Original subtitles

[SHIP HORN BLOWS]

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

\h\h\h\h\hIS BRITAIN’S BIGGEST WARSHIP EVER.

Man: 435.

Woman: 435.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT TOOK NINE YEARS TO BUILD HER

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT A COST OF FOUR BILLION DOLLARS.

\h\hQueen Elizabeth: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

WILL, IN THE YEARS AND DECADES AHEAD,

REPRESENT THIS COUNTRY’S RESOLVE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.

All: HURRAH! HURRAH! HURRAH!

Narrator: BUT NOW IT’S TIME

TO GET THE QUEEN ELIZABETH OPERATIONAL, BATTLE-READY.

[MAN SHOUTING]

\h\h\h\h1,200 SAILORS, MARINES, AND AVIATORS

ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE ON A MAKE-OR-BREAK

FOUR-MONTH DEPLOYMENT \h\hON THE HIGH SEAS.

\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS TO FORGE A BRAND-NEW SHIP’S COMPANY

INTO AN EFFECTIVE \hFIGHTING FORCE.

AND THEIR MAIN MISSION

\h\h\hWILL BE TO TEST THE LETHAL F-35 LIGHTNING STEALTH FIGHTER,

CAPABLE OF SUPERSONIC SPEED

AS WELL AS A STATIONARY HOVER.

Man: WITH THE AIRCRAFTS

\h\h\hMARRIED UP TO HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,

\h\h\h\hTHERE’S NOWHERE IN THE WORLD WE CAN’T GO

AND THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN’T DO.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT ON THIS DEPLOYMENT

NOT EVERYTHING WILL GO \h\hACCORDING TO PLAN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h[BOOM] Man: FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!

Man: FLOOD! FLOOD! FLOOD!

IN BRIDGE MACHINERY SPACE.

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

\h\h\h\h\hOF BRITAIN’S MOST POWERFUL WARSHIP.

Man: SOMETIMES YOU GO FOR DAYS

WITHOUT SEEING DAYLIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS AT TIMES CAN BE A VERY WEIRD LIFE.

All: ♪ RULE BRITANNIA ♪

♪ BRITANNIA RULE THE WAVES ♪

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH’S MAIDEN VOYAGE

WILL BE A GRUELING DEPLOYMENT \hTO GET HER PRIMED FOR WAR...

\h\hREADY TO TAKE ON THE NATION’S ENEMIES

IN AN INCREASINGLY \hUNSTABLE WORLD.

\hMan: ARE WE GONNA GET A MEDAL FOR IT?

I HOPE.

[LAUGHS]

Man: STEER COURSE, \h\hONE NINE ZERO.

SPEED 12 KNOTS.

OTHER UNITS AS NECESSARY \h\h\h\h\hTO MAINTAIN...

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAnnouncer: THIS IS BBC RADIO SOLENT.

♪

BRITAIN’S NEW AIRCRAFT CARRIER \h\h\h\h\hHMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

LEAVES PORTSMOUTH LATER TODAY

FOR THE EAST COAST OF AMERICA,

\hWHERE TWO F-35 JETS WILL LAND ON HER DECK

FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE CREW OF HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

\h\h\hPREPARES FOR A CEREMONIAL DEPARTURE FROM THEIR HOME PORT,

A LONG TRANSATLANTIC \h\h\hVOYAGE AHEAD.

FIRST STOP--FLORIDA, USA.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJerry Kyd: YES, FIVE MINUTES TO GO.

THIS IS THE BACK END

\h\h\h\hOF A MASSIVELY LONG AND EPIC SUMMER,

TRYING TO GET THE SHIP \hREADY TO GO FOR, UH,

\h\h\hFOR HER FIRST OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT.

A REALLY PROUD MOMENT,

SEEING ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN \h\h\hON THE UPPER DECK NOW,

FLANKED BY THE HELICOPTERS, \h\h\hTHE ROYAL MARINE BAND,

SO WE’RE FEELING MUCH MORE \hLIKE A MILITARY OUTFIT,

WHICH IS GREAT.

[BAND PLAYING]

Narrator: DUE TO PREVIOUS CUTS \h\h\h\h\hIN DEFENSE SPENDING,

\hBRITAIN HASN’T HAD AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS,

SO NONE OF THESE YOUNG SAILORS WILL EVER HAVE SERVED ON ONE.

Man: WE’RE ABOUT TO SAIL.

\h\hLET’S MAKE SURE THAT THROUGHOUT THE PILOTAGE

WE CAN HEAR A PIN DROP \h\h\h\hON THE BRIDGE.

FOCUS.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S OUR JOB UP HERE TO GET THE SHIP TO SEA SAFELY.

ANY QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE MAN WHO MUST KEEP HIS EYE

ON THE SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWELFARE ON BOARD

IS THE SHIP’S CHAPLAIN.

\hLAST NIGHT HE CUT A BRANCH FROM A TREE

AND SHAPED IT LIKE A TRIDENT.

\h\h\h\h\hAlastair Mansfield: IT’S A FRESH BLACKTHORN STAFF

\h\h\h\h\hFROM A LITTLE SPOT JUST UP THE COAST FROM HERE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO TO SEA

IS YOU BECOME VERY AWARE OF JUST HOW FAR YOU ARE

\h\h\h\h\hFROM EVERYTHING THAT IS GREEN AND GROWING.

AND I WANTED TO BRING THAT WITH ME, WITH US, REALLY,

AS A REMINDER OF HOME

\h\h\h\hAND OF A PLACE TO WHICH WE’LL RETURN.

Kyd: BOSUN, CAPTAIN.

LET GO ALL LINES.

\hMan over radio: LET GO ALL LINES.

[HORN BLARES]

[APPLAUSE]

Narrator: THIS IS THE FIRST \h\hOF COUNTLESS DEPARTURES

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH WILL MAKE

\hOVER THE 50 YEARS OF HER SERVICE LIFE.

Kyd: LOOK AT THAT.

GOD, IT’S PACKED, IT’S PACKED.

\h\h\h\hInterviewer: BIG TURNOUT FOR YOU?

Kyd: YEAH, HUGE TURNOUT.

YES, IT’S QUITE MOVING, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hACTUALLY.

Narrator: AN EMOTIONAL FAREWELL

FOR A SHIP’S COMPANY HEADED \hFOR THE FLORIDA SUNSHINE.

\h\hBUT AFTER ONLY A FEW HOURS AT SEA

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND STILL IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL,

SHE IS SUDDENLY ENVELOPED \h\h\h\h\hBY A THICK FOG,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT’S NOW THAT A SHADOWY PRESENCE

APPEARS OFF THE PORT BEAM.

Man: THIS IS THE ON-WATCH PWO.

\h\h\hDUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF A RUSSIAN FEDERATION WARSHIP,

THERE IS A REQUIREMENT \h\h\h\h\hTO MINIMIZE

THE ELECTROMAGNETIC EMISSIONS \h\h\hOF THE SHIP AS A WHOLE.

PERSONAL MOBILE PHONES \h\h\hMAY NOT BE USED.

\h\h\hTHE INFORMATION RECEIVED BY YOUR PHONE

\h\h\h\h\hCAN BE EASILY COLLECTED AND EXPLOITED

FOR LONG-TERM MILITARY USE.

YOU MUST ADHERE TO THIS ORDER.

THAT IS ALL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: OFFICIALLY, THE RUSSIAN WARSHIP

\h\h\hIS IN TRANSIT TO THE MEDITERRANEAN

\h\h\h\hBUT WILL NOW BE WATCHING THE QUEEN ELIZABETH VERY CLOSELY

AND LISTENING,

WHICH IS WHY THE BRITISH WARSHIP HAS TO ASSUME RADIO SILENCE

SO THAT SHE GIVES NOTHING AWAY \hTO A POSSIBLE FUTURE ENEMY.

Kyd: HERE SHE IS.

\hUM, SO, ADMIRAL MAKAROV FITTED WITH LOTS OF ANTI-SHIP MISSILES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFULLY ARMED UP, ONE OF THEIR LATEST FRIGATES,

ARMED WITH CRUISE MISSILES.

A LOT OF RUSSIAN ACTIVITY

\h\h\h\hHAPPENING MORE AND MORE AROUND THE U.K. COAST, YOU KNOW,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMASSIVE CHANGE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS...

