DID.

THAT’S NICE. THERE YOU GO.

\h\h\h\h\h\hLOOK AT THAT. WE’VE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.

\h\hIT’S PROBABLY WORTH JUST EXPLAINING ABOUT AN AIRFIELD.

\h\h\h\h\hAN AIRFIELD HAS A 10,000-FOOT RUNWAY, OK?

\h\h\h\hAND WE KNOW WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN ON THE RUNWAY.

THAT’S WHERE THE JETS ARE GONNA \h\hBE TAKING OFF AND LANDING.

SO, AT THE SAME TIME \h\hON THAT AIRFIELD,

YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO \h\hHAVE A BOMB DUMP,

YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE \h\h\h\h\h\hA FUEL DUMP,

\h\h\h\h\hYOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE

WHERE YOU’RE GONNA \h\hHOUSE EVERYONE,

AND THERE’LL BE AN HQ SECTION.

\h\h\hBUT ALL OF THOSE, IN A 2,000-ACRE ESTATE,

ARE SPREAD OUT.

YOU KEEP THE BOMBS AWAY \h\h\hFROM THE RUNWAY,

\h\hYOU KEEP THE FUEL AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY,

\hYOU KEEP THE FUEL AWAY FROM THE ACCOMMODATION.

OUR SHIP,

WHICH ALTHOUGH THE BIGGEST THING THE NAVY’S EVER BUILT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOMPARED TO THIS 10,000-FOOT RUNWAY,

OUR SHIP IS THERE.

WE’VE GOT A METAL BOX.

IN THERE THERE’LL BE A MAGAZINE, THERE’LL BE THE FUEL.

\h\h\hAND IF YOU THINK OF THE FLIGHT DECK AREA

AND ALL THE ARMED AIRCRAFT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hUP THERE

THAT ARE BOTH OPERATING, \hREARMING, REFUELING...

THERE’S A LOT OF POTENTIAL RISKS THAT WE HAVE TO MANAGE.

\h\hNarrator: HISTORY SHOWS THE MAGNITUDE OF THE RISK.

IN 1967 ON THE USS FORRESTAL,

AN ELECTRICAL FAULT

\hLED TO THE DISCHARGE OF A MISSILE ON DECK,

\h\hSETTING OFF A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT QUICKLY GOT OUT OF CONTROL.

Deller: IN THAT SCENARIO, \hIT WAS ALL ABOUT TIME.

IT WAS ALL ABOUT HOW QUICKLY \h\h\hCOULD THEY CONTAIN IT.

THESE ARE AIRCRAFT HANDLERS \h\hTHAT ARE NOW MOVING IN

TO TRY AND RESCUE THE AIR CREW.

\h\h\h\hWHAT STARTED AS A SINGLE INCIDENT

\h\h\h\hSUDDENLY BECAME A CUMULATIVE INCIDENT,

\hAND ROCKET INTO AN ARMED AIRCRAFT

THEN BECAME A FIRE,

THEN BECAME A FUEL FIRE,

\h\h\h\hTHEN CREATED THE HEAT TO COOK OFF THE LIVE ORDNANCE

\hTHAT WAS SITTING ON THOSE ARMED AIRCRAFT,

\hTHAT THEN CREATED A GREATER EXPLOSION

\h\h\hWHICH THEN MEANT MORE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED.

THEY ALMOST LOST THE SHIP.

THEY DID CONTROL IT IN THE END,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEY LOST A HELL OF A LOT OF LIVES.

Narrator: 134 AMERICAN SAILORS \h\h\h\h\h\hPERISHED THAT DAY.

HANDLING AIRCRAFT \hON A FLIGHT DECK

IS POTENTIALLY ONE OF THE MOST \hDANGEROUS JOBS IN THE WORLD.

IT REQUIRES SKILL, \h\hGREAT COURAGE,

AND INTENSIVE TRAINING.

[RADIO CHATTER]

\h\h\hNarrator: WITHOUT THEIR OWN FLIGHT DECK TO TRAIN ON,

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH \hAIRCRAFT HANDLERS

\h\h\h\hARE PRACTICING ON A DUMMY DECK ASHORE.

IT’S ONLY A THIRD THE SIZE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THEIR OWN,

AND THE OLD DECOMMISSIONED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHARRIER JETS

CAN’T EVEN FLY,

BUT THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD.

Deller: THERE WILL BE THINGS \h\h\h\hWE’RE GETTING WRONG,

BUT THEY’RE ULTIMATELY...

UM, THIS IS OUR PRACTICE.

\h\h\h\hWHEN WE DO IT ON THE DECK FOR REAL,

WITH THE SHIP MANEUVERING,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH A BIT MORE SORT OF OPERATIONAL PRESSURE,

WE CAN’T AFFORD TO GET IT WRONG.

SO, WE’LL GET ALL OUR MISTAKES \h\h\h\h\hOUT OF THE WAY HERE,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THEN WHEN THE REAL JETS TURN UP,

WE’LL BE IN A BETTER PLACE.

Narrator: THE REAL JETS

\hWILL BE TOP SECRET F-35B LIGHTNING STEALTH FIGHTERS.

THESE ARE STILL IN DEVELOPMENT AND KEPT STRICTLY UNDER WRAPS,

SO NONE OF THE DECK HANDLERS \h\h\h\h\hHAVE EVER SEEN ONE,

MUCH LESS HANDLED ONE.

Man: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

I’M JUST GONNA GIVE YOU \h\h\h\h\hA LITTLE BIT

ON THE FIXED WING REPLICA \h\h\h\h\h\hOF AN F-35B.

