Original subtitles

Narrator: BRITAIN’S SUPERCARRIER HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

\h\hIS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF MAKE-OR-BREAK SEA TRIALS

THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE SHIP \hAND SAILORS TO THEIR LIMITS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT NOW SHE MUST TEST A BRAND-NEW FIREFIGHTING SYSTEM,

MAKE A DRAMATIC RENDEZVOUS WITH THE USS GEORGE BUSH,

AND WELCOME ON BOARD AN AMERICAN ADMIRAL

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAdmiral: HOW’S THE NEW CAR DRIVE?

Captain: NOT BAD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BRITISH PILOTS IN THE U.S.

TEST A TOP-SECRET \hFIGHTER AIRCRAFT

THAT WILL EVENTUALLY FLY OFF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Man: THE THRUST OF THE AIRCRAFT,

THE MANEUVERABILITY, PHENOMENAL.

\hYOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE THE KING OF THE CASTLE

GOING INTO THAT ARENA.

Captain: THIS EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AT SEA

HAS JUST CEMENTED THAT SENSE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF BELONGING,

\h\h\hTHAT SORT OF BADGE THAT’S THE QUEEN ELIZABETH CAP TALLY,

WHICH MAKES YOU FEEL \hPART OF THE TRIBE,

PART OF THE FAMILY.

[CHEERING]

\h\h\h\hNarrator: FINALLY, THE BRAND-NEW SUPERCARRIER

MAKES A DRAMATIC ENTRANCE \hINTO HER NEW HOME PORT

AND KEEPS AN APPOINTMENT

WITH SOMEONE NO ONE EVER KEEPS WAITING.

♪

\h\h\h\hTHIS IS THE INSIDE STORY OF BRITAIN’S FIRST SUPERCARRIER.

♪

[SHIP HORN BLOWS]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPORTSMOUTH HARBOR ON THE SOUTH COAST OF ENGLAND,

THE ROYAL NAVY BASE

\hTHAT HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH WILL EVENTUALLY CALL HOME.

THE TROUBLE IS, THE ANCIENT PORT IS NOT DEEP ENOUGH

TO TAKE THE QUEEN ELIZABETH’S \h\h\h\h\h\h65,000-TON BULK.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS,

DREDGERS HAVE BEEN WORKING \h\h\h\h\hAROUND THE CLOCK

IN AN ENORMOUS OPERATION \h\hTO DEEPEN THE SEABED.

\h\h4 MILLION TONS OF SAND AND GRAVEL HAVE HAD TO BE REMOVED,

AS WELL AS ALL KINDS OF OBJECTS \h\h\h\hTHAT LITTER THE SEABED,

FROM TWISTED STEEL CABLES \h\h\h\hAND RUSTY ANCHORS

TO BARNACLE-ENCRUSTED \h18th-CENTURY CANNONS

AND OLD, DISCARDED \hTORPEDO ENGINES.

BUT WORKERS HERE HAVE DISCOVERED SOMETHING FAR MORE CONCERNING--

A SOUVENIR FROM WORLD WAR TWO,

\h\hWHEN PORTSMOUTH WAS HEAVILY BOMBED.

Man: I MEAN, I CAN FEEL IT, \h\hIT’S GOING INTO A CONE.

Man: HOW DOES THE SHAPE FEEL?

Man: IT’S SLIGHTLY POINTY.

Man: POINTY?

IT’S KIND OF A...BOMB SHAPE.

Woman: THE NEWS AT SIX FROM BBC RADIO SOLENT.

A CONTROLLED EXPLOSION IS DUE TO BE CARRIED OUT THIS MORNING

\h\h\h\hON AN UNEXPLODED GERMAN WORLD WAR TWO BOMB

FOUND AT PORTSMOUTH HARBOR.

\h\h\h\hMan: ROGER THAT, ITS, UH, FUSE IS BURNING,

FIVE MINUTES TO DETONATION. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOVER.

Narrator: FEW COULD HAVE GUESSED

THAT EVEN AS HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH WAS BEING BUILT,

ONE OF HITLER’S BOMBS HAD BEEN LYING IN WAIT

FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS.

[BOOM]

CLOSE CALL.

THAT WAS 18 MONTHS AGO.

RIGHT NOW, 700 MILES AWAY, QUEEN ELIZABETH IS SAILING

\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE MORAY FIRTH, OFF THE EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND.

SHE’S IN THE FINAL THREE WEEKS \h\h\h\hOF GRUELING SEA TRIALS,

TESTING HER MANEUVERABILITY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SPEED.

Man on loudspeaker: HEAR THAT, THE SHIP’S COMPANY IS REMINDED

THAT THE SHIP WILL CONTINUE \h\h\h\h\h\hTO ROLL HEAVILY

DUE TO STEERING GEAR TRIALS

\h\hFOR APPROXIMATELY THE NEXT 3-0 MINUTES.

THAT IS ALL.

Man: THREE, TWO, ONE, MARK, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSTARBOARD 35.

RATE OF TURN INCREASING \h\h\h\h\hTO STARBOARD.

Narrator: AFTER EXTENDED REPAIRS FOLLOWING A DISLODGED PROPELLER,

\h\h\hTHE CREW ARE ONCE AGAIN PUTTING HER THROUGH HER PACES

ON THE STRAIGHT AND ON THE TURN.

EVERYONE’S WORST FEAR

IS THAT THE PROPELLER BLADES \h\hWILL BECOME LOOSE AGAIN.

\h\h\hAFTER TWO DAYS OF HIGH-SPEED TRIALS,

DIVERS CHECK THE PROPELLERS.

IT’S A REAL MOMENT OF TRUTH.

[DIVER BREATHING]

Man: IT LOOKS GOOD. \hEVERYTHING FINE.

\h\h\h\hInterviewer: HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

Pat Midgely: RELIEVED. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h[LAUGHS]

RELIEVED, YEAH.

THAT’S WHAT WE WANTED,

\h\h\h\h\hNO MOVEMENT ON ANY OF THE BLADES.

EVEN THOUGH WE’VE BEEN SORT OF THRASHING AROUND THE NORTH SEA

FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

NO, A GOOD RESULT. \h\h\hGOOD RESULT.

Interviewer: I RECKON YOU’RE GONNA SLEEP WELL TONIGHT, PAT.

\h\hMidgely: WHEN WE GET TO PORTSMOUTH EVENTUALLY,

THAT’S WHEN I’LL BE, \h\h\hUH, VERY HAPPY.

Narrator: THE SUPERCARRIER \h\hIS SHIPSHAPE ONCE AGAIN

\h\h\h\hAND HEADS FURTHER INTO THE NORTH SEA FOR MORE TRIALS.

Man: READY TO 35 PORT. \h\h\h\h\h\hVERY GOOD.

SIR, SHOULD I COME AROUND \h\h\h\h\h\hTO STARBOARD?

Jerry Kyd: WE’VE BEEN HAULING \hUP AND DOWN THE MORAY FIRTH,

IT’S BEEN FANTASTIC.

\h\hALL THE INDICATIONS WE HAD WHEN WE FIRST TOOK HER TO SEA,

THAT FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS, UH, THAT SHE’S SOLID, SHE’S SOUND,

WE’RE GETTING POWER \h\h\hWHEN WE WANT,

WE’RE GETTING FASTER SPEEDS \h\hTHAN WE WERE EXPECTING,

UM, AND THIS IS NO RUBBISH, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW.

THIS IS FACT.

SHE’S, SHE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

UM, SO, DELIGHTED.

WELL, I’VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL, \h’CAUSE I WON’T TEMPT FATE,

\h\h\h\hBUT, UM, WE’RE PUSHING THROUGH THE TRIALS REALLY WELL.

Man: MIDSHIPS.

Narrator: ON BOARD, \h700 MEN AND WOMEN

CONTINUE TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THEIR BRAND-NEW SUPERCARRIER,

THE FLOATING GRAY CITY.