BACK TO, UM...

\h\hRUSSIAN ACTIVITY WE HAVEN’T REALLY SEEN SINCE THE COLD WAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE RUSSIANS ARE SHOWING CLEAR INTENT,

\h\hWE SHOULD NEVER LET OUR GUARD DOWN.

\h\h\h\h\hInterviewer: THE RUSSIANS OF COURSE

WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED \h\h\h\h\hIN THIS SHIP.

Kyd: ABSOLUTELY.

WHENEVER YOU’RE TEEING UP \h\h\h\hA POTENTIAL FIGHT,

\h\h\h\hOF COURSE YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE OPPOSITION ALL THE TIME,

\h\h\h\hAREN’T YOU, WORKING OUT THEIR WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS,

AND SO THEY’LL BE LOOKING \h\h\h\hJUST AS MUCH AT US

AS WE DO AT THEM.

Wes Khan: HEY, WHO’S GOT \h\h\h\h\hTHE SHARPENER?

Man: IT’S, UH, BACK THERE.

Khan: YEAH, YEAH, \hGOT IT, GOT IT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BELOW DECK, LIFE GOES ON.

RUSSIANS OR NO RUSSIANS,

\hTHE SHIP’S COMPANY STILL HAS TO BE FED.

Jenny Curwood: HERE’S THE START OF OUR 70,000 ONIONS.

Interviewer: 70,000?

Curwood: 70,000 ONIONS \hWE’VE GOT ON THERE.

\h\h\h\hTHAT’S THE START OF OUR POTATO MOUNTAIN.

25 TONS OF POTATOES \h\h\h\hWE EMBARKED.

CAN’T JUST NIP DOWN TO THE SHOPS

\hWHEN WE GO, UH, GO ON DEPLOYMENT.

WE SAIL WITH ABOUT 60 DAYS’ \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWORTH OF FOOD

FOR 1,500 PEOPLE,

WHICH IS A LOT OF FOOD.

Khan: RIGHT, I NEED, UH, \h\h\h\hI NEED APRICOTS.

[MAN SPEAKING INAUDIBLY]

Khan: I THINK WE ORDERED THEM.

Curwood: WE’VE GOT \h1,500 CHICKENS,

9 WHOLE COWS’ WORTH,

90 PIGS, 400 TURKEYS.

Khan: THERE’S 40 HERE, \h\h\h\h\h40, 80, 100.

120, 30, 140.

Interviewer: JENNY, WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET ALLOWANCE PER PERSON?

Curwood: £3.11 CURRENTLY \h\hPER PERSON PER DAY.

THAT’S THREE MEALS A DAY.

THE CHEFS DO SOME GOOD CREATIVE WORK

TO MANAGE TO BE ABLE \h\hTO DELIVER THAT.

Man over radio: \hCAPTAIN, SIR?

Kyd: CAPTAIN.

\h\h\h\h\hMan over radio: SIR, THE PWO JUST RUNG UP

ASKING IF YOU’RE CONTENT TO GO \h\h\h\h\h\hTO AREA STATE RED.

\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE DIVERGING FROM OUR RUSSIAN THEATRE.

Kyd: APPROVED. RED.

\hTHAT’S THE RUSSIAN MOVING FURTHER AWAY.

\h\h\h\hAND SO WE’RE NOW DIVERGING COURSE AROUND,

\h\hHE’S MOVING AWAY DOWN TO THE CHANNEL,

DOWN OFF TOWARDS GIBRALTAR,

SO WE CAN NOW SORT OF \h\hRELAX A LITTLE BIT

IN TERMS OF SENSORS \h\h\hAND EMISSIONS.

\h\h\hMan: STATE IS FOUR, MOBILE PHONES MAY BE USED.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSTAND BY TO TEST MAIN BROADCAST GENERAL ARMS,

NO ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN.

\hNarrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH HEADS INTO THE ATLANTIC AT LAST,

A 3,000-MILE VOYAGE \h\h\hAHEAD OF HER,

BUT NOT BEFORE BEING JOINED BY A NEW SQUADRON OF HELICOPTERS.

Man over radio: YEAH, SO COMING IN AT TWO-SEVEN-ZERO DEGREES

\h\h\h\h\hWILL GIVE US A NICE, IT WILL BE 30 OFF WINDS RIGHT,

SO IT SHOULD BE OK.

Narrator: THESE STATE-OF-THE-ART MERLIN MARK 4’s

WILL BE USED FOR DROPPING \h\hROYAL MARINE COMMANDOS

BEHIND ENEMY LINES.

THEY JOIN THE MERLIN MARK 2’s \h\h\h\h\h\hALREADY ON BOARD,

WHICH WILL BE USED PRIMARILY

TO SEARCH OUT AND ATTACK \h\h\hENEMY SUBMARINES.

AND FROM NOW ON,

\h\h\hTHE QUEEN ELIZABETH WILL NOT BE SAILING ALONE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWoman: MONMOUTH BEARS READ 1-1-2.

Kyd: HMS MONMOUTH, A FRIGATE,

IS JOINING US TODAY FOR THE TRIP ACROSS TO THE UNITED STATES,

SO SHE’S OUR BODYGUARD.

\hSHE’S BUILT REALLY TO HUNT SUBMARINES,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT SHE’S GOT MISSILE SYSTEMS AND A GUN.

SHE IS A FIGHTING FRIGATE.

Woman: MONMOUTH BEARS 0-8-3.

Narrator: THE QUEEN ELIZABETH,

A PRIME TARGET FOR ANY ENEMY, \h\h\hWHETHER RUSSIAN OR NOT,

WILL ALWAYS BE ESCORTED \h\h\hBY OTHER WARSHIPS

AND EVEN SUBMARINES

TO PROTECT HER FROM ATTACK.

Man: CONFIRM SIX KNOTS.

\hNarrator: BUT FOR THIS TRIP, IT WILL JUST BE THE MONMOUTH--

\h\hA CHANCE FOR BOTH SHIPS TO GET USED TO WORKING TOGETHER.

Man: IT’S NOW VERY FRUSTRATING

\h\h\h\h\h\hTRYING TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS TO HER.

BUT SHE’S FINALLY MOVING UP \h\h\h\hTO 1-3-5 AT 8 CABLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AND THERE ARE ALREADY PROBLEMS.

MONMOUTH’S RADIO IS DOWN.

\h\h\h\hMan: IT’S JUST THIS COMMS DIFFICULTY,

SO WE’RE GOING BACK \hTO OLD-SCHOOL WAYS

\h\h\h\hAND GETTING IT BY THE FLASHING LIGHT.

Narrator: FOR THE CAPTAIN,

THIS LITTLE HICCUP \hIS NO BAD THING.

Kyd: OF COURSE, WE’RE GETTING \h\h\h\h\hBACK INTO PRACTICING

ALL THE TRADITIONAL SKILLS

\h\h\h\h\hOF FLASHING LIGHTS AND COMMUNICATING BY FLAGS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIF YOU BELIEVE, JUST LIKE THE NELSONIAN NAVY,

\hBECAUSE IN THIS MODERN DAY AND AGE

\h\h\hWHERE EVERY TIME WE TRANSMIT ON RADIOS,

IT’S DETECTED BY SATELLITES \h\h\h\h\hAND ENEMY UNITS...

\h\hSO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GO, "WHAT?

YOU DON’T NEED FLASHING LIGHT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND USE OF FLAGS

IN THE 21st CENTURY."

YEAH, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT WILL PROBABLY KEEP US ALIVE

IN A FIGHT AGAINST \h\hA STATE ACTOR.

FUNNY, ISN’T IT?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE TWO SHIPS CONTINUE WEST.

AND ALL THE TIME,

THE HELICOPTERS PRACTICE \h\h\hTHEIR CORE SKILLS.

Man over radio: FEET WET THERE.

80%, 90%, 93...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: HONING THEIR TECHNIQUES

IN ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE,

AND THE RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF MARINES INTO ACTION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan over radio: THE FIRST LAND, TWO HANDS ON.

HE’S HALFWAY DOWN.

AND HE’S ON THE DECK.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT PERHAPS ABOVE ALL,

\hTHEY HAVE TO REFINE THEIR SEARCH AND RESCUE TECHNIQUES

\h\h\h\h\hSHOULD AN AIRCRAFT EVER DITCH OR CRASH AT SEA.