LIFE SIZE, IT’S TO SCALE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: SO, NOT AN ACTUAL F-35,

\hBUT A LIFE-SIZED FIBERGLASS MODEL.

EVENTUALLY THEIR JOB WILL BE TO \hMANEUVER THESE AROUND THE DECK

AND GUIDE THE PILOTS \h\h\hINTO POSITION.

THIS WILL GIVE THEM A FEEL \h\h\h\hFOR THE REAL THING.

\h\hMan: COMPARED TO A HARRIER, DIDN’T REALIZE HOW BIG IT WAS.

Woman: MASSIVE.

\h\h\hNarrator: 29-YEAR-OLD EMMA RANSON FROM LIVERPOOL,

NEWLY PROMOTED TO PETTY OFFICER,

WILL BE THE FIRST FLIGHT DECK LEADER

ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH,

SO THIS FULL-SIZED REPLICA IS A GLIMPSE INTO HER OWN FUTURE.

Emma Ranson: AMAZING.

I MEAN, WHAT CAN YOU \h\h\h\hSAY ABOUT IT?

JUST AMAZING.

\hIT’S JUST GONNA HELP OUR TRAINING OUT LOADS.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S JUST GONNA REALLY BENEFIT US AS AIRCRAFT HANDLERS,

MOVING THIS AROUND THE DECK.

JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

I’M DEAD EXCITED NOW.

\h\h\h\h\hI CAN’T WAIT JUST TO GET IT MOVING.

Man: GET SET!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: SO, EMMA, WITH HER NEW TOY,

NOW HAS A MUCH MORE \h\h\hREALISTIC WAY

OF TRAINING HER TEAM.

♪

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,

\h\hTHE FOCUS IS ALL ABOUT PROVING THE SHIP’S SAFETY.

EMERGENCY ESCAPE ROUTES MUST BE PUT TO THE TEST.

Bob Hawkins: EXTRAORDINARILY \h\h\hIMPORTANT EVENT TODAY.

\h\h\h\hTHE FIRST TIME THAT THE ULTIMATE RESCUE SYSTEM,

SHOULD THE SHIP BE SINKING \h\h\hAFTER ACTION DAMAGE,

UH, AND GOD FORBID

THAT THE ORDER IS GIVEN \h\h\hTO ABANDON SHIP,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT IS THIS MARINE EVACUATION SYSTEM

THAT’S GONNA SEE OUR SAILORS \h\h\hSAFELY DOWN THE CHUTES

INTO THE LIFE RAFT.

Man: OPERATE THE MES!

Narrator: IT’S ESSENTIAL THAT \hTHIS MASS EVACUATION SYSTEM

IS PROVEN BEYOND DOUBT

BEFORE THE QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCAN SET SAIL.

\hMan: THAT WAS QUICK. SAW HOW QUICK IT GOES?

Hawkins: YEAH.

\h\hNarrator: THERE ARE THREE EMERGENCY CHUTES

ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SHIP.

EACH ONE CAN BE FULLY DEPLOYED \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 60 SECONDS.

\hAND EVERY LIFE RAFT CAN TAKE 100 SAILORS.

[LAUGHING]

Man: ROGER. HAPPY.

\h\h\h\hInterviewer: HAPPY WITH THAT, BOB?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHawkins: EXTRAORDINARILY HAPPY, YES.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE FIRST ACTIVE THINGS THAT THIS SHIP HAS DONE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BY THE END OF OCTOBER 2016,

ALTHOUGH NOT ON BOARD YET,

\h\h\h\h\h\hEVERYONE’S IN AN OPTIMISTIC MOOD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SEA TRIALS TO TEST THE SHIP IN OPEN WATER

ARE JUST OVER FOUR MONTHS AWAY,

IN MARCH 2017.

BUT GETTING THE SHIP TO SEA

ISN’T GOING TO BE \hSTRAIGHTFORWARD.

\h\h\hFOR ONE THING, SHE’S 30 FEET TALLER

\h\h\h\h\hTHAN THE BRIDGES SHE’LL HAVE TO SAIL UNDER.

Prest: IF YOU CAN SEE \hON THE AFT ISLAND,

THERE’S A TALL THIN MAST,

WHICH IS THE POLE MAST,

AND THAT’S THE HIGHEST POINT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE SHIP.

AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY \h\h\h\h\hAT ITS BASE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU’LL SEE TWO SMALL SHINY CYLINDERS.

THAT’S ACTUALLY THE HINGE.

IT’S ON A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.

\h\h\h\hAND IT FOLDS FORWARD AND SITS IN A LITTLE CRADLE.

AND THAT’LL GIVE US \h\h\hTHE CLEARANCE

TO GET OUT UNDER THOSE BRIDGES,

AND EVEN THEN,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE CLEARANCE IS GONNA BE PRETTY TIGHT.

THERE’S NOT A LOT OF SPACE.

Kyd: OF COURSE WE WON’T KNOW \h\h\h\hUNTIL WE GET HER OUT.

THAT’S THE THING.

Narrator: CAPTAIN JERRY KYD \hWANTS TO SEE FOR HIMSELF.

Kyd: SO, THE MAST WILL GO \hSTRAIGHT UNDER THESE...

\h\h\h\hSTRAIGHT UNDER THAT BLUE THING THERE.

WE’LL PUT THE WHEEL ON NOW,

SO IT’S ONE CONTINUOUS \h\h\h\h\h\hSLOW TURN.

IT’S A BIT LIKE WHEN YOU DRIVE \h\h\hYOUR CAR INTO A CAR PARK

WITH THAT BAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT IS EXACTLY THE SAME FEELING IN A SHIP

\h\h\h\h\h’CAUSE THE... YOU LOOK AT THE BRIDGE,

\h\hYOU THINK TO YOURSELF, WE’RE GONNA HIT THE BRIDGE.