THE CAPTAIN’S LIVING QUARTERS

ARE IMMEDIATELY BELOW \h\h\h\h\hTHE BRIDGE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hA SHORT WALK FOR HIS PERSONAL STEWARDS

IN CASE HE WANTS SOMETHING.

Kirsty Rugg: HE WILL KILL ME \h\hFOR SAYING THIS AS WELL--

HE LOVES CHOCOLATE HOBNOBS.

Dickie Henderson: CAPTAIN’S FAVORITE, AS USUAL, HOBNOBS.

Rugg: [LAUGHS] HE LOVES THEM.

\h\h\h\h\h\hInterviewer: DID HE JUST ASK FOR THEM?

Henderson: HE DID.

HE DOES IT WITH HIS CHEEKY \hLITTLE GRIN ON HIS FACE,

"GOT ANY BISCUITS, DICKIE?"

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI SAY, "AYE, SIR, I’LL GO AND GET THEM FOR YOU."

Rugg: HE ALWAYS SAYS, \h"DON’T TELL MY WIFE

’CAUSE SHE’LL GO MAD,"

\hUM, ’CAUSE SHE’S A DOCTOR, AS WELL.

[LAUGHS]

Henderson: HOBNOBS, SIR.

DON’T LET HIS WIFE SEE THAT.

\h\hKyd: YEAH, I KNOW, I’M BANNED ON HOBNOBS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI CAN’T. BUT WE’RE AT SEA, DICKIE.

\h\h\hWHAT HAPPENS AT SEA STAYS AT SEA, DOESN’T IT?

Henderson: UNLESS YOU’VE GOT...

Kyd: DON’T TELL MY WIFE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHANKS, MATE. THAT’S IT, AFTER THAT.

AFTER THIS PACKET, THAT’S IT, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hI’M ON A DIET.

Narrator: EVERY SAILOR WORKS \h\hFOR A PARTICULAR BRANCH--

LOGISTICS, WEAPONS ENGINEERING, \h\h\h\h\h\hMARINE ENGINEERING,

AVIATION, OR WARFARE.

\h\h\h\hDANI HOBBS IS A GUNNERY INSTRUCTOR.

[GUNFIRE]

Man: RANGE, 800 YARDS.

Dani Hobbs: I WANTED TO BE \h\h\h\h\hOUT IN THE OPEN,

\hSOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING EXCITING, UM,

AND GUNNER WAS, WAS THE BEST \h\hROUTE FOR ME TO DO THAT.

[GUNFIRE]

I NEED TO BE OUT IN THE OPEN \h\h\h\h\hSHOOTING, I GUESS.

[LAUGHTER]

IT’S EXCITING.

Narrator: DANI, 27, HAS BEEN IN THE NAVY FOR SEVEN YEARS.

Hobbs: I CHOSE THE NAVY, REALLY, ’CAUSE OF AN OPPORTUNITY

TO TRAVEL, TO SEE MORE \h\h\h\h\hOF THE WORLD.

UM, MY AUNTIE WAS IN THE NAVY \hYEARS AGO, SO WAS MY UNCLE.

THEY HAD A GREAT LIFE \h\h\h\hIN THE NAVY,

SO I KIND OF JUST FOLLOWED THAT.

[GUNFIRE]

Bob Hawkins: PIPE THE STILL. \h\h\h\h\h\h[WHISTLE BLOWING]

\h\hONE ELEPHANT, TWO ELEPHANT, THREE ELEPHANT, FOUR ELEPHANT,

\hFIVE ELEPHANT, SIX ELEPHANT, SEVEN ELEPHANT, EIGHT ELEPHANT.

[WHISTLE STOPS] \h\hWELL DONE.

STAND TO ATTENTION, SHIPMATE, \h\h\h\h\hWE’RE DOING ROUNDS.

Narrator: THE YOUNGEST SAILOR \h\h\hON HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

IS 17 YEARS OLD.

THE OLDEST IS 55.

\hMan: PERMISSION TO CARRY ON, SIR.

Hawkins: YES, PLEASE.

Man: THANK YOU, SIR.

Hawkins: THANK YOU.

Narrator: BOB HAWKINS HAS BEEN \h\h\hIN THE NAVY FOR 38 YEARS.

Hawkins: IT STILL HASN’T \h\hBEEN CLEANED UP YET.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: HE IS THE FIRST LIEUTENANT

ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH,

RESPONSIBLE FOR WELFARE, DISCIPLINE, AND MORALE.

\h\h\hHawkins: THE CAPTAIN IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED

IN THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR ESCAPE PLANS ARE.

Narrator: AND IT’S BOB’S JOB \hTO OVERSEE EVENING ROUNDS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hA NAVAL TRADITION SINCE THE DAYS OF HENRY VIII

IN THE 16th CENTURY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS INVOLVES A SENIOR OFFICER CHECKING IN

WITH EVERY MESS DECK \h\h\h\hEVERY EVENING

TO HEAR ABOUT CONCERNS.

RIGHT NOW, IT’S ABOUT QUEUES \h\h\h\h\hFOR FOOD, OR SCRAN.

Hawkins: I WILL KEEP TAKING \hYOUR FEEDBACK ON THE SCRAN

IF IT DOESN’T APPEAR \hTO BE WORKING, OK?

\hMEN COMING THROUGH FOR WORKING ROUNDS.

[KNOCKS ON WALL] HOW’S IT GOING?

I SEE DALTON, I SEE BEAUMONT. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU.

VERY WELL, HOW’S IT GOING?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWORKING ROUNDS, COVER YOURSELVES UP, LADIES.

WORKING ROUNDS.

\hOH, BIRTHDAY CAKE. SO, IT’S UM...GREAT.

SO, THIS IS RIGGED.

HAVE YOU OPENED YOUR HATCH?

Woman: WE HAVE, SIR.

\h\hHawkins: RIGHT. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR ESCAPE APPARATUS IS?

\h\hSO, EVERYONE’S COMPLETELY CONTENT

WITH HOW YOU’RE GONNA \h\hGET OUT OF HERE.

♪

\hMan: RIGHT, GENTS, TALLEST THIS END, SHORTEST THAT END.

\hNarrator: WHEN THE SHIP ENTERS HER NEW HOME BASE OF PORTSMOUTH

IN A FEW WEEKS,

THE SAILORS WILL BE LINING \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE FLIGHT DECK

ACCORDING TO NAVAL TRADITION.

SO, ALREADY THEY’RE SORTING OUT \h\hPOSITIONS IN HEIGHT ORDER.

Interviewer: DO YOU THINK \h\h\hTHE QUEEN ELIZABETH

HAS BECOME A HOME NOW?

Kyd: SHE HAS. AND, UH, YOU KNOW,

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE FLY DECK NOW FULL OF OUR PEOPLE.

\h\h\h\h\hAND, OF COURSE, OUR EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT

IS ABSOLUTELY COMING TOGETHER,

AND YOU SEE A LOT OF BANTER NOW, NAVAL HUMOR.

AND, OF COURSE, GETTING THE SHIP TO SEA WAS CRUCIAL FOR THAT.

’CAUSE WHEN THE SHIP’S ALONGSIDE

AND PEOPLE GO HOME TO THEIR \h\hHOUSES AND THEIR BUNKS,

YOU KNOW, YOU DON’T GET THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

SO, THIS EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AT SEA FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO

\h\h\h\hHAS JUST CEMENTED THAT SENSE OF BELONGING,

THAT SORT OF BADGE, UH,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SORT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH CAP TALLY,

WHICH MAKES YOU FEEL PART \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE TRIBE,

PART OF THE FAMILY.

Woman: 93. \hMan: 94.

Woman: 97. Woman: 98.

\hMan: 99. Woman: 100.

Woman: 101. \hWoman: 2.