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

BUT MOST OF THE SHIP’S COMPANY \h\h\h\h\h\hREMAIN BELOW DECK,

LIVING A SUBTERRANEAN EXISTENCE,

\h\h\h\h\hAN ENCLOSED UNDERGROUND COMMUNITY.

Chris Trevethan: WES, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE, SHIPMATE?

Khan: ALRIGHT, SIR, HOW ARE YOU?

\hTrevethan: VERY WELL. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE?

Khan: UH, CHEESECAKE.

Trevethan: CHEESECAKE? \h\h\h\h\hKhan: YEAH.

Trevethan: IS THAT HIGH FIBER, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hLOW CHOLESTEROL

SLIM-LINE CHEESECAKE?

Khan: YEAH, SLIM-LINE.

\h\hTrevethan: GOOD MAN. WELL DONE. CHEERS, WES.

Khan: ALRIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTrevethan: SOMETIMES YOU GO FOR DAYS

WITHOUT SEEING DAYLIGHT.

TAKE 1,200 PEOPLE,

PUT THEM IN A TIN BOX,

\h\h\hUM, SURROUND THEM WITH HIGH EXPLOSIVES, AMMUNITION,

\hFLAMMABLE FUEL, RUNNING MACHINERY,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THEN STICK IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC

\h\hAND START DOING SOME DANGEROUS STUFF

LIKE ROTARY-WING FLYING \hAND FIXED-WING FLYING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU HAVE TO BE A SPECIAL KIND OF PERSON...

[LAUGHS]

TO NOT GET FLUSTERED BY THAT.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

\h\hMan over radio: FLOOD! FLOOD! FLOOD!

FLOOD IN BRIDGE MACHINERY...

Narrator: WITH OVER 225 MILES \h\h\h\h\hOF PIPING ON BOARD,

MUCH OF IT HIGH PRESSURE,

FLOODING IS A CONSTANT DANGER.

Man: SUPPORT PARTY!

AIR SUPPORT PARTY COME IN.

Narrator: FLOODS ARE BAD ENOUGH,

BUT EVEN WORSE ARE FUEL LEAKS.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

Man over radio: FIRE DANGER! \hFIRE DANGER! FIRE DANGER!

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AND NOW, A THOUSAND MILES OUT TO SEA,

A LEAK OF EXPLOSIVE FUEL

COULD BE THE FIRST DEADLY THREAT TO THIS MAIDEN VOYAGE.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH IS ON HER MAIDEN VOYAGE TO AMERICA,

\hAND ALREADY THERE’S A POTENTIAL DISASTER.

Man over radio: A FUEL SPILL IN 8 NOVEMBER 0 ALPHA PUMP SPACE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJames Ball: THERE’S BEEN A FUEL SPILL

THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE,

SO, UM, OBVIOUSLY ANY FUEL ANYWHERE IS A FIRE DANGER.

RIGHT, FOLLOW ME, WATCH YOUR STEP INTO THE SLIP, ALRIGHT?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AN AVIATION FUEL PIPE HAS BURST.

\h\h\hONE SPARK HERE WOULD BE DISASTROUS.

\hMan: REALLY DANGEROUS, I MEAN, IF THAT WENT UP,

IT’S GONNA CAUSE A HUGE FIRE \h\h\h\hIN THIS COMPARTMENT,

\hA HUGE EXPLOSION IF IT’S VAPORIZED.

\hAND, YEAH, REALLY, REALLY DANGEROUS, HIGHLY FLAMMABLE.

IT’S ACTUALLY CATCHING \h\hIN MY THROAT NOW.

I NEED TO GO FOR A DRINK.

Narrator: EVEN JUST THE VAPORS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPOSE A DANGER.

Man: START CLEANING UP \h\h\h\h\hDOWN THERE.

IF YOU START GETTING HEADACHES, START FEELING DIZZY,

\h\hGET THEM OUT, WE’LL ROTATE ’EM THROUGH HERE.

NO MORE THAN 15 MINUTES OF TIME IN THERE, YEAH?

Ball: IF ANY OF YOU START FEELING DIZZY OR NAUSEOUS,

OUT THAT WAY, ALRIGHT?

SO THEY’VE MANAGED TO STOP \h\h\h\hTHE FLOOD OF FUEL,

OBVIOUSLY THE EMERGENCY PARTY \h\h\h\hIS STILL ON THE SCENE,

SO IF IT DOES FLASH UP AGAIN,

SO IF FOR ANY GOD-FORBID REASON THIS SET ON FIRE,

WE HAVE THE TEAM TO DEAL WITH IT.

SO, YEAH, THAT’S...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hInterviewer: OVERWHELMING SMELL OF FUEL.

Ball: IT STINKS, YEAH, \h\h\hIT’S HORRENDOUS.

[BEEPING]

Narrator: MUCH OF THE SHIP \h\h\hIS HIGHLY AUTOMATED,

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS

THAT STILL HAVE TO BE DONE \h\h\h\hBY HAND...OR FOOT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTrevethan: SHE’S A BIG GIRL, 65,000 TONS,

AND THERE ARE 1,200-PLUS PEOPLE ON HERE TODAY.

\hWHEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE SHIP

AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE,

IT’S STILL A BIG PIECE \h\h\h\hOF REAL ESTATE

\hFOR NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY GET AROUND EVERY DAY,

CLEAN, AND DO FIREFIGHTING,

AND DO FIRST AID PARTY,

AND DO THEIR NORMAL JOBS.

U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIER OF AN EQUIVALENT SIZE

HAS A SHIP’S COMPANY \h\hOF ABOUT 5,000.

WE’VE GOT 1,200.

Frederica McCarthy: \h\hSO THAT’S FINE.

\h\hI’M JUST LOOKING FOR RAZORS, METALS.

Trevethan: SO, AS YOU CAN SEE,

\h\h\h\hALL THE REFUSE HAS TO BE SEGREGATED,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBECAUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLAT

IS THE PYROLYSIS MACHINE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH IS HOW WE BREAK IT ALL DOWN, SHRED IT,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THEN BURN IT AND TURN IT INTO CHARCOAL.

\h\h\h\hYOU CANNOT STICK METAL, BOOTS, T-SHIRTS,

AND OTHER STUFF THROUGH THERE,

\h\h\hSO WE HAVE TO PHYSICALLY MAKE SURE

THAT THE REFUSE, OR GASH, \hIS CORRECTLY SEGREGATED.

RIGHT, McCARTHY? WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO APART FROM GASH?

McCarthy: I’M A LOGISTICIAN, \h\h\hI’M A WRITER ON BOARD,

\h\h\h\h\hSO I DEAL WITH THE SHIP’S PAY AND ADMIN

AND BASICALLY AN OFFICE JOB

FOR THE SHIP’S COMPANY ON BOARD.

Interviewer: THIS IS A LITTLE \h\h\h\hBIT MORE CASH FOR YOU?

McCarthy: YEAH, SO OBVIOUSLY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE GET SEA PAY

WHILST WE’RE AWAY,

AND THEN FOR DOING THIS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S CALLED UNPLEASANT WORKING ALLOWANCE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hSO THAT GIVES ME AN EXTRA SEVEN POUNDS A DAY.

\h\h\hAND THEN I’M NOT JUST STUCK IN THE SHIP’S OFFICE,

SO IT’S A BIT MORE SOCIAL.

Trevethan: NOT VERY GLAMOROUS, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHOUGH, IS IT?

McCarthy: NOT VERY GLAMOROUS \h\hAT ALL, BUT MORE MONEY.

\h\hTrevethan: LARGEST WARSHIP EVER BUILT FOR THE ROYAL NAVY,

MOST MODERN AIRCRAFT CARRIER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD,

\h\h\h\h\hAND WE ARE STILL SEGREGATING GASH BY HAND.

Narrator: THERE ARE NO DAYS OFF WHEN AT SEA.

SAILORS WORK AROUND THE CLOCK.

BUT AFTER TWO WEEKS \h\hOF HARD TRAINING

AND WITH HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH HALFWAY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC,

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S ANNOUNCED THAT THERE’S GOING TO BE

AN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE DAY,

SO NO FLYING.

THAT MEANS THAT THOSE \h\h\hFROM BELOW DECK

ARE ALLOWED TO EMERGE \h\hINTO THE SUNLIGHT

\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEY LEFT PORTSMOUTH.