IT JUST LOOKS REALLY ODD.

AND OF COURSE, EVERYONE CROUCHES AS YOU GO UNDERNEATH.

YOU’VE DONE THE CALCULATIONS, \h\h\h\hYOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW,

BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

AS YOU APPROACH IT,

\h\hYOU JUST CAN’T HELP BUT THINK TO YOURSELF,

\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW... I HOPE WE’RE RIGHT.

\h\hWELL, OUR WIND LIMITS ARE GONNA BE...50 KNOTS.

\h\hSO, WIND’S GONNA BE THE DOMINATING FACTOR.

Hawkins: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\hSHIP’S COMPANY, HALT!

Narrator: IT’S DECEMBER 2016,

AND THE SEA TRIALS ARE DRAWING NEAR.

Hawkins: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSHIP’S COMPANY

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMUSTERED FOR YOUR CLEAR LOWER DECK, SIR.

Kyd: THANKS, NUMBER ONE.

Narrator: THE TARGET DATE \hFOR DEPARTURE, MARCH 10,

IS IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.

EVERYONE’S LOOKING FORWARD \h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE BIG DAY.

IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

BUT JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS LEAVE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE CAPTAIN CALLS EVERYONE ON BOARD.

Kyd: 2017 FOR US, GUYS,

IS ALL ABOUT GETTING THIS SHIP \h\h\h\h\hTO SEA AND OFF SHORE.

BUT I DO THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT

FOR ME TO STAND UP HERE \hIN FRONT OF YOU ALL,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLOOK AT YOU ALL IN THE FACES AND IN THE EYES,

AND TELL YOU RIGHT NOW

WE’RE NOT GONNA BE SAILING \h\h\hON THE 10th OF MARCH.

\h\hI CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION, TRUST ME.

IT’S FRUSTRATING FOR ME, TOO.

THE LAST THING AS A SEA CAPTAIN \h\h\h\h\h\hI WANT TO BE DOING

IS SITTING IN ROSYTH ALONGSIDE THE WALL.

\h\h\h\h\hI DON’T KNOW WHEN WE’RE GOING TO GO.

THIS SHIP HAS GOT A WHOLE BUNCH \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF NEW SYSTEMS,

BOTH TO DETECT FIRE AND SMOKE,

\h\h\h\hBUT THEN ALSO TO SMASH A FIRE DOWN.

AT THE MOMENT, WE’RE NOT AS MATURE IN SOME AREAS

AS WE WOULD WISH.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW, I LOOK AT MY YOUNG SAILORS,

\hSOME OF WHO ARE 17, 18 YEARS OLD,

AND I’VE GOT A 17-YEAR-OLD SON.

AND MY BENCHMARK,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMY LITMUS FOR ME AS THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP IS,

WOULD I PUT MY 17-YEAR-OLD SON \h\h\h\h\h\hIN THAT BUNK SPACE,

OR WOULD I PUT HIM IN THAT SITUATION?

UM, IF THE ANSWER’S NO,

\hTHEN I’M CERTAINLY NOT GONNA DO IT WITH MY SHIP’S COMPANY.

CHRISTMAS, GUYS. ENJOY IT.

I’LL SEE YOU AGAIN \hIN THE NEW YEAR.

SO BE READY TO COME BACK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNEXT YEAR, WE DO INDEED MAKE HISTORY.

DON’T FORGET THAT.

♪

Hawkins: SO, HAVE YOU WORKED OUT

WHERE YOU’RE GONNA \h\hPUT THE BOARDS?

GET SOME OF THAT BUBBLE WRAP.

Narrator: IT’S THE FIRST DAY \h\h\h\hBACK AFTER CHRISTMAS.

NO DATE YET FOR SEA TRIALS,

BUT ONE THING HAS CHANGED--

THE SAILORS ARE TOLD TO BYPASS \h\h\h\hTHEIR OLD OFFICE BLOCK

AND REPORT TO THE SHIP.

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY WON’T BE SLEEPING ON BOARD YET,

BUT FROM NOW ON,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS WHERE THEY’LL BE WORKING EVERY DAY.

Hawkins: ASHORE.

ONBOARD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS TIN BOX IS A LITTLE PIECE OF BRITAIN,

AND WE WILL BE LIVING INSIDE IT.

SHE WILL BECOME OUR HOME.

Man: THIS IS A BIG DEAL,

AND TODAY MARKS A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD--

WHEN WE START WORKING \hON BOARD THIS SHIP,

\h\h\hMOVING OUT OF THAT GODAWFUL OFFICE COMPLEX,

AND ACTUALLY START OPERATING LIKE A PROPER SHIP’S COMPANY

ON A PROPERLY CONSTITUTED \h\h\hROYAL NAVY WARSHIP.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPercival: I MEAN, TODAY’S A GREAT DAY.

\h\hAT SOME STAGE, NO MATTER WHAT THE SPREADSHEET TELLS YOU TO DO,

YOU’VE GOT TO MOVE ON BOARD, YOU’VE GOT TO GET ON BOARD.

\h\h\h\hAND, UH, AND SO TODAY WAS THE DAY THAT WAS CHOSEN.

TODAY’S THE DAY WE GET ON BOARD

AND START MAKING IT FEEL \h\h\h\h\hLIKE YOUR OWN.

I MEAN, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE

\h\hI’VE ALSO SEEN PICKING UP LITTER,

BECAUSE NOW IT’S THEIR SHIP.

\h\h\h\h\hDave Garraghty: THIS’LL BE MY SWEAR BOX.