Woman: 3. Woman: 4.

Man: 5.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hStacy Foster: DAN, YOU KNOW WHEN TO, LIKE,

TO FILM IN FOR THE PAJAMA THING,

YOU KNOW WHEN TO SHOUT, \h\h"GIRLS, YOU’RE ON."

\hNarrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH IS THE FIRST ROYAL NAVY WARSHIP

\hTO HAVE A TELEVISION STATION AND DEDICATED ONBOARD STUDIO,

SOVEREIGN TV.

\h\h\h\h\h\hInterviewer: IT’S ABOUT TO GO ON LIVE?

Foster: YEAH, ME AND CHARLOTTE \h\h\h\h\h\hARE ABOUT TO GO ON

\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE VERY FIRST LIVE BROADCAST ON SOVEREIGN TV.

\h\h\h\h\h\hCharlotte: AND WE’RE VERY NERVOUS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hFoster: YEAH. Charlotte: VERY NERVOUS.

Man: GIRLS, YOU’RE ON.

Charlotte: OH. GOOD EVENING, \h\h\h\hHMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,

\hAND WELCOME TO THE VERY FIRST LIVE BROADCAST ON SOVEREIGN TV.

IT’S NICE TO SEE YOU, \h\h\h\hTO SEE YOU...

Together: NICE.

Narrator: THEY’RE GOING \h\hTO BE BROADCASTING

THEIR OWN HOMEGROWN PROGRAMS, \hFROM QUIZ SHOWS TO COMEDIES.

Foster: THE PIZZA IS STILL FROZEN...

[LAUGHTER]

FROM ANONYMOUS.

Man: MAD SCIENTISTS, \h\hNEST EGG LAWYERS.

Narrator: ONE CHANNEL WILL SHOW

\hONLY NAVAL FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES.

\h\h\hWoman: IT WAS WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED

\h\h\hTHAT THEY WERE SENDING WOMEN TO SEA,

I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A PhD.

Narrator: TODAY IS THE START \h\h\h\h\h\hOF AN OLD SERIES

FROM THE EARLY ’90s,

\h\h\hFILMED SOON AFTER WOMEN STARTED SERVING ON WARSHIPS,

\h\hAND IT’S STARRING A YOUNG BOB HAWKINS.

Hawkins: THE GREATEST THING THAT I ENJOY ABOUT THE NAVY

\h\h\h\hIS THE CAMARADERIE, STILL THE SENSE OF PURPOSE,

DESPITE, UM, THINGS CHANGING \h\h\h\h\h\hAROUND THE WORLD,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE COLD WAR NO LONGER BEING THERE.

THERE IS STILL A GREAT SENSE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF PURPOSE,

OF WISHING TO DO WELL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT PERSONALLY, THE THING I’VE HAD TO OVERCOME

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS \h\h\hIS WOMEN AT SEA.

Man: FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE.

\h\h\h\hHawkins: BECAUSE I ENJOY THE MALE CAMARADERIE IN THE NAVY

AND I ENJOY THE AGGRESSION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF A WARSHIP.

I’M NOT SURE WHETHER \h\h\hTHE FAIRER SEX,

\hAS I STILL LIKE TO THINK OF THEM.

\h\hQUOTE EQUAL RIGHTS TO ME TILL YOU’RE BLUE IN THE FACE,

\h\hBUT THEY ARE THE FAIRER SEX, THEY’RE CHILD BEARERS, YOU KNOW.

\h\hAND, UH, I’M OLD-FASHIONED ENOUGH TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,

\h\h\h\hWE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD PROTECT THEM.

Woman: I THOUGHT HE DID IT \h\hIN SUCH A GRACEFUL WAY,

UNTIL THAT LAST COMMENT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSO GRACEFUL, AND THEN "CHILD BEARERS"

JUST CAME OUT OF HIS MOUTH.

LIKE, WOW.

Woman: QUITE A STRONG STATEMENT \h\h\h\h\h\hTO MAKE, ISN’T IT?

Hawkins: MY VIEW WAS THEN \h\hAND STILL IS, CHRIS,

IT STILL IS, FROM--

THIS IS PERSONAL, PERSONALLY SPEAKING, NOW, BOB HAWKINS,

THAT IT, THAT IT, IT IS A VERY, \h\hVERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO

\hFOR A COUNTRY TO SEND ANYONE IN THEIR POPULATION INTO WAR.

IT’S A VICIOUS, NASTY BUSINESS.

\h\h\h\hTO ELECT TO DO THAT WITH OUR FEMALE POPULATION,

FOR ME, IS STILL, UM, \h\hA DILEMMA FOR ME.

WHAT THAT DOESN’T MEAN, THOUGH--

THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I DON’T VALUE

\h\hTHE CONTRIBUTION THAT OUR WOMEN MAKE.

INDEED, YOU KNOW, THE NOTION

\h\h\h\hTHAT WE DO NOT RECRUIT AND TRAIN AND EMPLOY, YOU KNOW,

\h50% OF OUR POPULATION, I THINK, IS UNACCEPTABLE.

\h\h\hAND, INDEED, WHEN I LOOK AT THE WOMEN THAT I SERVE WITH NOW,

I WOULD NOT WANT TO GO \hTO SEA WITHOUT THEM.

YOU KNOW, WE’VE GOT THE BEST,

WE GOT THE CREAM OF THE CROP, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW,

SOME OF THE BEST WOMEN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I, AND I, AND I-- I WOULD BE DISHONEST WITH MYSELF

\h\h\h\h\hIF I TRIED TO PRETEND THAT I DON’T STILL THINK IT IS,

UM, IT IS WRONG FOR OUR WOMEN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO GO TO WAR,

BUT THAT IS JUXTAPOSED \h\h\h\h\hWITH THE FACT

THAT I REALLY ENJOY THE COURAGE \h\h\hAND SKILL AND COMMITMENT

\h\h\h\h\hOF THE WOMEN THAT I SERVE WITH NOW.

I WOULD NOT WANT TO GO TO WAR \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITHOUT THEM.

THAT’S THE DILEMMA, FOR ME.

\h\h\hWoman: YOU NEED TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT.

PULL! PULL!

\h\h\h\hNarrator: TUG OF WAR IS A TRADITIONAL NAVAL SPORT

AND IS ALWAYS KEENLY CONTESTED,

NO LESS SO NOW THAN WHEN IT WAS MEN AGAINST MEN.

[CHEERING]

Foster: WE’RE IN THE SEMIFINAL,

WHICH IS GOOD FOR 13 WRENS \h\hAGAINST 8 BLOKES, SO...

Woman: PULL!

Woman: 26, HEAVE!

26, HEAVE!

[APPLAUSE]

Foster: YEAH, LIKE, OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A WIN,

BUT JUST GETTING TO THE FINAL \h\h\hWAS, IS WINNING ENOUGH.

\h\h\h\hMan: THEY HAD US, YEAH, I’LL GIVE YOU THAT,

YOU HAD US WORRIED IN THE FIRST ONE.

Foster: YEAH, IF WE \h\hWAS GONNA LOSE,

\hI’D WANT TO LOSE AGAINST THIS GUY,

\hLIKE, HE’S JUST, YOU KNOW, HE’S...

Man: KISSING ARSE TOO MUCH?

[LAUGHTER]

♪

Emma Ranson: SO, YOU KNOW \h\h\hTHE CONTENT OF IT.

Narrator: ANOTHER WOMAN PULLING \hMORE THAN HER WEIGHT ON BOARD

IS 29-YEAR-OLD PETTY OFFICER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEMMA RANSON,

IN CHARGE OF UPPER DECK \h\h\h\h\hFIREFIGHTING,

ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS \h\h\hON ANY AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

Ranson: SO HOW WE GO ABOUT THAT

\h\h\h\h\hIS YOU’VE GOT YOUR WATER TANK THERE,

AND THEN WE’VE GOT \hTHE WATER VALVE.