Kyd: A LOT OF THE YOUNG SAILORS

HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE MIDDLE \h\h\h\hOF THE OCEAN BEFORE,

\h\hAND HERE WE ARE, THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM ANY LAND AT ALL.

\h\h\h\hTHEIR DISCONNECT FROM MODERN EVERYTHING,

PARTICULARLY FOR THE YOUNGSTERS

\h\hBEING AWAY FROM THEIR MOBILE PHONES

AND THEIR INSTAGRAMS \h\hAND FACEBOOK...

I THINK THEY’RE GOING \hTHROUGH COLD SHOCK.

SO, AS YOU CAN SEE,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE ROYAL MARINES ARE POUNDING THE DECKS DRY.

\h\hTHEY ALWAYS RUN WITH THEIR TOPS OFF.

[CHEERING]

Men: A-HU-TE-CHA, A-HU-TE-CHA,

A-HU-TE-CHA-CHA-CHA!

A-HU-TE-CHA, A-HU-TE-CHA,

A-HU-TE-CHA-CHA-CHA!

♪ I’M SINGING IN THE RAIN ♪

♪ I’M SINGING IN THE RAIN ♪

♪ WHAT A GLORIOUS FEELING ♪

♪ I’M HAP-HAP-HAPPY AGAIN ♪

\h\h\h\hA-HU-TE-CHA, A-HU-TE-CHA-CHA-CHA!

WHOO!

[CHEERING AND WHISTLING]

Kyd: IT’S A LITTLE PART \hOF BRITAIN, ISN’T IT?

JUST FLOATING AROUND

\h\h\h\hIN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

IT’S ALWAYS A WONDERFUL, \h\h\h\hWONDERFUL SIGHT.

WE’VE BEEN HARD AT IT NOW \h\hFOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

SO NOW WE’RE HAVING AN AFTERNOON OF A BIT OF FUN AND GAMES,

GET PEOPLE ON THE UPPER DECK,

\h\h\hIT’S REALLY PART OF MAN AND WOMAN MAINTENANCE,

IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT, NOT LEAST FOR HEALTH,

FRESH AIR, VITAMIN D, \h\h\hBIT OF SUNSHINE.

[POP MUSIC PLAYING]

Khan: CHRIS, YOU ALRIGHT?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hInterviewer: HI, WES, HOW YOU DOING? GOOD.

COME UP TO GET SOME SUNSHINE?

Khan: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. \hYOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

Interviewer: YOU GUYS DON’T GET MUCH OF THE SUN, DO YOU?

Khan: NO, NO, NO, NO.

WE ARE THE HARDEST-WORKING \h\h\h\h\hPEOPLE ON BOARD.

\h\h\h\hYOU CAN SEE, IT’S ONLY TWO OF US.

Interviewer: YEAH, YEAH.

Khan: AND THAT’S BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME DOWN TIME AT THE MOMENT.

Interviewer: YEAH.

[CHEERING]

[JAZZ BAND PLAYING]

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, \hA SHIP OF SOME 1,200 SOULS,

\hSHIPMATES WHO LIVE AND LAUGH TOGETHER,

BUT WHO ONE DAY MIGHT HAVE TO \h\h\h\h\h\hFIGHT SIDE BY SIDE

AND DIE FOR EACH OTHER.

\h\h\h\h\hBUT WHATEVER IT FEELS LIKE TONIGHT,

THIS IS NO CRUISE SHIP.

IT’S A WARSHIP WHOSE DESTINY

\h\h\hIS TO FACE DOWN THE NATION’S ENEMIES.

♪

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

\h\h\hTrevethan: YOU CAN COME WITH ME, SHIPMATE.

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

AH, YOU CAN PIPE, THEN, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSHIPPERS.

WELL DONE.

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH \hIS NEARING MAYPORT, FLORIDA,

FOR HER FIRST-EVER \h\hFOREIGN VISIT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTrevethan: OK, MR. PARKER, LET’S GO.

Narrator: CHRIS TREVETHAN VISITS ALL THE MESS DECKS,

WITH SOME TIMELY ADVICE.

Man: ATTENTION IN THE MESS!

Trevethan: GOOD EVENING, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hGENTLEMEN.

RIGHT, WHO’S NEVER BEEN \h\h\h\h\h\hTO AMERICA?

OK.

WHO’S UNDER 21.

[LAUGHTER]

THE AMERICANS’ ATTITUDE \h\h\h\hTOWARDS ALCOHOL

IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.

IF YOU’RE UNDER 21,

\h\hIT’S NOT ONLY A CASE OF THEY WON’T SERVE YOU,

\hYOU MIGHT END UP GETTING ARRESTED.

AMERICAN POLICEMEN \hARE LESS LIKELY

TO UNDERSTAND THE BEHAVIOR OF A DRUNKEN BRITISH MATELOT, OK?

JUST BE CAREFUL.

YOU COULD END UP GETTING CS, \h\h\h\h\h\hTASERED OR SHOT.

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

\hDO NOT PRE-LOAD BEFORE YOU GO OUT.

IF YOU GET BANGED UP,

MY ABILITY TO COME AND GET YOU \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND GET YOU OUT,

IS PRETTY LIMITED.

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

PRINCIPLES OF SHARK WATCH, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSHIPMATES--

GO OUT TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER, COME BACK TOGETHER.

\hPURELY DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU SAFE.

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

\h\h\hANYBODY NOT KNOW WHO TIMMY MacCOLL WAS?

MATELOT THAT GOT INTO A TAXI \h\h\h\hON HIS OWN IN DUBAI,

NEVER SEEN AGAIN.

ALRIGHT?

\h\h\hI DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO BE WRITING LETTERS HOME TO PEOPLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FLORIDA MAY NOT BE DUBAI,

BUT IT HAS ITS OWN SET OF RISKS FOR SAILORS ON SHORE,

\h\h\h\h\hAS THE CREW IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

AFTER THREE WEEKS AT SEA,

QUEEN ELIZABETH AND MONMOUTH \h\h\h\h\hARRIVE AT MAYPORT

ON THE FLORIDA COAST.

[BAND PLAYING]

Kyd: SO HERE WE ARE IN FLORIDA,

\h\h\hAND EVERYONE’S IN WHITE TROPICAL UNIFORMS

FOR CEREMONY ENTRY.

FIRST PROPER FOREIGN VISIT \hFOR HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.

[BAND PLAYING]

Narrator: HISTORICALLY,

\h\h\h\h\h\hA MAN-OF-WAR ENTERING A FOREIGN PORT

WOULD PARADE ITS ENTIRE \hSHIP’S COMPANY ON DECK

TO SHOW THAT THE GUNS \h\h\hWERE NOT MANNED

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SO HAD NO HOSTILE INTENTIONS.

TODAY IT’S PURELY CEREMONIAL TO MAKE A SPECTACLE OUT OF ARRIVAL,

ESPECIALLY TO A FRIENDLY NATION.

SO, NO WEAPONS ON SHOW.

JUST A VERY SHARP STICK \h\h\h\h\h\hAT THE BOW.

[BAND PLAYING]

THIS IS THE QUEEN ELIZABETH’S \h\hFIRST EVER FOREIGN VISIT,

AND AFTER THREE WEEKS AT SEA,

THE SAILORS ARE READY \h\h\h\h\hTO PARTY...

AND PARTY HARD.

[YELLING]

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

\h\h\h\h\h♪ THROUGH IT ALL SHE OFFERS ME PROTECTION ♪

♪ A LOT OF LOVE AND AFFECTION ♪

♪ WHETHER I’M RIGHT OR WRONG ♪

\h\hMansfield: WE’VE ALL BEEN BANGED UP IN A CONFINED SPACE.

WHEN SUDDENLY WE CAN GET ASHORE,

\hTO EAT FOOD THAT HASN’T BEEN PRODUCED IN THE SHIP’S GALLEY,

TO GET TO DRINK ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF THE LOCAL BREW,

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S PART OF THAT BONDING PROCESS.

\h\h\hTHERE WILL BE NEW GROUPS OF PEOPLE

AND NEW SHARED EXPERIENCES

THAT THEY TAKE WITH THEM BACK \h\hINTO THAT BIG GRAY VESSEL

BEFORE WE HEAD OUT AGAIN \h\h\h\hONTO THE OCEAN,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH IS, WHICH IS NOBODY’S FRIEND.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

\h\hMcCarthy: I’VE HAD THE MOST AMAZING TIME.