Narrator: NEWLY ARRIVED \h\h\h\hDAVE GARRAGHTY

IS THE EXECUTIVE WARRANT OFFICER,

RESPONSIBLE FOR WELFARE, MORALE, AND DISCIPLINE.

AND HE’S A GARAGE SALE FANATIC.

Garraghty: AYE, AYE.

ARE YOU BOTHERED?

Hawkins: NO, NOT REALLY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGarraghty: IT’S THE PINNACLE OF MY CAREER.

\h\h\h\hAND IT’S NOT JUST A CHEESY THROWAWAY LINE.

I ACTUALLY MEAN THIS.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.

I FEEL LIKE AN 18-YEAR-OLD AGAIN ON MY FIRST SHIP,

\h\h\h\hAND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL COME ACROSS

WHEN I MEET THE SAILORS,

\h’CAUSE YOU’LL HAVE TOUGH DAYS IN HERE,

\h\h\h\h\hAND WE JUST WALK UP ONTO THE FLIGHT DECK AND LOOK

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND JUST GO, WOW, THAT’S AMAZING, YEAH.

WE’RE THE FIRST PEOPLE \h\hON BOARD THIS SHIP,

BREATHING LIFE AND SETTING SAIL.

Man: HOT TRAY.

\h\h\hNarrator: AND NOW THAT EVERYBODY’S WORKING ON BOARD,

\h\h\hTHEY’RE ALSO GONNA HAVE TO BE FED ON BOARD.

Percival: TODAY’S SO EXCITING

\h\h\hBECAUSE IT’S OUR FIRST TIME THAT WE’VE ACTUALLY GOT IN HERE.

IT’S THE FIRST TIME \hYOU CAN SEE CHEFS

\hGETTING TO GRIPS WITH THEIR GALLEY

AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND \h\h\h\hHOW DOES IT WORK?

\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW, HAVE WE GOT THE COUNTERS IN THE RIGHT ORDER?

\h\hHAVE WE GOT THE FLOW THROUGH THE DINING HALL?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO ACTUALLY GET THIS THING OPERATIONAL

AND GETTING IT STARTING \hTO FEEL AND SMELL...

\h\h\hTO SMELL LIKE AN OPERATIONAL SHIP

IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: EVERYBODY STARTS TO GET TO GRIPS

WITH THEIR OWN PARTS \h\h\h\hOF THE SHIP,

\h\hAND THE AIR WING CLAIM THEIR FLIGHT DECK AT LAST.

FIRST THING THEY DO?

CHECK FOR LITTER.

Deller: ONE OF MY MAIN TASKS IS OBVIOUSLY TO FLY SAFELY.

\h\hAND, UM, ONE OF THE MAJOR CONSTRAINTS TO FLYING SAFELY

IS FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS.

THIS IS, THIS CAN BE ANYTHING.

\h\hIT CAN BE THAT PLASTIC BAG JUST FLYING AROUND ON THE DECK.

IT COULD BE A SAILOR’S HAMMER.

IT COULD BE A COFFEE CUP.

\hANYTHING THAT CAN BE INGESTED BY AN AIRCRAFT

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND ESSENTIALLY STOP THE TURBINES WORKING,

JAM UP THE PROPELLERS,

AND IT’S NOT GOOD FOR IT.

\h\hNarrator: OR EVEN CAUSE A FATAL CATASTROPHIC CRASH.

SO, THE FOREIGN OBJECT \h\h\h\h\hDEBRIS WALK,

OR FOD PLOD,

\h\h\h\h\hIS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITY

ON ANY AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRanson: RIGHT, GUYS, STAY THERE.

\h\h\hDeller: EVERY TIME WE GO TO FLYING STATIONS

WE CONDUCT FOD PLOD.

WE DO IT AS WE START \h\h\hTHE DAY FLYING,

WE DO IT EVERY SIX HOURS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THEN WE DO IT BEFORE WE START NIGHT FLYING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRanson: THANK YOU FOR COMING UP.

HUZZAH!

Narrator: IT’S NOW MAY 2017.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SHIP’S HAD A LICK OF GRAY PAINT

AND IS LOOKING THE PART.

NOBODY’S LIVING ON BOARD YET,

AND THERE’S STILL NO FIRM DATE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR SEA TRIALS,

BUT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\hIS ABOUT TO GET

THE ONE THING SHE NEEDS \h\hTO MOVE FORWARD...

LITERALLY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTEN NEW, SHINY SOLID BRONZE PROPELLER BLADES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFIVE EACH FOR THE TWO PROPELLERS.

\h\hKyd: THEY’RE A SORT OF A WORK OF ART, AREN’T THEY?

Man: YEAH, DEFINITELY. \h\hTHEY’RE BEAUTIFUL.

Kyd: WELL, WHEN I SEE IT SAIL, \h\h\h\hI’LL THINK OF YOU TWO.

Man: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. \h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: THERE WE GO.

Kyd: THERE WE GO, YOU SEE?

SO, NICE AND CLEAN.

WE LIKE CLEAN PROPELLERS

\h\hBECAUSE CLEAN PROPELLERS MEAN MORE POWER, MORE SPEED.

SO, THANKS, GUYS. \hGOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU KNOW, NEARLY WELL OVER \h\h\h\h100,000 HORSEPOWER

ARE GONNA BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH THESE BLADES ONCE THEY’RE ON.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYEAH, THAT’S LIKE SLAPPING THE WHEELS ON THE CAR.

YOU KNOW, TA-DA! WE’RE DONE.

SO, UH, VERY EXCITING.

\hTHE DIVING TEAM’S GOT TO FIT THESE BLADES, THE PROPELLERS,

UNDERNEATH THE WATER, OBVIOUSLY.