WE WORK UP ON THE FLIGHT DECK,

AND THE FIREFIGHTING SIDE, \h\hI ABSOLUTELY LOVE, NOW.

\h\h\hWHEN I FIRST JOINED, I WASN’T OVERLY KEEN ON IT,

\h\h\h\h\hBUT, SORT OF, NOW, THE MORE I’VE BEEN DOING IT,

\h\h\h\h\hAND I ALSO DO A LOT OF THE TRAINING SIDE AS WELL,

I REALLY ENJOY IT.

\h\h\hBEAR IN MIND, ON A CRASH ON DECK, WHAT DOES THE SHIP DO?

TURNS INTO WIND, OK?

SO, AS SOON AS IT TURNS \h\h\h\h\h\hINTO WIND,

\h\h\hWE’LL GET ROUGHLY ABOUT 40-METER THROW FROM THIS, OK?

\hCOUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE HAD A TRIAL OF THIS,

THE THROW ON THIS WAS UNBELIEVABLE,

\h\hAND THAT’S WHEN WE HAD A LOT OF WIND GOING TO US.

ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL \h\hPIECE OF KIT, OK?

♪

\h\h\hMan: ABOUT TO COMMENCE ROYAL NAVY TRAINING EXERCISE,

NO ACTION TO BE TAKEN.

\hKyd: THEY’RE TESTING ALL THE PIPES AND TUBES

AROUND THE SHIP, OF WHICH THERE--

THERE’S JUST THOUSANDS OF MILES.

AND PART OF THAT SYSTEM \h\h\h\hIS THE PRE-WET,

WHICH IS WHERE WE CAN SHOVE \h\h\h\h\h\hA LOT OF WATER

\h\hINTO A MIST SYSTEM AROUND THE FLIGHT DECK,

\h\h\h\h\h\hIF WE’RE IN A NUCLEAR FALLOUT AREA,

SO ALL THE NUCLEAR FALLOUT

GETS WASHED OVER THE SIDE \h\h\h\h\h\hVERY QUICKLY.

WE ALSO USE THE SAME PIPEWORK

\h\h\hFOR A SERIOUS FIRE OR A CRASH ON YOUR DECK.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: EMERGENCY WATER SPRINKLERS

DO HAVE ANOTHER ATTRACTION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON A HOT DAY.

[LAUGHTER]

Woman: YOU’VE GOT TO CATCH US \h\h\h\h\h\hWHEN WE’RE HERE?

LOOK AT US, WE LOOK DISGUSTING!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFoster: IT DIDN’T TASTE VERY GOOD.

IT PROBABLY LOOKED BETTER \hTHAN IT FELT TO DO IT.

Woman: YEAH, IT WAS \hPRETTY DISGUSTING.

Foster: IT WAS--I DIDN’T REALIZE IT WAS SALTWATER AT THE TIME.

Woman: SO, WHAT-- \hWHAT WAS THAT?

Foster: WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

Woman: IS THAT IF WE HAD A FIRE \h\h\h\h\h\hON THE FLIGHT DECK?

\h\h\hMan: CORRECT, THIS IS FOR DEALING

\h\h\hWITH LARGE FUEL FIRES ON THE FLIGHT DECK, LADIES,

SO WE CAN COVER THE WHOLE DECK \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN ITS ENTIRETY

WITH FOAM AND WATER.

GOOD, ISN’T IT?

Foster: VERY IMPRESSIVE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hInterviewer: DO YOU THINK IT’S INEVITABLE

THAT A CRASH WILL OCCUR IN THE SHIP’S LIFETIME?

Kyd: UM, SADLY TO SAY, UM, \h\h\h\h\h\hWITH THE, THE,

WITH THE NATURE OF THINGS,

\h\h\h\hTHIS SHIP’S IN SERVICE FOR THE NEXT 30, 40, 50 YEARS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSAD TO SAY, THE LIKELIHOOD IS IT WILL,

PARTICULARLY IF WE GO TO COMBAT,

WHERE AIRCRAFT ARE COMING BACK \h\h\hIN A LESS THAN FIT STATE.

SO, 99.9% OF THE TIME

THIS FLIGHT DECK WOULD BE \h\h\h\hABSOLUTELY FINE,

IT’LL BE SEAMLESS, SMOOTH, WONDERFUL.

AND SUDDENLY [SNAPS FINGERS]

\h\h\h\hIN MY EXPERIENCE, AND I’VE HAD A FAIR FEW,

\h\h\hSOMETHING GOES WRONG VERY CATASTROPHICALLY, VERY QUICKLY.

AND THAT IS WHERE YOU DON’T WANT PANIC, YOU WANT CALM HEADS.

\hAND THAT COMES THROUGH DRILL, LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONALISM,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT’S WHY WE’RE SO FLIPPING PARANOID ABOUT IT,

\h\hUM, BECAUSE YOU, YOU CAN’T MESS ABOUT.

YOU CAN’T MESS ABOUT.

Narrator: IN THE EVENT OF FIRE,

ALONG WITH THE SPRAY SYSTEM \h\h\h\h\hKNOWN AS PRE-WET,

\hTHE FIREFIGHTING TEAMS WILL MOVE IN IMMEDIATELY

\hWITH FOAM HOSES, SUPPORTED BY THE CRASH FIRE VEHICLES.

Mark Deller: IT’S A BIG DECK.

THE REASON WE’VE GOT \h\hTHE VEHICLES NOW

\h\h\hIS ’CAUSE IT WOULD TAKE USAIN BOLT TO GET 30 SECONDS

TO ONE END OF THIS DECK \h\h\h\h\hTO THE OTHER.

\h\h\h\hSO, THE REALITY IS, UM, THE CRASH FIRE RESCUE VEHICLES

\h\h\h\h\h\hARE REALLY QUITE IMPORTANT TO US,

AND I’M REALLY PLEASED \hTHAT WE’VE GOT THEM.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S DIFFICULT TO EXAGGERATE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHOW DANGEROUS AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER CAN BE,

\h\h\h\h\hAS SEEN HERE ON AN AMERICAN CARRIER.

\h\h\h\hFIRES CAN QUICKLY TURN INTO INFERNOS IF NOT CONTAINED,

\hSPREADING RAPIDLY TO THREATEN THE SHIP AND EVERYONE ON BOARD.

ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH, \h\hIF ALL SEEMS LOST,

THERE IS A LAST RESORT, \h\hA DOOMSDAY OPTION,

WHERE THE WATER PIPES ARE FILLED WITH FOAM SUPPRESSANTS

\h\hTHAT WILL ENSHROUD THE ENTIRE FLIGHT DECK.

THIS IS A FIRST FOR ANY WARSHIP \h\h\hIN THE ROYAL NAVY FLEET.

♪

♪

♪

John Ball: THE REASON \hWE’RE GOING INTO IT

IS WE HAVE TO TAKE SAMPLES \h\h\h\h\hFROM EACH OF THE,

EACH OF THE, UH, JETS, \h\h\h\h\hIF YOU LIKE,

THROUGH EACH OF THE NOZZLES \h\h\h\h\hTHAT’S COMING UP,

WE’VE GOT TO, UH, TAKE A SAMPLE

OF THE FOAM AND WATER \h\hTHAT’S COMING UP

\h\h\h\h\hTO MAKE SURE IT’S AT THE RIGHT CONCENTRATION.

’CAUSE IF IT’S TOO WEAK \h\h\h\h\hOR TOO THICK,

IT WON’T EXTINGUISH THE FIRE \h\h\hTHE WAY WE WANT IT TO.

\h\h\hSO, YEAH, IT’S A, IT’S A, IT’S A MANUAL WAY OF DOING IT,

BUT IT’S EFFECTIVE.

[RANSON SHOUTING]

Man: ALL GOOD.