\h\h\hWE’VE LITERALLY PULLED UP TO MAYPORT,

THE WHOLE OF THE ROYAL NAVY’S \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h1,200 PEOPLE,

AND WE’VE COME TO JACKSONVILLE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND EVERYONE, THERE’S A STREET OF PEOPLE,

WE ARE LIVING IT UP.

YEAH, LIVING IT UP.

Interviewer: SO, IT’S BEEN \h\h\hWORTH ALL THE GASH?

McCarthy: ABSOLUTELY IT’S BEEN \h\h\hWORTH ALL OF THAT GASH.

\hIT’S BEEN WORTH ALL OF THAT GASH.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, \h\hWORK HARD AT SEA,

BUT YOU PLAY HARDER.

[SIRENS]

Narrator: THE TROUBLE IS,

SOME SAILORS PLAYED \h\hA BIT TOO HARD,

AT LEAST AS FAR AS THE LOCAL \h\h\hPOLICE WERE CONCERNED.

News anchor: A LOCAL STORY IS MAKING NEWS ACROSS THE OCEAN.

SIX BRITISH SAILORS ARRESTED \h\h\hIN JACKSONVILLE BEACH

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCHARGED IN ALCOHOL-RELATED VIOLENCE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hReporter: TWO HAD TO BE TASERED--

ONE FOR RESISTING ARREST,

\h\h\h\h\hANOTHER SAILOR FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

\h\h\hMale news anchor: HERE ARE THEIR MUGSHOTS.

\h\h\hTHEY SERVE ON HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,

THE BRITISH AIRCRAFT CARRIER...

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE FOLLOWING MORNING,

NEWS OF THE ARRESTED SAILORS \h\h\h\h\hHAS MADE HEADLINES

ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTrevethan: THERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF

\h"DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ IN THE PRESS" BACK AT HOME.

\h\h\h\h\h\hONE OF OUR LADS WAS ARRESTED FOR JAYWALKING,

\h\h\h\h\hAS IN TRYING TO CROSS THE ROAD ILLEGALLY.

\hHE’S DECIDED TO ARGUE WITH THE POLICE OFFICER,

\h\h\hHE RESISTED ARREST, HE WAS PUT ON THE GROUND,

\h\hAND ENDED UP BEING TASERED IN THE BACK OF HIS RIGHT LEG.

TWO GUYS WERE INVOLVED

IN A MINOR ALTERCATION \hAMONGST THEMSELVES.

AND THE OTHER THREE, I THINK \hTHERE WAS A MINOR SCUFFLE.

Interviewer: ARE YOU SURPRISED?

Trevethan: AM I SURPRISED?

UM, NO.

AM I DISAPPOINTED?

YES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT’S NOT THE POSITIVE GOOD-NEWS STORY

\hTHAT THE RN IS NOW TRYING TO PUSH OUT.

\hWE ARE HERE FOR THE F-35 LANDINGS,

NOT FOR SIX INDIVIDUALS \h\hMISBEHAVING ASHORE.

\h\hKyd: THE QUOTES WE’RE SEEING ONLINE,

I’M PRETTY, PRETTY ANNOYED \h\h\hABOUT IT, ACTUALLY.

IT’S HUGELY FRUSTRATING FOR US,

BECAUSE THE HEADLINES BACK HOME ABOUT THIS SHIP

IS ALL ABOUT DRUNKS,

AND IT COULDN’T BE FURTHER \h\h\h\h\hFROM THE TRUTH,

AND IT REALLY, REALLY PISSES OFF EVERYONE ON BOARD THE SHIP.

Narrator: AFTER A NIGHT IN JAIL, THE SAILORS GO TO COURT.

THE JUDGE FINDS THEM GUILTY \h\h\h\h\h\hOF MISDEMEANORS

\h\h\h\h\hBUT WAIVES THEIR FINES AND SENDS THEM BACK TO THE SHIP.

Jamie Lutas: END UP TAKEN \h\hTO THE POLICE STATION,

AND THEN WE GOT PUT \hIN A HOLDING CELL

WITH THE REST OF THE PEOPLE

WHO GOT ARRESTED THAT NIGHT \h\h\h\h\h\hIN JACKSONVILLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMansfield: HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THERE?

Lutas: ABOUT 20, I’D SAY. \h\h\h\h\hIT WAS FULL ON.

Narrator: JAMIE LUTAS,

ONE OF THE VILLAINS \h\h\hOF THE PIECE,

\h\h\h\h\hWAS ARRESTED FOR PUSHING A POLICE OFFICER,

\hBUT HE TELLS THE CHAPLAIN, THE SHIP’S GO-TO COUNSELOR,

THAT HE WAS ONLY TRYING TO HELP A SHIPMATE IN DISTRESS.

Lutas: ...WHAT HAPPENED, \h\h\hBUT ALL I’VE SEEN

FROM THE CORNER OF ME EYE \h\hWAS SOMEONE FALL OVER.

I HEARD THE CRACK OF THE HEAD \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE FLOOR.

\h\h\h\h\h\hAS I BENT DOWN TO SORT OF TURN HIM OVER,

THE POLICE SORT OF STOPPED ME,

SO NATURAL INSTINCT WAS JUST \hTO SORT OF PUT MY HAND OUT

\h\h\hAND SORT OF PUSH HIM BACK, JUST TO SEE IF MY FRIEND WAS OK.

\h\h\h\h\hI GOT WRESTLED TO THE FLOOR, BASICALLY.

\h\hMansfield: YOU WERE PUT DOWN ON THE GROUND?

\h\h\h\h\h\hLutas: YEAH. FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMansfield: AND PRESUMABLY QUITE SCARY?

\h\h\h\hLutas: YEAH, IT WAS. NEVER BEEN ARRESTED BEFORE.

I DON’T BLAME HIM FOR ARRESTING US,

BUT DIDN’T NEED TO USE THE FORCE THAT HE DID.

NONE OF US WERE, WE WEREN’T,

JUST, JUST HAD A FEW DRINKS, \h\h\h\h\hTHAT’S ALL WE HAD.

THERE WAS NOTHING, NOTHING \hOTHER THAN THAT, REALLY.

\hYOU KNOW, SINCE JOINING THE NAVY,

IT’S DRILLED INTO YOU TO HELP,

TO, YOU KNOW, ASSIST OTHERS \h\h\h\h\hTHAT ARE IN NEED.

SO, IT COMES NATURALLY TO YOU,

AND IT’S ALWAYS IN THE BACK \h\h\hOF YOUR MIND, ALWAYS.

SO, TO SEE THAT WHAT HAPPENED \h\h\hTO THAT BLOKE ON BOARD--

\h\h\h\hDIDN’T EVEN THINK ABOUT, I HAD NO TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU JUST REACTED.

\hAND IF IT WAS LEFT TO IT, THEN IT WOULD’VE BEEN FINE,

BUT BECAUSE SOMEONE \h\h\hGOT IN THE WAY

\h\hAND SOMEONE TRIED TO STOP ME FROM DOING WHAT I NEEDED TO DO,

I WAS PUNISHED FOR IT.

McCarthy: THAT CAN BE SHREDDED, WHICH IS NEXT DOOR.

WE COULDN’T BELIEVE IT, LIKE, \h\h\hESPECIALLY SOME OF THEM

\h\hTHAT HAD BEEN DONE FOR WHAT THEY’D BEEN DONE FOR,

IT WAS ALL A BIT LIKE, UM...

\h\hTHEY’RE JUST ALL LOVELY, LOVELY LADS,

AND THEY’RE BEING PAINTED \hAS, LIKE, BRITISH THUGS.

\h\h\h\hIT WAS JUST ALL BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE CAPTAIN CALLS TOGETHER

HIS HEADS OF DEPARTMENT.

Kyd: RIGHT, EVERYONE, THANKS FOR COMING UP,

AND SO I WANT TO KEEP \h\hPERSPECTIVE HERE.

UM, IT’S JUST BEEN \h\hA SILLY STORY,

EXPANDED AND SENSATIONALIZED \h\hBY SEVERAL RAGS AT HOME,

WHICH IS DEEPLY UPSETTING.