UM, SO A REALLY HARD JOB.

Man: IN THE WATER!

Narrator: UP TO NOW,

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE HAD TO TEST THE ENGINES AND DRIVE SHAFTS

WITHOUT PROPELLERS,

FOR FEAR OF FORWARD MOVEMENT.

Hawkins: THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE \h\hINDICATOR OF OUR PROGRESS

\h\h\h\hAND THE FACT THAT WE’RE, WE’RE, WE’RE NEAR,

WE’RE GETTING THERE.

WE’VE HAD A FEW FALSE DAWNS.

\h\h\hIT’S 16 MONTHS NOW THAT I’VE BEEN ON BOARD THE SHIP,

AND IT IS REALISTIC

THAT WE’RE GONNA GO AT THE END OF JUNE.

THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ALLIANCE

\h\h\h\h\h\hWOULD NOT BE PUTTING THE BLADES ON NOW

\h\h\h\hIF WE WEREN’T NEAR TO READY TO GO.

SO, WE’RE TALKING NOW IN DEGREES OF WEEKS AND DAYS OF A DELAY,

NOT MONTHS.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: RIGHT, GO BACK TO THE BLADE,

THE TOP OF THE BLADE AGAIN, \h\h\hTYLER, THERE YOU GO.

\h\hNarrator: THE BLADES ARE GUIDED INTO POSITION,

EACH ONE SECURED BY 128 BOLTS.

\h\hMan: YOU’RE JUST GIVING THESE A QUARTER TURN, AREN’T YOU, GAV?

Narrator: IT’S PRECISION WORK \hIN THE MURKIEST OF WATERS.

WHEN COMPLETED, EACH PROPELLER \h\h\h\h\h\hWILL WEIGH 33 TONS

AND COMBINED

WILL GENERATE THE SAME POWER \h\hAS 50 HIGH-SPEED TRAINS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSO, THERE’S PROGRESS BELOW THE WATER, BUT ALSO ABOVE.

\h\h\hTHE SHIP’S COMPANY FINALLY GETS THE GO-AHEAD

TO MOVE ON BOARD FULL-TIME.

IT’S NOW JUNE 1st,

AND THE SAILORS ARE GIVEN \h\hTHE KEYS TO THE SHIP,

ALL 5,000 OF THEM.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMilne: WE’RE MOVING FORWARD. HA HA!

Prest: OH, NO, BACK THIS WAY.

Percival: LIGHTS? LIGHTS WORK.

THIS IS GOOD.

Prest: THERE WE GO.

\hIMPORTANT THINGS FOR EVERY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT’S CABIN.

A HOME FROM HOME.

Percival: AH!

THIS IS SO WIDE!

\h\h\h\hMilne: IS IT WORTH ME POPPING UP AND HAVING A CHAT,

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS,

EVERYONE SETTLES IN \hTO THEIR NEW HOME.

Milne: OH, IT’S LOVELY, THIS.

\h\hI MIGHT HAVE TO COME UP HERE AGAIN.

THAT’S SUPERB, THAT.

HA HA HA!

IT’S A BETTER OFFICE THAN WHAT I WORK IN.

GOD ALIVE.

Narrator: BY JUNE 7th,

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S CONFIRMED THE SHIP COULD GO TO SEA

ON THE NEXT SPRING TIDE.

THAT’S IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS.

BUT FIRST,

THE CREW MUST ENDURE A GRUELING, EVEN DANGEROUS, ORDEAL.

TOMORROW, ALL SHORE POWER \h\h\hWILL BE TURNED OFF.

\hMilne: WE’RE GONNA BLOW THE ENGINE OVER.

\h\h\hWE’RE NOT GONNA START IT, WE’RE JUST GONNA BLOW IT OVER.

Narrator: THE CARRIER WILL BE \hPOWERED BY HER OWN ENGINES

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

\h\hNOBODY WILL BE ALLOWED OFF THE SHIP FOR SIX DAYS,

WHATEVER HAPPENS.

THEY’RE ABOUT TO GO TO SEA, BUT WITHOUT MOVING AN INCH.

THE NAVY CALLS THIS \h\hA TEST CRUISE,

\h\h\h\h\hAND IT’S NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED.

Kyd: WE KNOW IT’S NOT GONNA BE \hA BEAUTIFUL THING NEXT WEEK.

IT’S NOT GONNA BE THE SORT OF \hTEST CRUISE, TRAINING CRUISE

THAT WE’RE ALL USED TO \h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE NAVY

BECAUSE WE ARE IMMERSED \h\h\hIN STILL A BUILD.

IT’S STILL A BUILDING SITE \h\h\h\h\h\hIN MANY AREAS,

\h\h\hAND WE’VE GOT A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE HERE NOW,

AS YOU KNOW.

ANOTHER BATCH JOINED TODAY.

SOME OF THEM ARE QUITE NERVOUS \h\h\h\hABOUT WHAT’S COMING UP.

AS THE SANDS OF TIME RUN OUT, \h\hIT’S GOING TO GET WORSE.

IT’S GONNA GET WORSE FOR US \h\hBEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

AS SOON AS WE GET OFF SHORE,

WE CAN SETTLE DOWN AND GET INTO \h\h\h\hA PROPER BATTLE RHYTHM.

AND DON’T LOSE YOUR RAG

\h\hWITH PEOPLE WHO PERHAPS ARE VERY INEXPERIENCED. OK?

\h\h\h\h\hDARREN, YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE TO SUM UP?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE TEST CRUISE BEGINS.

\h\hA JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN IN WHICH ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

Man over loudspeaker: \h\h\h\hFOR EXERCISE,

FOR EXERCISE, FOR EXERCISE.