[LAUGHTER]

Deller: AND IT’S A GREAT DAY OUT

FOR EVERYONE WHO COMES UP \h\h\hFOR THE FOAM PARTY,

BUT MY BOYS HAVE NOW GOT TO \h\hCLEAR THAT RUBBISH UP.

AND, AND THAT IS GONNA TAKE \h\h\hTHE MONTH OF SUNDAYS

’CAUSE IT’S EXTREMELY CORROSIVE.

SO, HAVING HAD A BRAND-NEW DECK \h\hLAID FOR US BY THE COMPANY,

WHICH IS REALLY NICE, WE’VE NOW \h\h\hCOVERED IT IN THAT STUFF.

\h\h\hWE’VE GOT TO GET THAT OFF THE DECK PRETTY QUICKLY

\h\h\hAND, UM, THEN FRESHWATER WASH IT.

SO, WE’RE GONNA LOOK \h\hFOR A RAINCLOUD.

THE CAPTAIN’S GONNA GO \hLOOKING FOR RAIN NOW

\h\hTO SEE IF WE CAN WASH IT OFF THE DECK.

\h\h\hRanson: RIGHT, GUYS, ALL HANDS UP. [INDISTINCT]

IT’S JUST AMAZING,

\h\hI’VE NEVER KNOWN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN THE NAVY BEFORE.

\h\h\hNOW THAT WE’VE GOT IT, QE, ONCE AGAIN, FIRST OF EVERYTHING.

I MEAN, WHAT MORE \hCAN WE ASK FOR?

\h\h\hSO, IT’S JUST, AS I SAID, THE FOAM,

THE SHEER SCALE OF IT, \h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S JUST,

IT BRINGS A WARM FUZZY FEELING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WE KNOW

IF WE POTENTIALLY, WE DO HAVE A CRASH ON DECK, WE’RE SORTED.

♪

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

IS ON HER FOURTH WEEK \h\h\hOF SEA TRIALS.

ON SOVEREIGN TV,

THEY’RE SHOWING THE LAST EPISODE OF BOB’S OLD NAVY SERIES,

TAKING HIM BACK 23 YEARS

TO WHEN HIS WIFE JOAN \hAND TWO SMALL BOYS

\hWERE THERE TO MEET HIM ON HIS RETURN FROM SEA.

Joan Hawkins: LOOK, SEE HIM \h\h\hAT THE FRONT, THERE?

THERE’S DADDY WAVING. \h\hLOOK, LOOK, LOOK.

Narrator: SOME YEARS LATER, BOB LOST HIS WIFE TO CANCER.

[BAND PLAYING]

[CLEARS THROAT]

\hHawkins: IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO, UH, TO WATCH THAT, CHRIS.

JUST, UH, 11 YEARS LATER, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 2005,

UH, UH, JOAN, UH...

JOAN PASSED AWAY, UNFORTUNATELY.

\h\h\hWE’D BEEN MARRIED JUST SHORT OF 19 YEARS,

\h\hAND, UH, AND IT WAS, IT’S EXTRAORDINARILY SAD,

THE WHOLE...PROCESS OF, OF BEREAVEMENT.

SO, IT WAS 12 YEARS AGO \hTHAT SHE PASSED AWAY,

BUT THE INTENSITY OF THE SADNESS

DOESN’T SEEM TO...DIMINISH.

\h\h\h\hI--I CAN’T IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE FOR MY SONS...

WHO LOST THEIR MOTHER.

Interviewer: SO, BOB, IS IT THE LOSS OF JOAN

\hTHAT MAKES YOU THINK THE WAY YOU DO ABOUT WOMEN ON WARSHIPS?

Hawkins: YES, YES, IT--YES,

INDEED, IT KIND OF, UH, \h\h\h\h\hCRYSTALLIZES,

\h\h\h\hUM, YOU KNOW, WHO I AM AS A PERSON.

\h\h\h\hUM, UH, THE NOTION THAT A MOTHER SHOULD BE PUT INTO WAR

\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT HER CHILDREN WOULD LOSE HER IF SHE WAS IN...

DIED IN COMBAT...

I JUST WOULD NOT WANT THEM--

I WOULDN’T WANT ANYBODY \h\hTO LOSE THEIR DAD,

\h\h\h\hBUT, UM, HAVING SEEN THE, UH, THE PAIN THAT, UH...

THAT MY SONS HAVE SUFFERED...

♪

Hobbs: I’VE ONLY EVER KNOWN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS NAVY,

WHERE FEMALES DO ALL JOBS.

IF ANYTHING DID KICK OFF, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEN, YES,

I WILL BE ON THE UPPER DECK \hWITH THE GUYS ON THE, UM,

ON THE GUNS, AND DIRECT THEM.

[GUNFIRE]

\hIT’S--IT’S JUST, THAT’S PART OF IT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSO, UM, I DON’T, I DON’T THINK ABOUT IT OFTEN.

IF IT HAPPENS, THEN I’LL, \h\h\hYOU KNOW, IT JUST,

YOU JUST GET ON WITH IT.

Ranson: WHAT WE’RE GONNA DO \h\hNEXT TIME FOR YOU GUYS

\h\h\hIS WE’RE GONNA PARK YOU ON A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANGLE.

MY PERSONAL DECISION IS I’VE CHOSE THIS CAREER.

I’VE CHOSE THIS CAREER PATH,

AND IT’S A PATH THAT I’M \h\h\h\hREALLY PROUD OF,

\h\h\h\h\hAND I LOVE IT, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY JOB.

\h\h\h\h\hAND REGARDLESS WHETHER, IF WE POSSIBLY GO TO WAR OR NOT,

I’LL NEVER CHANGE IT.

THAT’S HOW I FEEL.

UH, GET THE NEXT GUYS \h\h\hON P.P. FOR ME.

ALL RIGHT? THANK YOU.

Narrator: FOUR DAYS LATER, \h\h\h\hTHE QUEEN ELIZABETH

HEADS UP TO THE ORKNEY ISLANDS

AND A VERY SPECIAL PLACE \h\hFOR THE ROYAL NAVY--

SCAPA FLOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT WAS HOME TO THE BRITISH GRAND FLEET

DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR

AND AN IMPORTANT NAVAL BASE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

Kyd: THIS IS A HUGE SPACE.

THE GRAND FLEET WAS IN HERE \h\hIN THE FIRST WORLD WAR.

\hSO, NOW, AND I’D RATHER NOT RUSH OUT

\hBECAUSE IT’S SUCH A SPECIAL OCCASION,

\hAND LET’S LET, YOU KNOW, IT’S AN HISTORIC OCCASION.

Narrator: BUT MORE SIGNIFICANTLY FOR THE QUEEN ELIZABETH,

SCAPA FLOW IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE VERY FIRST AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

EXACTLY 100 YEARS AGO TODAY.

ON AUGUST 2, 1917, HMS FURIOUS, \h\hA CONVERTED BATTLE CRUISER,

\h\hBECAME THE FIRST MOVING LANDING STRIP IN THE WORLD,

\h\hWHEN A SOPWITH PUP BIPLANE, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM BELOW,

LANDED SUCCESSFULLY, IF A LITTLE BUMPILY.

THE PILOT WAS

25-YEAR-OLD SQUADRON COMMANDER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEDWIN DUNNING.

Kyd: HE DID THE FLIGHT HERE AND THE FOLLOWING WEEK DIED.

Man: I BELIEVE IT WAS \hHIS THIRD ATTEMPT,

UM, TURBULENCE OR SOMETHING,

\hAND THE AIRCRAFT WENT OVER THE SHIP’S SIDE...

Kyd: YEAH.

\h\hMan: AND HE WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS

AND DROWNED IN THE AIRCRAFT.

Jez Brettel: OK, JUST CHECK \h\h\hQUARTERS, THEN PULL.