WE’VE WORKED OUT

WE’VE HAD ABOUT 5,500 PEOPLE, \h\h\h\h\h\hRUNS ASHORE HERE,

\h\h\hOF WHICH SIX HAVE FALLEN FOUL TEMPORARILY

WITH THE LOCAL POLICE,

WHICH IS AN ASTOUNDINGLY GOOD,

UH, A GOOD RECORD FOR BEHAVIOR.

Narrator: THE SAILORS ALREADY \h\h\h\hTRIED AND FOUND GUILTY

IN A CIVILIAN COURT

CAN’T BE TRIED AGAIN ON BOARD.

AND IN ANY CASE,

\h\h\h\hJERRY KYD HAS DECIDED THEY’VE BEEN PUNISHED ENOUGH,

ESPECIALLY BY THE BRITISH PRESS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hKyd: MY WORD, THEY LEARNED THEIR LESSON.

OF COURSE, WE NEVER EXCUSE \h\h\hBAD BEHAVIOR ASHORE,

OF COURSE NOT.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE, \h\h\h\h\hTHESE ARE...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE AVERAGE AGE ON BOARD THE SHIP IS 24 OR 25.

Man: STAND BY ALL AMIDSHIPS!

Kyd: YOU KNOW, WE’RE NOT AUTOMATONS, NOT ROBOTS,

AND WE WANT THEM TO HAVE \h\h\h\hSOME CHARACTER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU CAN’T HAVE COWERING, QUIET INDIVIDUALS,

’CAUSE THE NATION WILL EXPECT \h\hTHESE PEOPLE TO GO TO WAR,

PUT THEIR LIVES IN DANGER,

POTENTIALLY GET WOUNDED \h\h\h\hOR EVEN KILLED.

IT’S ALL ABOUT RELATIVITY.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IRONICALLY, THE MAYPORT INCIDENT HAS SERVED

TO BOND THE SHIP’S COMPANY \h\h\h\h\h\hEVEN TIGHTER.

THEY HAVE ALL CLOSED RANKS \hIN SUPPORT OF THEIR OWN.

IT’S JUST AS WELL,

\h\hBECAUSE THE SHIP NOW FACES HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO DATE.

IN JUST OVER A WEEK

THE FIRST F-35 JET FIGHTERS

WILL ATTEMPT TO LAND \hON HER FLIGHT DECK

FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

\h\h\hTHE FLIGHT DECK TEAMS MUST PREPARE FOR THE WORST.

[ALARM BEEPING]

THE FIRST FIGHTER JETS ARE NOW JUST DAYS AWAY

\h\hFROM LANDING ON HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,

\h\hAND THE FLIGHT DECK TEAMS ARE STEPPING UP THEIR DRILLS.

\hMan over radio: EMERGENCY LANDING,

EMERGENCY LANDING, EMERGENCY LANDING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDerek Walsh: WE’RE JUST PRACTICING NOW

FOR A CRASH-ON-DECK SCENARIO.

SO, THE MERLIN ON TWO SPOT

IS GONNA SIMULATE \hA CRASH ON DECK,

AND WE’RE GONNA RESPOND \h\h\h\h\h\hACCORDINGLY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSO, YOU’LL SEE ALL THE AIRCRAFT HANDLERS

RUNNING OUT WITH HOSES, \h\h\hFIGHTING THE FIRE,

OBVIOUSLY SUPPRESSING \h\h\h\h\hTHE FLAMES,

AND THEN GAIN ENTRY \hINTO THE AIRCRAFT,

\h\hSHUT IT DOWN, EXTRACT THE PILOT,

JOB DONE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE F-35 WILL HOVER DOWN

LIKE A ROCKET IN REVERSE,

AND NOBODY’S SURE JUST WHAT \h\h\h\h\hTHE IMPACT WILL BE

ON THE FLIGHT DECK.

WILL IT CATCH ON FIRE?

MELT? BUCKLE? OR EXPLODE?

Interviewer: YOU HAVE TO BE \h\h\h\hREADY FOR ANYTHING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWalsh: LIKE COILED SPRINGS, CHRIS.

LIKE COILED SPRINGS, MATE.

SO, WE JUST KEEP PRACTICING, \h\h\h\hAND HOPEFULLY, LIKE,

THE DAY OF THE RACES, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN,

YOUR TRAINING WILL KICK IN, \hAND EVERYONE WILL BE FINE,

AND THEN BACK IN THE LOCKER \h\h\h\hFOR TEA AND MEDALS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWoman: OFF BRAKES, BRING HIM TO PORT STRAIGHTAWAY,

\h\h\h\h\hSTART TURNING HIM AND PASS HIM STRAIGHT OVER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE MAN WHO’LL BE OVERSEEING

THE FIRST LANDING \hOF THE F-35 JET

\h\hFROM THE GLASS-FRONTED FLIGHT CONTROL, OR FLYCO,

IS COMMANDER JAMES BLACKMORE.

\h\h\h\h\hJames Blackmore: IT IS A BIG DAY COMING UP,

UM, FOR ME PERSONALLY,

\hBUT FOR THE SHIP, FOR THE ROYAL NAVY,

FOR THE DEFENSE AT LARGE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I THINK FOR THE NATION AS WELL.

BUT UNTIL WE DO IT FOR THE FIRST TIME

WITH THE AIRCRAFT,

\h\h\h\hWE WON’T TRULY KNOW HOW IT REACTS WITH THE FLIGHT DECK.

\h\hWE SIMPLY DON’T KNOW UNTIL WE DO IT FOR REAL.

\hInterviewer: AND THE FIRST TO LAND WILL BE A ROYAL NAVY PILOT?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBlackmore: YEP, COMMANDER NATHAN GRAY,

A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.

HIM AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR PRETTY MUCH 20 YEARS NOW,

WE’VE FLOWN HARRIERS TOGETHER.

VERY, VERY TALENTED TEST PILOT.

SO, TO HAVE A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE COMING TO THE DECK

IS A REAL PRIVILEGE.

Narrator: 500 MILES AWAY,

AT THE MILITARY AIR BASE \h\h\h\h\h\hIN MARYLAND,

42-YEAR-OLD NATHAN GRAY

GOES THROUGH LAST-MINUTE CHECKS OF HIS AIRCRAFT.

Nathan Gray: THE DAY’S DRAWING \h\hNEAR TO THE FIRST LANDING,

WHICH IS EXCITING.

IT’S, UH, IT’S GETTING CLOSER.

Narrator: NATHAN,

AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION ON AMERICA’S EAST COAST,

\h\h\hIS GOING THROUGH HIS FINAL PREPARATIONS

FOR THAT CRITICAL FIRST LANDING,

WHICH, IF ALL GOES WELL,

\h\h\h\hWILL BE FOLLOWED BY A FIRST-EVER LAUNCH.

Gray: SO MUCH COULD GO WRONG.

\h\h\hTHERE COULD BE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN’T THOUGHT OF.

WE’D LIKE TO THINK WE KNOW

THAT WHEN THE JET LANDS ON BOARD THE DECK FOR THE FIRST TIME,

WE’RE NOT GOING TO BURN A GREAT BIG HOLE IN THE FLIGHT DECK.

THAT’S WHAT WE THINK,

\h\hBUT WE DON’T REALLY KNOW IT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY DO THE EVENT.

THERE’S LOTS OF PRESSURE,

THE NATION ARE WATCHING,

BUT NOT JUST OUR NATION.

NATIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE WATCHING

\hBECAUSE THIS IS THE LARGEST DEFENSE PROJECT IN THE WORLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IN ADDITION TO REAL FLYING,

NATHAN HAS COMPLETED \hTHOUSANDS OF HOURS

IN THE STATE-OF-THE-ART \h\hFLIGHT SIMULATOR...

Gray: ...AND CLIMBING...

Narrator: A WAY OF ALLOWING HIM MORE CHEAPLY,

AND CERTAINLY MORE SAFELY,

TO PREPARE FOR EVERY EVENTUALITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE REAL THING.

Gray: HERE’S THE POWER.

WE’VE DONE LOTS OF SIMULATOR TRIALS,

WE’VE DONE LOTS OF TESTS,

WE’VE GOT COMPUTATIONAL \h\h\h\h\hFLOW DYNAMICS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S ALL COMPUTER-EQUATION DRIVEN,

IT’S OUR BEST GUESS.

TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX...

SIX, SIX...

\h\hSO MANY COMPLICATED THINGS AND INTERACTIONS

GOING ON WITH THE AIRFLOW \h\h\h\h\h\hOVER THE DECK,

AT VARYING DIFFERENT \hANGLES OF APPROACH

AND ALSO VARYING AIR SPEED.

I’M COMING DOWN THE STARBOARD \h\h\h\hSIDE HERE OF THE SHIP.

BUT, AGAIN, YOU NEVER KNOW \h\h\h\h\hFROM SIMULATION

UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY DO \h\h\hTHE REAL EVENT.

Man: ALRIGHT, GUYS, \h\h\hGATHER ROUND.

THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO FOR US, FOR AN F-35 CRASH ON DECK,

\h\h\h\hIS IF IT’S LANDED, IT’S STILL ON ITS WHEELS,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THE PILOT IS STILL IN THE COCKPIT

WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNOW, THAT IS THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO.

RIGHT, GO!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IF AN F-35 DOES CRASH LAND

AND THE PILOT IS UNCONSCIOUS,

\hTHE AIRCRAFT HANDLERS WILL HAVE TO EXTRACT HIM

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

\hMan: YOU CAN EITHER STRADDLE AT THE FRONT

OR YOU CAN GO AROUND THE BACK,

\h\hBUT WHAT HE NEEDS TO BE DOING NOW, MAC--

\h\h\h\hCHECKING AIRWAYS, MAKING SURE THEY’RE OK...

THAT PRIMARY SURVEY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THEN, USING THE RESCUE HOISTS,

\hWINCH THE PILOT OUT, INTO THE POD AND DOWN.

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND HMS MONMOUTH

HEAD FOR A CLASSIFIED POSITION OFF THE EAST COAST OF AMERICA.

\hTHERE IS NOW JUST 24 HOURS TO THAT FIRST F-35 LANDING,

AND IN THE LITTLE TIME LEFT,

THE FLIGHT DECK TEAMS CHECK AND DOUBLE-CHECK

EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWoman: SO, EYES DOWN, NO TALKING,

\h\h\h\hTRY AND KEEP THE LINE AS BEST AS YOU CAN, ALL RIGHT?

THE BETTER YOU KEEP THE LINE, \hTHE LESS I HAVE TO STOP YA.

EVERYONE HAPPY?

ALRIGHT, GUYS, CARRY ON.

Blackmore: THE KEY THING FOR US

\hIS THAT WE NEED TO CHECK THE DECK

IS CLEAR OF ANY DEBRIS,

WHICH MAY CAUSE DAMAGE \h\hTO THOSE AIRCRAFT.

IF YOU COULD IMAGINE

SOMETHING SMALLER THAN MY LITTLE FINGERNAIL,

UM, PIECE OF METAL, \h\h\hBALL BEARING,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN OFF A VEHICLE,

SOMEONE’S SHOE, BUCKLE, \h\hANYTHING LIKE THAT.

\h\hIF IT WAS TO BE INGESTED INTO THE ENGINE OF AN F-35,

IT COULD WRITE THE ENGINE OFF.

\hSO YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT COSTS PENCE

COULD WRITE OFF SOMETHING

\h\hTHAT COSTS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF POUNDS,

AND ULTIMATELY OF COURSE,

\h\h\hTHE LIFE OF THE PILOT THAT’S INSIDE THAT AIRCRAFT.

IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT IN THESE LAST 24 HOURS

TO MAKE SURE THE DECK’S \h\h\h\hABSOLUTELY CLEAN

AND FIT FOR THE AIRCRAFT \h\h\hTO COME ON BOARD.

Walsh: SO WE’RE GONNA \h\h\h\hTAKE ’EM ROUND

ON THE WING TIP SAFETY LINE,

PASS THEM DOWN...

\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE DECK IS MARKED OFF IN SECTIONS,

AND WHEN AIRCRAFT LAND

\h\hTHEY ARE GUIDED FROM ONE SECTION TO THE NEXT

BY FLIGHT DECK DIRECTORS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT CAN BE A COMPLEX CHOREOGRAPHY.

Walsh: ONE MORE TIME,

I’LL RECOVER HIM, PASS HIM TO JONNO,

JONNO TO BILLIE, BILLIE TO CRIBS,

CRIBS TO DAVE, DAVE TO BUNGY. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMAC...

Mac: SAFE IN THESE HANDS.

Walsh: GO STAND BY THAT MERLIN.

[LAUGHTER]

AS THE RECOVERY DIRECTOR,

I’LL BE MARKING THE SPOT

FOR WHERE THE AIRCRAFT’S \h\h\h\h\h\hGONNA LAND.

Interviewer: YOU’LL BE \h\hBRINGING THEM IN?

Walsh: SO I’M BRINGING \h\h\h\hTHEM IN, YEAH,

SO I’LL BE RECOVERING,

AND THEN I’LL TAKE THEM \h\h\hOFF THE HOT SPOTS

AND I’LL TAXI THEM \hROUND THE DECK,

\h\hPASS THEM ON TO ONE OF THE OTHER DIRECTORS.

Interviewer: YOU SEEM TO LIKE \h\h\h\h\hDOING THAT, SCOUSE.

\hWalsh: IT’S GREAT. IT’S THE BEST PART!

[LAUGHS]

EVERYONE WANTS TO DO IT.

KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

FEW ARE CHOSEN.

\h\h\h\hInterviewer: IT MUST BE EXCITING.

Walsh: YEAH, I’M VERY EXCITED.

AS I SAY, THIS IS WHY \h\hI JOINED THE NAVY,

\h\h\h\hAND THIS IS WHY I’M AN AIRCRAFT HANDLER.

BEST JOB IN THE NAVY.

HIS NOSE IS GONNA BE ABOUT HERE, OR HIS NOSE WHEEL.

Woman: SHOULD WE STOP HIM \h\hA LITTLE BIT EARLIER?

Walsh: NO, NOT AT ALL.

\h\h\h\h\hJUST MAKE SURE YOU’VE GOT ROOM OUTSIDE

TO GET THE LASHING PANS ON.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE MONMOUTH TESTS HER ENGINES.

\h\hTOMORROW SHE MUST BE READY TO RESPOND TO ANY EMERGENCIES.

Man: LITTLE THINGS MAY GO WRONG.

\h\hIF THEY DO GO WRONG, LET’S JUST REACT TO THEM

\h\h\h\hAND DEAL WITH THEM IN THE PROFESSIONAL MANNER WE DO.

\hBE PROFESSIONAL ABOUT ALL WE DO--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDIRECTIONS, HAND SIGNALS, HAND MOVEMENTS.

SO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP.

\h\h\h\hCOME IN TOMORROW WITH YOUR GAME FACES ON.

Narrator: IT’S THE BIG DAY.

\h\h\hALMOST A DECADE SINCE THE LAST ROYAL NAVY FIGHTER

\hLANDED ON THE LAST ROYAL NAVY CARRIER.

\hIN A FEW HOURS, IF ALL GOES WELL,

\h\h\h\h\hTWO F-35 LIGHTNINGS WILL HAVE LANDED AND LAUNCHED

FROM THIS DECK,

\hSPARKING A NEW ERA FOR THE ROYAL NAVY.

FOR THE AIRCRAFT HANDLERS,

\h\hTHE MORNING STARTS WITH HOT BACON ROLLS.

Man: HAVE TO BIN THAT.

McCarthy: YES.

TODAY IS GONNA BE A GOOD DAY.

YES!

[LAUGHING]

Man: I THINK THE KEY POINT \h\h\h\h\h\hTO BRING OUT--

\hWE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE’RE GONNA BE DOING.

AND YOU GUYS WILL BE \h\hALL OVER IT, OK?

SO, ALL I WILL SAY IS JUST STAY COOL AND CALM TODAY,

DON’T GET TOO ENTHUSIASTIC \h\h\hIN WHAT WE’RE DOING.

\h\hIT’S QUITE SIMPLE EVOLUTION, WE’RE ONLY RECOVERING TWO JETS.

LET’S JUST ALL WORK AS A TEAM

AND GET THIS EVOLUTION \h\h\h\h\h\hCOMPLETED.