FIRE, FIRE, FIRE.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

Narrator: ALARMS TRIGGER \h\h\hA RELENTLESS STREAM

OF PUNISHING EXERCISES,

DAY AND NIGHT.

NOBODY KNOWS WHEN OR WHERE \h\h\h\h\hTHE NEXT WILL BE,

BUT REACTION MUST BE IMMEDIATE.

\hMan: FLASH! FIRE DOORS RELEASED TO ZONE THREE.

Narrator: FLOOD AND FIRE SITUATIONS ARE SIMULATED

BUT MADE AS REALISTIC \h\h\h\hAS POSSIBLE.

[COUGHING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THIS IS ALL ABOUT HONING SKILLS,

WORKING AS TEAMS,

\h\hAND IMPORTANTLY, SPEED OF REACTIONS...

BECAUSE ON THIS UNTESTED SHIP,

THERE’S NO GUARANTEE

\h\hTHE NEXT ALARM WON’T BE FOR REAL.

\h\hGarraghty: WE’VE GOT 3,300 COMPARTMENTS ON BOARD THE SHIP,

SPREAD OVER MANY DECKS,

SO IT IS A CHALLENGE

\h\h\h\hTO FIND YOUR WAY TO THE INCIDENT QUICKLY,

\h\h\h\h\hBUT THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TRAINING FOR TODAY,

TO GET TO KNOW THE SHIP \hAND HOW IT OPERATES.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

Man: LADS, THE SENSOR \h\h\hWENT OFF IN 60.

Narrator: EVERY SCENARIO

IS CAREFULLY MONITORED, \hTIMED, AND ASSESSED.

IF THE SAILORS FAIL TO IMPRESS,

CAPTAIN JERRY KYD WILL BE FORCED TO DELAY THE SHIP’S DEPARTURE

YET AGAIN.

Man: THE TEMPERATURE OF THE COMPARTMENT,

WITHOUT GOING IN,

IS A STEADY 27 DEGREES.

Ranson: MATT’S GETTING THE SMOKE AND FLAME...

Narrator: FOR EMMA RANSON, \h\h\h\h\hIT’S CRUNCH TIME.

HER TEAM’S SPEED OF REACTION \h\h\h\h\h\hTO A FIRE ON DECK

IS ABOUT TO BE TESTED.

90 SECONDS IS HER TARGET TIME.

Deller: OK, ARE WE ALL READY \h\h\h\h\h\hIN ALL RESPECTS?

\h\h\hMan: GREEN ON THE BRIDGE. Man: GREEN ON THE BRIDGE, SIR.

Deller: ROGER THAT.

OK, THE AIRCRAFT IS ON ITS SIDE, AND THE AIRCRAFT IS NOW ON FIRE.

Man: TEN MINUTES NOW, SIR.

Man: MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING.

Man: EMERGENCY LANDING,

EMERGENCY LANDING, EMERGENCY LANDING.

Ranson: OH, SORRY.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

[YELLING]

[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRanson: GUYS! COME BACK! COME BACK!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IF THE SHIP DOES GO TO SEA,

IT’LL ONLY BE DAYS

BEFORE THE FIRST HELICOPTER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hLANDS ON HER.

A FLIGHT DECK FIRE MIGHT BE FOR REAL.

Ranson: GUYS, GUYS, GUYS!

ADVANCE! ADVANCE!

NOSE TO TAIL! NOSE TO TAIL!

Deller: CRASH FIRE RESCUE \h\h\h\hIS IN ATTENDANCE.

IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE INCIDENT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS BEING QUASHED.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: 30 SECONDS TO GET TO THE CONFLAGRATION.

60 SECONDS TO EXTINGUISH.

TARGET ACHIEVED.

Ranson: PUTTING THE CASUALTY \h\h\hON TO THE NEAREST LIFT.

\hWoman: DOWN TO THE HANGAR. Ranson: DOWN TO THE HANGAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWoman: ACROSS TO THE MEDICAL LIFT,

AND THEN INTO RESUS.

Ranson: THAT’S US DONE.

Interviewer: HOW DID IT GO?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRanson: EH, QUITE A LOT OF BOMBARDMENT,

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS \hGETTING ASKED, UM, ON MYSELF

’CAUSE HOW WE’VE BEEN RUNNING IT

HAS BEEN A LOT OF A SLOWER PACE.

AND THIS WAS THEIR FIRST PROPER, EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE.

I FOUND, AS AN INCIDENT LEADER,

\h\h\h\hA LOT OF INFORMATION IS COMING MY WAY ALL AT ONCE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I WAS QUITE A PERSON IN DEMAND,

\hSO THAT WAS A BIT OF A CULTURE SHOCK.

Deller: THAT WAS A GOOD \hLITTLE RUN OUT THERE,

AND IT WORKED QUITE WELL.

SO, WE’RE PLEASED.

THAT’S A HAPPY FACE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hInterviewer: BUT THIS IS ONE OF MANY--

[ALARM SOUNDS]

Man over loudspeaker: \hFLOOD, FLOOD, FLOOD.

FLOOD IN EIGHT-ROMEO.

TAC PARTY TO INVESTIGATE.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

FLOOD, FLOOD, FLOOD.

FLOOD IN EIGHT-ROMEO.

Narrator: THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

Man over loudspeaker: \h\h\h\hALL TRAINING

IS TO CEASE THROUGHOUT THE SHIP

\h\h\hUNTIL THE STANDING SEA EMERGENCY PARTY HAVE DEALT...

Man: WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

Narrator: THIS IS FOR REAL.