FIVE CABLES TO RUN, EXPECTED \h\hDEPTH 36 METERS ON TRACK,

\h\hEXPECTING TO ANCHOR IN 35 METERS OF WATER.

BOTTOM TYPE IS ROCK.

Narrator: SOME OF THE MOST \hSIGNIFICANT NAVAL ACTION

\h\hOF WORLD WAR TWO BEGAN IN SCAPA FLOW.

THE HUNT FOR THE GERMAN \h\hBATTLESHIP BISMARCK

STARTED HERE,

AND THIS WAS THE BASE FOR THE ARCTIC CONVOYS

THAT TOOK VITAL WAR SUPPLIES \h\h\h\h\hTO NORTHERN RUSSIA.

BUT SCAPA FLOW WAS NOT ALL ABOUT SUCCESS FOR THE ROYAL NAVY.

IT WAS HERE AT THE START \h\h\h\hOF WORLD WAR TWO

THAT GERMANY STRUCK ITS FIRST MAJOR BLOW

IN AN ACTION THAT WAS AS DEADLY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS IT WAS DARING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHawkins: ON THE 14th OF OCTOBER 1939,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGÜNTHER PRIEN, A MAGNIFICENT U-BOAT COMMANDER,

GERMAN U-BOAT COMMANDER, STEALED INTO SCAPA FLOW,

\h\h\h\h\hAND HE SANK TWO SHIPS, ONE OF THEM BEING HMS ROYAL OAK,

WHO, UH, IS LYING IN, IN 33 METERS OF WATER,

\h\hJUST A FEW CABLES AWAY FROM WHERE WE ARE ANCHORED.

\hMan: BRIDGE BOATSWAIN, CONTENT FOR THE LAUNCH,

AWAITING THE LAUNCH \hFROM THE BRIDGE.

Narrator: AMAZINGLY, TWO MEN \h\h\hON HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

ARE DESCENDED FROM SAILORS \hKILLED ON THE ROYAL OAK,

AND BOB HAWKINS IS TAKING THEM

TO THE EXACT LOCATION \h\h\h\hOF THE WRECK,

SO THEY CAN PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO THEIR LONG-LOST RELATIVES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHawkins: BIT FURTHER ON, COXSWAIN.

GOT IT?

ALL RIGHT, WE’RE ON TOP \h\hOF THE WRECK, NOW.

Hawkins: OK, NATHAN, NATHAN LOGAN, B.A.E.

LEADER CHARLES, AIR DEPARTMENT.

\hUNDERNEATH HERE IS HMS ROYAL OAK.

\h\h\h\hYOU BOTH HAVE RELATIVES THAT PASSED AWAY IN THE SHIP--

YOUR GRANDFATHER, NATHAN,

AND YOUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER, \h\h\h\h\h\hLEADER CHARLES.

\h\h\hJustin Charles: THAT’S CORRECT, SIR.

Hawkins: GOD BLESS THEM.

\h\hTHEY ARE APPROXIMATELY 30 METERS BENEATH YOU NOW.

UM, 14th OF OCTOBER 1939,

GÜNTHER PRIEN GOT IN HERE \h\h\h\h\hIN HIS U-BOAT,

GÜNTHER PRIEN HIT \hWITH ONE TORPEDO

\h\h\h\h\hAND THEN HIT WITH A SECOND TORPEDO.

880 MEN LOST THEIR LIVES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT DAY.

I THINK WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE RIGHT NOW

\h\hIS A MINUTE’S SILENCE IN HONOR OF THOSE PEOPLE.

♪

♪

GOD BLESS THEM.

Nathan Logan: QUITE POIGNANT.

I LOST MY FATHER THIS YEAR, SO HE’D HAVE BEEN VERY PROUD

OF THE FACT THAT WE WENT OUT \h\h\hAND PAID OUR RESPECTS.

Charles: IT WAS IMPORTANT TO COME HERE, FOR MYSELF,

\hOBVIOUSLY, BEING IN THE NAVY AS WELL, BUT ALSO FOR MY NAN,

TO BE ABLE TO PAY MY RESPECTS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO HER FATHER.

I’M SURE SHE’S GONNA \h\h\h\h\hAPPRECIATE

THAT WE’VE BEEN OUT HERE \h\h\h\h\h\hAND DONE IT.

Narrator: FROM REMEMBERING THOSE LOST ON THE ROYAL OAK IN 1939

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO REMEMBERING SQUADRON COMMANDER DUNNING,

KILLED IN 1917,

TODAY, 100 YEARS LATER,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MOST ADVANCED AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN THE WORLD

IS HERE TO PAY RESPECTS \h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE MAN

WHO PROVED THAT AIRCRAFT \h\hCOULD OPERATE AT SEA.

Man: PIPE THE STILL.

[BLOWING WHISTLE]

Narrator: A SALUTE FROM THE SHIP

\h\h\h\h\hFOLLOWED BY A SALUTE FROM A ROYAL NAVY HAWK TRAINER

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFLYING IN FROM A SCOTTISH AIR BASE.

[JET ROARING]

Kyd: WELL, IT’S A SIGN \h\hOF THINGS TO COME,

AND IT’S GOOD FOR THE CREW \hON THE DECK TO SEE THIS,

\hBECAUSE, UH, WELL, IT’S A HAWK TRAINER,

IT’S A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH IS GREAT.

NEXT YEAR IT’LL BE F-35s.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: F-35 LIGHTNING FIGHTERS

\h\h\h\h\hARE THE WARPLANE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LAUNCH

OFF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH’S \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSKI JUMP.

AND AT A TOP-SECRET LOCATION \h\h\h\h\h\h3,000 MILES AWAY,

\h\h\hBRITISH PILOTS ARE TESTING THE F-35

\h\h\h\hON AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE SUPERCARRIER’S FLIGHT DECK.

\h\h\hGray: THIS SKI JUMP IS, IS ABSOLUTELY REPRESENTATIVE

OF OUR SKI JUMP, UH, ON QUEEN ELIZABETH,

AND THIS IS WHERE WE’VE DONE \h\h\h\h\hALL OF OUR TESTING

FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

Narrator: AT THE END OF 2018, \h\h\h\h\h\hNATH GRAY WILL BE

THE FIRST PILOT TO LAND AN F-35 \h\h\h\hON HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Gray: IS IT EXCITING?

I DON’T THINK THERE COULD BE ANY BETTER JOB IN THE WORLD.

BUT WHEN WE ACTUALLY PUT \h\h\h\hTHE FIRST WHEEL,

WHEN THE, WHEN THE RUBBER \h\h\h\h\hHITS THE DECK,

\h\h\h\hAND WE HAVE THAT, THAT CAPABILITY OF CARRIER STRIKERS

\h\h\h\hDELIVERED BACK TO THE UNITED KINGDOM,

\hTHAT WE’VE MISSED, UH, FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS,

UM, THAT, THAT’S GONNA BE \h\h\h\h\hA HUGE MOMENT.

\hNarrator: THE F-35 CAN FLY AT WELL OVER 1,000 MILES PER HOUR.

ITS STEALTH CHARACTERISTICS MAKE IT ALL BUT INVISIBLE IN COMBAT.

\h\hCURRENTLY, ONE F-35B COSTS AROUND $122 MILLION

AND CAN BE ARMED WITH SHORT- \hAND MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILES,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAS WELL AS PRECISION-GUIDED BOMBS.

\h\hAND THE MARITIME VARIANT BEING DEVELOPED FOR THE NAVY

IS CAPABLE OF HOVERING.

THIS WILL BE FLOWN BY ROYAL NAVY AND ROYAL AIR FORCE PILOTS

OFF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH.

IT IS THEN HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH WILL FINALLY BE BATTLE-READY,

WITH ARGUABLY THE MOST ADVANCED \h\h\h\hJET FIGHTER EVER MADE.

\hInterviewer: IT’S A LONG WAY FROM COMMANDER DUNNING IN 1917.

Gray: IT’S UNBELIEVABLE, YEAH,

\h\h\h\hTO, TO LOOK, LOOK BACK AT DUNNING A HUNDRED YEARS AGO,

TO LOOK AT THE SHIPS \h\hHE WAS LANDING ON

WITH THE AIRCRAFT HE WAS IN,

\h\hCOMPARED TO OUR AIRCRAFT NOW AND THE QUEEN ELIZABETH CARRIER,

I MEAN, YOU COULD NEVER \h\h\h\h\hHAVE IMAGINED

WE COULD MAKE THOSE LEAPS.

\hAND WHERE WE’LL BE AGAIN IN A HUNDRED YEARS’ TIME,

WHO KNOWS?

LET’S GO.

Narrator: THE QUEEN ELIZABETH

HAS BEEN DESIGNED \hAROUND THE F-35,

\hTHE HOPE BEING THAT SHIP AND AIRCRAFT WILL COMBINE

TO DOMINATE THE COMBAT ZONE \h\h\h\h\hAS NEVER BEFORE.

THE REAL STRENGTH OF THE F-35 IS ITS COMPUTER INTELLIGENCE,

GIVING IT THE ABILITY TO ABSORB AND PROCESS

\h\h\h\hVAST AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION INSTANTLY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS WILL ENABLE IT TO SECOND-GUESS ENEMY INTENTIONS

AND GIVE IT OVERALL COMMAND \h\h\hOF THE BATTLE SPACE.

\h\h\h\h\hIT REALLY IS THE STUFF OF STAR WARS.

\hGray: WHETHER IT’S BEFORE THE MISSION,

SO, MISSION PLANNING,

WHETHER IT’S DURING THE MISSION \hOR WHETHER IT’S POST-MISSION,

\h\h\hTHE, THE CARRIER’S EQUIPPED TO EFFICIENTLY SOAK THE AIRCRAFT

OF ALL THE INFORMATION \h\h\h\h\hTHAT IT HAS,

AND THEN RELAY THAT STRAIGHTAWAY TO THE NEXT BATTLE SPACE.

HERE’S THE CONVERSION.

TOWER HAVE GIVEN ME \h\hTHE CLEARANCE,

WE’RE CLEARED FOR THE SKI JUMP.

\hWE’RE CLEARED. HERE’S THE POWER.

BRAKE RELEASE.

YOU FEEL LIKE, LIKE YOU’RE \h\h\hON TOP OF THE WORLD.

\h\h\hTHE THRUST OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE MANEUVERABILITY, PHENOMENAL.

YOU FEEL UNDEFEATABLE,

\hYOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE THE KING OF THE CASTLE,

GOING INTO THAT ARENA.

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE \h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD

WHICH WILL COMPETE WITH US

WHEN WE MATE THE AIRCRAFT \h\h\h\hWITH THE CARRIER.

\h\hIT’S A STEP WAY BEYOND WHAT WE’VE EVER HAD BEFORE.

Narrator: THE F-35 REPRESENTS A NEW DAWN FOR THE ROYAL NAVY,

ONE THAT SIGNIFIES \h\hTHE STRONG BOND

\h\h\hWITH THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN’S CLOSEST NAVAL ALLY.

AND BACK IN THE NORTH SEA, \h\h\h\hTHE QUEEN ELIZABETH

\h\h\h\h\hIS ABOUT TO PROVE THE STRENGTH OF THAT BOND.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBrettel: NAVIGATING OFFICER SPEAKING.

\h\h\hOVER THE COURSE OF THE MORNING WATCH,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SHIP HAS MET UP WITH THE AMERICAN CARRIER GROUP

OF THE USS GEORGE BUSH.

THEY’RE CURRENTLY SAT

LESS THAN 500 YARDS \hOFF OUR PORT BEAM.

THAT IS ALL.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS,

\h\hUSS GEORGE BUSH HAS BEEN DEPLOYED TO THE ARABIAN GULF,

\hSUPPORTING GROUND TROOPS AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE.

♪

RIGHT NOW SHE’S ESCORTED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY WARSHIPS

FROM THE UNITED STATES, \h\hBRITAIN AND NORWAY.

Kyd: IT’S GOOD TO SEE \h\h\hA KEY ALLY HERE

ALONGSIDE US IN THE MORAY FIRTH,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THIS IS THE GEORGE H.W. BUSH,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAN AMERICAN NUCLEAR AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

WITH A FULL PHALANX OF AIRCRAFT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hARRANGED ON DECK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hInterviewer: THE GEORGE BUSH-TYPE CARRIER

IS MORE TRADITIONAL IN DESIGN.

Kyd: THEY ARE IN A WAY, YEAH.

\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE BASED ON THE NIMITZ CLASS,

WHICH GOES BACK DECADES.

BUT, OF COURSE, THEY UPGRADE \h\hINTERNALLY, AND SO FORTH.

THERE ARE SUBTLE DIFFERENCES.

THEY’VE GOT ONE ISLAND, \h\h\h\hWE’VE GOT TWO.

WE’RE ELECTRIC PROPULSION, \h\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE NUCLEAR.

THIS AIRCRAFT CARRIER

IS THE FIRST GENERATION FIVE \h\h\h\h\h\hAIRCRAFT CARRIER,

AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER BUILT AROUND THE F-35 LIGHTNING.

SO, WE’VE GOT LOTS \h\hOF INNOVATIONS

AND NEW EQUIPMENT AND MOD CONS \h\h\hON THIS AIRCRAFT CARRIER

WHICH THEY DON’T HAVE.

UM, NOW, NOT CROWING \h\h\h\hOR BOASTING,

\hBUT THIS IS JUST A DIFFERENT BEAST,

IT’S A 21st CENTURY \hAIRCRAFT CARRIER.

BUT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, \h\hWE DO THE SAME OUTPUT,

WHICH IS DELIVERING AIR POWER,

\h\h\hAND, YOU KNOW, IT’S PRETTY AWESOME.

WE’VE GOT THE AMERICAN ADMIRAL \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOMING ACROSS,

\h\h\hWHO’S IN CHARGE OF THE BATTLE GROUP,

LITERALLY FOR A FLYING VISIT, \h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S 50 MINUTES,

\h\h\h\h\hSO A QUICK BACON ROLL, CUP OF BRITISH TEA, ENGLISH TEA,

AND THEN THEY’LL BE OFF AGAIN, \h\h\h\h\hBACK FOR THAT COFFEE.

Kenneth Whitsell: \h\h\hLOOKS GOOD.

Kyd: WELCOME ABOARD. \h\h\hCOME THIS WAY.

Whitsell: THANK YOU.

Kyd: HOW ARE YOU, SIR? \h\h\hGOOD TO SEE YOU.

\h\h\hWhitsell: THIS IS COOL. Kyd: GOOD TO SEE YOU. WELL...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWhitsell: HOW’S THE NEW CAR DRIVE?

Kyd: NOT BAD, ACTUALLY, \h\h\hWE’RE WORKING OUT

\h\hHER WEAKNESSES AND THE STRENGTHS.

YEAH, IT’S FANTASTIC, HOWEVER. \h\h\hWELCOME ON BOARD, ANYWAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWhitsell: HOW ARE YOU DOING, TODAY?

Man: NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

\h\hNarrator: BACON ROLLS AND ENGLISH BREAKFAST TEA

FOR THE U.S. NAVY.

NEXT TIME THESE TWO SHIPS \h\h\h\h\hSAIL TOGETHER,

\hTHEY MAY WELL BE DOING SO AS PART OF A JOINT RESPONSE

TO SOME UNFOLDING GLOBAL CRISIS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWhitsell: IT’S A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY.