\h\hTHERE’S A FLOOD IN AN ENGINE ROOM.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S ONE OF BRUCE MILNE’S DIESELS,

AND IT’S HIGH VOLTAGE.

THIS COULD NOT BE \hMORE DANGEROUS.

\h\h\hMan: EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL, ALL ELECTRICAL BOXES COVERED UP.

GET ALL THE ELECTRICAL PANELS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOVERED UP.

Man: PLASTIC SHEETING!

Narrator: ANY MISTAKE \hCOULD BE DISASTROUS.

IF 11,000 VOLTS OF ELECTRICITY \h\hSHORT-CIRCUITS OR ARCS NOW,

EVERYBODY HERE IS DEAD.

\h\h\hTHEY NEED TO CUT THE POWER BEFORE WATER GETS TO THE CABLES.

Man: THAT’S WHERE THE DANGER LIES--

THESE PEOPLE OPEN THESE DOORS.

Man: BRUCE, DO YOU WANT ME \h\hTO STAND ON THE HATCH?

Narrator: THE CAUSE?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA RUPTURE IN A HIGH-LEVEL COOLING PIPE.

SEA WATER IS BURSTING \hOUT OF THE BREACH.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: THE LAGGING ON THE WHOLE OF THE DECK HEAD

JUST ACTED AS A BARRIER,

SO THE WHOLE OF THE LAGGING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS NOW...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S THAT DAMMED-UP WATER

THAT IS NOW GUSHING OUT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT ON TO HIGH-VOLTAGE EQUIPMENT.

Man: RIGHT. THAT LAGGING THERE, \hDOES IT FEEL SOFT TO TOUCH IT?

\hIS THAT WATER BEHIND THIS TOP LAGGING HERE?

Narrator: THEY’VE SWITCHED OFF \h\h\hTHE HIGH-VOLTAGE CIRCUITS

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND COVERED ALL ELECTRICAL PANELS.

Man: ROGER THAT, SIR, WE’RE JUST UNBOLTING THE HATCH NOW.

\hNarrator: BUT THE INCIDENT HAS TRIGGERED FLOOD SENSORS

\h\hIN HIGH-VOLTAGE COMPARTMENTS BELOW.

Man: CONFIRM HV SAFE, FIVE-GOLF.

\h\h\h\h\h\hGarraghty: ISOLATION’S BEEN MADE.

\h\h\h\h\hNO CASUALTIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

Man: IT HASN’T BEEN ISOLATED.

\h\hGarraghty: OK. Man: NO, IT HASN’T.

\h\h\h\hMan: YOU GOT A REPORT? Garraghty: YEAH, GOING UP NOW.

[NUTS DROPPING ON DECK]

Man: THERE’S WATER IN THERE.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: A TORCH. Man: A TORCH? DC TORCH?

Man: ANYONE GOT A TORCH?

Man: OLLY, HAVE THEY ISOLATED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT PIPEWORK?

Olly: YEAH, TWO VALVES BACK.

Man: TWO VALVES BACK \hHAS BEEN ISOLATED.

\h\h\h\hRIGHT. OLLY? IS THAT PUMP WORKING?

Olly: NO.

\hMan over loudspeaker: THE SOURCE OF THE WATER

HAS NOW BEEN ISOLATED.

Narrator: THEIR SWIFT RESPONSE

\h\h\h\h\h\hSTOPPED THE FLOOD AND CONTAINED THE EMERGENCY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT IT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.

Milne: WE WERE WORRIED

THAT IF THE WATER STARTED \hPOURING THROUGH AGAIN,

WE COULD HAVE ENDED UP \h\h\h\hWITH IT ARCING

AND ELECTROCUTION.

SO, WE’VE GOT TO BE \hMINDFUL OF THIS,

\hTHAT EVERYBODY THAT ATTENDS THESE SCENES OF ANY INCIDENTS

KNOW THE DANGERS INHERENT \h\hWITH THE COMPARTMENT.

\hTHIS IS WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHO’S GONNA LOSE THEIR HEAD

AND WHO’S GONNA LOOK AT IT \h\h\h\hIN A PRAGMATIC WAY

AND THINK, ACTUALLY, YEAH, THIS \h\h\hIS HOW WE’RE GONNA START

\h\hAND THIS IS WHAT WE’RE GONNA DO NEXT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I REQUIRE THIS AMOUNT OF MANPOWER.

SO, IT ALL COMES DOWN

TO A THINKING MAN’S GAME, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW?

Man: NOISE LEVELS IN THE ACC!

Narrator: THE TEST CRUISE

HAS BEEN A WAKE-UP CALL \h\h\h\hFOR EVERYONE--

\h\h\h\hA STARK REMINDER THAT AN UNTESTED WARSHIP

\h\h\hIS AN INHERENTLY DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE.

Garraghty: WE WOULD NORMALLY \h\hDO TRAINING IN SIX WEEKS.

WE’RE PRETTY MUCH DOING IT IN SIX DAYS AT THE MOMENT.

VERY COMPRESSED, UM,

BUT WE’VE GONE FROM,

FROM BEING A REAL SORT OF CLUNKY ORGANIZATION ON THE SHIP

TO WORKING AS A TEAM,

UH, LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER,

\h\hAND SAFELY DELIVERING WHAT THE CAPTAIN WANTED,

FOR US TO SAFELY PROCEED TO SEA

AND DEAL WITH ANY INCIDENT \h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT MAY OCCUR.

♪

Kyd: THE WEATHER’S NICE NOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S THURSDAY, JUNE 22nd,

AND THE CAPTAIN HAS ONCE AGAIN \hSUMMONED HIS SHIP’S COMPANY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHawkins: SHIP’S COMPANY, STAND AT EASE!