THE ALLIANCE HAS BEEN THERE,

BUT WHEN YOU BRING THE POWER \hBETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES,

AND WITH THE ADDITION \hOF QUEEN ELIZABETH,

AGAIN, THE DETERRENCE FACTOR \h\h\hBETWEEN OUR TWO NATIONS

IS, UH, IS IMPRESSIVE.

\hMan: MORE IMPORTANTLY, SIR, DID YOU ENJOY YOUR BREAKFAST?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWhitsell: I HAD A GREAT BREAKFAST.

WELL, HE’LL PHOTOSHOP IT \h\h\h\hOUT LATER, BUT...

\h\h\h\h\hKyd: LOOK AT THAT, WITH THE BIG BEAST IN THE BACKGROUND,

LOOK AT THAT.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS WERE GOOD.

I THINK THEY’RE QUITE INTERESTED THAT WE’VE,

THE BRITS HAVE DONE SOMETHING \h\h\h\h\hSLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

UH, A DIFFERENT DESIGN AND REALLY, YOU KNOW,

THE FIRST TIME THIS SHIP’S BEEN \hALONGSIDE AN AMERICAN SISTER,

SO IT’S GOOD.

Man: AIRCRAFT CROSSING \h\h\h\hTHE DECK ZONE.

Man: RELAX AND FIND STATIONS, \h\hRELAX AND FIND STATIONS.

♪

[JETS ROARING]

Narrator: AMERICAN F-18 HORNETS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SALUTE TO HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

FROM USS GEORGE BUSH,

NOW ON THE WAY HOME

AFTER A LONG DEPLOYMENT \h\hIN THE MIDDLE EAST.

[JETS ROARING]

\h\hAND IT’S ALSO TIME FOR THE QUEEN ELIZABETH

TO HEAD FOR HOME, HER NEW HOME \h\h\hIN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND.

HER FIRST SEA TRIALS COMPLETE,

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH HEADS SOUTH \hTO HER NEW HOME OF PORTSMOUTH.

\hIT’LL BE THE FIRST OF MANY HOMECOMINGS

FOR THE QUEEN ELIZABETH OVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS,

RETURNING THOUSANDS OF SAILORS

FROM ACTIVE DUTY ON THE HIGH SEAS

TO THEIR LOVED ONES ASHORE.

\h\h\h\hAND SO, THE DAY ARRIVES WHEN BRITAIN’S BIGGEST WARSHIP

\h\h\h\hPREPARES TO MAKE HER LONG-AWAITED ENTRANCE

\h\h\hINTO PORTSMOUTH, HOME OF THE ROYAL NAVY.

♪

\h\hTHE CROWDS HAVE BEEN UP ALL NIGHT IN ANTICIPATION.

\hTHOUSANDS HAVE COME TO SEE THE SUPERCARRIER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Man: THREE CABLES TO RUN.

Hawkins: IT’S MONUMENTAL.

I THINK I SAID IT \hA WEE WHILE AGO,

\h\h\h\hIT PUTS THE GREAT BACK INTO GREAT BRITAIN.

♪

Narrator: THE SAILORS TAKE THEIR POSITIONS FOR HARBOR ENTRY.

♪

Kyd: PERSONALLY, VERY EMOTIONAL, VERY EMOTIONAL.

IT’S BEEN A LONG DAY COMING, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMY WORD,

THE AMOUNT OF WORK WE PUT IN \h\hTO GET HERE, GRACIOUS ME.

\h\h\hVERY PROUD, PROUD FOR THE SHIP’S COMPANY,

WHO HAVE DONE SO, SO BRILLIANTLY WELL TO GET US THIS FAR.

FOR ME, NEAR THE END \h\h\h\hOF MY CAREER,

\h\h\h\hSEEING THIS, THE FUTURE FLAGSHIP,

\hAND, UH, THE YOUNGSTERS ON BOARD, IT’S FANTASTIC.

SO, VERY PROUD.

♪

[CHEERING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHobbs: IT’S MASSIVELY CHALLENGING,

IT HAS BEEN SO FAR, AND I’M SURE IT WILL CARRY ON BEING.

WE’RE THE FIRST CREW TO SAIL \hWITH HER, THAT’S FOR SURE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYEAH, IT’S... IT’S PRETTY AWESOME, I GUESS,

IT’S DEFINITELY SOMETHING \hTO TELL THE GRANDKIDS.

[LAUGHING]

[APPLAUSE]

\hRanson: I FEEL LIKE, WHEN I JOINED THE NAVY,

\h\h\h\hTHIS IS WHAT I WAS WORKING UP TO.

\hSO, THIS IS, THIS IS SORT OF THE PINNACLE OF MY CAREER NOW.

\h\hTHIS IS A PERFECT WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR ME TO BE IN,

BECAUSE WE’VE GOT A BIGGER DECK,

WE’RE GONNA BE GETTING \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE F-35s.

IT’S JUST GONNA MAKE ME \h\hMORE AND MORE HAPPY

TO BE PART OF MY BRANCH \hAND PART OF THE NAVY

AND PART OF HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSHIP’S COMPANY.

SO, EXCITING TIMES TO COME.

\h\hNarrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH SQUEEZES INTO PORTSMOUTH HARBOR,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNEWLY DEEPENED AND CLEANSED OF GERMAN BOMBS.

♪

[SHIP HORN BLOWING]

♪

[SHIP HORN BLOWS]

♪

[BAND PLAYING]

THIS MOMENT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNINE YEARS AGO, THE SHIP’S FIRST STEEL WAS CUT.

\h\h\h\h10,000 WORKERS AND 51 MILLION MAN-HOURS LATER,

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH WENT TO SEA \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE FIRST TIME.

THAT WAS JUST SIX WEEKS AGO, \h\h\h\h\h\hBUT IN THAT TIME,

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HAS COME OF AGE, AND SO HAS HER CREW.

[BOOM]

Man: FLOOD, FLOOD, FLOOD.

Man: GO, GO, GO.

Man: PLASTIC SHEETING!

\h\h\h\hMan: IT’S COMING IN. THAT’S WHERE THE DANGER LIES.

[RADIO CHATTER]

Narrator: 700 SAILORS TOOK HER \h\hTHROUGH RIGOROUS SEA TRIALS

\hTO BRING BRITAIN’S FIRST SUPERCARRIER TO THIS POINT.

[GUNFIRE]

Brettel: YOUR NAVIGATING OFFICER SPEAKING.

Narrator: IT’S BEEN ABOUT \h\h\hPROVING A WARSHIP,

\hBUT ALSO BONDING A SHIP’S COMPANY.

Man: AH, THANK YOU. [LAUGHS]

Narrator: A FEW MONTHS LATER, \h\h\h\h\hHMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

IS FORMALLY COMMISSIONED \h\h\hINTO THE ROYAL NAVY

\h\h\hBY HER ROYAL NAMESAKE, HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH.

\h\hQueen Elizabeth: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,

THE MOST POWERFUL \hAND CAPABLE SHIP

EVER TO RAISE THE WHITE ENSIGN,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSHE WILL, IN THE YEARS AND DECADES AHEAD,

REPRESENT THIS COUNTRY’S RESOLVE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.

\h\h\h\hAT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE RESPONSIBILITIES

WILL BE THE MEN AND WOMEN

OF THE ROYAL NAVY AND ROYAL MARINES,

SUPPORTED BY THE ARMY, \h\h\hROYAL AIR FORCE,

AND BY COALITION PARTNERS.

Narrator: NOW, ONCE THE WHITE ENSIGN IS RAISED AT HER STERN,

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

WILL OFFICIALLY BECOME A ROYAL NAVY WARSHIP.

[OFFICER SHOUTING COMMANDS]

Officer: REMOVE HEAD DRESS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHREE CHEERS FOR HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN.

HIP HIP...

All: HOORAY!

Man: HIP HIP...

All: HOORAY!

Man: HIP HIP... \hAll: HOORAY!

♪

♪

♪