Kyd: RIGHT.

WE’VE JUST TAKEN THE DECISION

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WE WILL GO FOR A SAILING ON MONDAY.

IT IS NOT LOST, I HOPE, \h\h\h\h\hON ANY OF YOU

HOW MOMENTOUS THIS COULD BE

AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE ROYAL NAVY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TO SEA BEFORE,

I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER

THERE IS NO CAVALRY \h\hOR FIRE BRIGADE

WHEN WE MOVE OFF THE WALL.

WE WILL HAVE EMERGENCIES.

WE WILL HAVE FLOODS.

I KNOW WE’RE WELL-PRACTICED \h\h\h\h\hAT THOSE ALREADY.

AND WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE FIRES.

WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE CASUALTIES.

THAT IS THE NATURE OF THIS BUSINESS.

THIS IS OUR SHIP NOW. \h\hDON’T FORGET IT.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017.

AND AFTER 20 YEARS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT,

EIGHT YEARS OF ENGINEERING \h\h\h\h\hAND CONSTRUCTION,

\h\hAND TWO YEARS TO ASSEMBLE AND TRAIN THE SHIP’S COMPANY,

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

PREPARES TO GO TO SEA \hFOR THE FIRST TIME.

♪

Kyd: NICE AND QUIET, EH?

Interviewer: READY, CAPTAIN?

Kyd: WE’RE GOOD, WE’RE SAFE,

THE PILOTS ARE HERE, \hTHE TUGS ARE HERE.

\h\h\h\hSHIP’S COMPANY ARE CLEARLY UP FOR IT.

\h\hUM, THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF YEARS OF WORK FROM EVERYONE,

\h\h\h\hPARTICULARLY THE LAST SIX MONTHS,

AND WE JUST NEED TO GET OUT NOW.

Garraghty: THERE’S A QUARTER \h\h\h\hOF THE SHIP’S COMPANY

WHO’VE NEVER BEEN TO SEA BEFORE,

AND WHAT A VESSEL TO GET TO SEA ON.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

♪

Kyd: ALL LINES GO NOW.

Man over loudspeaker: \hALL PARTS OF SHIP,

THIS IS THE BOATSWAIN \h\h\hON THE BRIDGE.

LET GO ALL LINES.

Kyd: HOORAY!

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHERE SHE GOES. BOW’S GOING NOW NICELY, I THINK.

\hWE’RE NOW NO LONGER ATTACHED TO SCOTLAND.

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

IS COAXED OFF THE WALL \h\hBY A FLEET OF TUGS.

THIS IS WHAT’S CALLED \h\h\h\hA COLD MOVE.

THE SUPERCARRIER IS NOT YET \h\h\hUNDER HER OWN POWER.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hMilne: WE’RE DOING WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING NOW.

WE’RE NO LONGER A BUILDING SITE; WE’RE A SHIP.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NEXT, THERE’S JUST THE MATTER

OF SQUEEZING THROUGH \h\hTHE BASIN GATES.

Hawkins: IT IS REMARKABLE.

\h\hWE’VE GOT 30 CENTIMETERS EITHER SIDE OF THE ENTRANCE.

♪

Narrator: IT’S VERY TIGHT,

BUT AFTER CAREFUL MANEUVERING \h\h\hBY EXPERT TUG MASTERS,

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH SLIDES SAFELY INTO THE NORTH SEA.

\h\h\h\hON BOARD, 700 SAILORS AND 200 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hALL PREPARING FOR THE RIGORS OF SEA TRIALS.

IT’S NOT UNTIL MIDNIGHT,

WHEN THE TIDE IS LOW ENOUGH \hTO GET UNDER THE BRIDGES,

THAT THE COLD MOVE BECOMES A HOT ONE.

\h\h\hAND THE SHIP’S BRAND-NEW PROPELLERS

\h\h\hSTART TO SPIN FOR THE FIRST TIME.

\h\h\h\hKyd: FIRST TIME WE’VE SAILED THIS SUPERCARRIER OUT,

AND THIS IS THE LAST PART,

UNDER THE BRIDGES AND AT NIGHT

AND LOW WATER,

WITH A BRAND-NEW CREW.

THE SHIP’S PERFORMING \h\h\h\hREALLY WELL.

SHE’S NOT VIBRATING.

Man: TWO CABLES TO RUN.

Kyd: TWO CABLES TO RUN, ROGER.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: FINALLY, WITH THE TIDE AT ITS LOWEST

AND THE POLE MAST DOWN,

THE SUPERCARRIER EDGES UNDER \h\h\hTHE FORTH RAIL BRIDGE,

AS CALCULATED,

WITH JUST A FEW FEET TO SPARE.

Kyd: OK, HERE WE GO.

HAPPY?

LOOKS GOOD TO ME.

STRAIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AND NOW THE WAY IS OPEN.

\h\h\h\h\hBUT WHAT NEXT FOR THE SHIP’S COMPANY?

THEY WERE PUSHED TO THEIR LIMITS ON A ONE-WEEK TEST CRUISE

WITHOUT EVEN MOVING.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO HANDLE \hSIX WEEKS ON THE HIGH SEAS

AT FULL SPEED?

\h\hTHEIR ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINNING.

♪

NEXT TIME, THE QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\h\h\hFLEXES HER MUSCLES

AND BARES HER TEETH.

[GUNFIRE]

Man: GUYS, LET’S DO IT.

BE SAFE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THERE’S A FIRST FLIGHT DECK LANDING.

BUT THEN THE ENGINEERS

HEAR TROUBLING NOISES \hFROM UNDER THE SHIP,

AND IT’S NOT GOOD NEWS.

♪

♪