\hWE’RE HAPPY? ANY QUESTIONS?

HAPPY DAYS.

Man: PORT 25.

YEOMAN NAVIGATOR.

FLAG FOXTROT.

PORT OUTER YARDARM CLOSE UP.

HOIST.

Man: YEOMAN ROGER.

Narrator: FLAG FOXTROT,

\h\h\h\h\hWHICH SIGNIFIES FIXED-WING FLYING AT SEA,

\h\hHAS NOT BEEN RAISED ON A ROYAL NAVY WARSHIP

FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS.

♪

♪

THE NAVAL AIR BASE \hALERTS THE SHIP

THAT THE F-35s ARE FIRED UP \h\h\hAND READY FOR ACTION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan over radio: JETS HAVE STARTED, GOOD TO GO,

ABOUT TO TAXI.

\h\hMan over radio: BOTH ABOUT TO TAXI.

EXCELLENT, THANK YOU.

\h\hBlackmore: FOX, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Man: JETS ARE AIRBORNE. \h\h\h\h\hTENT’S EMPTY.

Blackmore: 20 MINUTES AWAY \hFROM THE FIRST AIRCRAFT.

\h\h\hUM, EXCITEMENT IS RISING MASSIVELY.

HOW CLOSE WE ARE NOW \h\h\hIS BRILLIANT.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE F-35s, FOLLOWED BY AN OBSERVER JET,

\h\hAPPEAR ON RADAR FOR THE FIRST TIME.

\hMan over radio: SIX FIVE AIRBORNE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE CAVE DWELLERS BELOW

CROWD INTO THE HANGAR

\hTO WATCH A LIVE FEED FROM THE FLIGHT DECK.

[RADIO CHATTER]

[RADIO CHATTER]

Narrator: ONE F-35,

FLOWN BY SQUADRON LEADER ANDY EDGELL OF THE RAF,

STAYS ALOFT...

\h\h\hWHILE THE OTHER, FLOWN BY NATHAN GRAY,

MAKES ITS FINAL DESCENT \h\h\hTOWARDS THE SHIP.

\h\h\h\h\h\hGray on radio: SLOWING THE SPEED TO 150.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NATHAN TALKS HIMSELF IN

TO THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

\h\hGray: AND COMING ROUND FOR 100-FOOT FLY-THROUGH.

Narrator: NATHAN FIRST GOES \h\h\h\h\hFOR A FLY-THROUGH

TO CHECK OUT THE DECK.

\hGray: AMAZING VIEW OF THE FLIGHT DECK.

\h\h\hCONTROL TESTS ON THE L.O.P. PAGE,

I’M SHOWING TEN KNOTS \h\h\hFOR SHIP SPEED.

Man over radio: ROGER.

Blackmore: CAPTAIN TO WINGS, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WILL BE

THE FINAL APPROACH NOW \h\h\h\hTO THREE SPOT.

\hNarrator: UP TO NOW, IT’S BEEN A MOCK-UP DECK AND A SIMULATOR.

THIS TIME, IT’S FOR REAL.

Gray: STEADY ON DFC.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTEN KNOTS, AIRCRAFT’S DECELERATING.

\h\h\hMan over radio: STARTING TO LOOK GOOD,

OR SOUND GOOD, RATHER.

Gray: FUEL’S GOOD AT 3.2.

SLOWIN’ IT DOWN.

GOOD ALTITUDE CAPTURE, \h\h\h\hHUNDRED FEET.

GOOD LINEUP.

NOT EXPERIENCING ANY VORTICES, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBRINGING IT IN.

SLOWING DOWN, GOOD ALTITUDE.

I CAN SEE THE TOP OF THE FLYCO,

I CAN SEE THE FACES.

INTO THE HOVER.

ALONGSIDE SPOT THREE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

WILL THE DECK HOLD UP

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE IMMENSE DOWNWARD THRUST AND HEAT?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGray: AND MOVING IT ACROSS THE DECK,

EASING IT ACROSS.

Narrator: AND WILL THE JET \h\h\h\hBE ABLE TO HANDLE

THE DIFFICULT CROSSWINDS?

Gray: AND DOWN WE GO.

♪

TOUCHDOWN. BRAKES ARE ON.

Man over radio: YES! YES!

Gray: UNBELIEVABLE.

[CLAPPING]

♪

Blackmore: FANTASTIC. WHAT A GREAT LANDING.

\h\h\h\h\hKyd: ANYTHING ON THE SECOND AIRCRAFT?

\h\hMan: WE’RE JUST WAITING FOR THE CONFIRMATION THE DECK’S FIT,

AND THEN WE WON’T BE \h\hFAR OFF IT, SIR.

Kyd: GOOD, OK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE DECK IS CHECKED IMMEDIATELY,

AND THERE’S NO APPARENT DAMAGE.

BUT IT’S EARLY DAYS.

\h\hTHERE’LL BE HUNDREDS MORE LANDINGS IN THE COMING WEEKS.

\h\hTODAY, HOWEVER, IS ALL ABOUT FIRSTS.

AFTER THE ROYAL NAVY PILOT,

ANDY EDGELL, THE FIRST ROYAL AIR FORCE PILOT,

\h\h\hCOMES IN CLOSE BEHIND FOR ANOTHER PERFECT LANDING.

[APPLAUSE]

\hAND NOW NATHAN LINES UP FOR THE FIRST-EVER LAUNCH.

Man: RIGHT, LAUNCH CHECKS, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFINALS?

Narrator: AND EVERYTHING \h\h\hIS RIDING ON THIS.

\h\h\hWITHOUT BEING ABLE TO LAUNCH SUCCESSFULLY,

THESE JETS WILL NEVER \h\hBE ABLE TO FIGHT.

Man: REQUEST PERMISSION \h\h\hTO LAUNCH THE JET.

Blackmore: LAUNCH THE JET.

Man: DEFINITELY A PICTURE.

Kyd: THAT’S AMAZING, ISN’T IT?

Man: VERY SPECIAL MOMENT. \h\h\h\hKyd: VERY SPECIAL.

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFIRST LAUNCH FROM THE QUEEN ELIZABETH,

UM, JUST VERY EMOTIONAL.

IT’S JUST FANTASTIC.

IT’S BEEN A NATIONAL EFFORT \h\h\hTHAT’S GONE INTO THIS,

\hALL FOR, BASICALLY THIS NEXT MILESTONE,

WHICH HAS JUST HAPPENED,

WAS OUR LAUNCH OF THAT, THAT BRITISH NAVAL PILOT

OFF A CARRIER.

IT’S BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY TODAY

AND THE START OF THE NEW ERA \hOF CARRIER-BASED AVIATION

FOR U.K. DEFENSE AROUND THE WORLD

\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 20, 30 YEARS.

IT’S, UH, WE’RE BACK.

Walsh: IS EVERYONE ALRIGHT?

\h\h\h\hGIVE YOURSELVES A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[LAUGHTER AND CLAPPING]

\h\hDON’T KNOW WHAT ALL THE FLAPPING WAS ABOUT.

PIECE OF PISS, THESE JETS.

Interviewer: HOW WAS IT?

Gray: IT WAS AMAZING.

IT WAS AMAZING.

\hPRETTY PRIVILEGED, HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.

Interviewer: SO IT WENT WELL?

Gray: YEAH, IT WENT REALLY WELL.

YEAH, REALLY, REALLY WELL.

Man: CONGRATULATIONS! \h\h\h\h\hYOU DID IT.

IT HAPPENED.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

IT WAS AMAZING!

Gray: I THINK WE WERE ALL,

WE WERE ALL NERVOUS \h\h\hTHIS MORNING.

I MEAN, YOU’RE ALWAYS \hGOING TO HAVE NERVES

WHEN YOU EMBARK ON BOARD A SHIP.

IT TOOK ME BACK TEN YEARS \h\h\h\h\hTO HARRIER DAYS.

IT BRINGS IT ALL HOME,

IT MAKES YOU VERY HUMBLE.

I FEEL VERY PRIVILEGED

TO, TO BE PART OF THIS NEXT STEP IN CARRIER AVIATION.

YEAH, IT WAS A PROUD MOMENT.

Walsh: THAT WAS AMAZING, CHRIS.

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE \h\h\hIN THE ROYAL NAVY.

\h\h\hI’M JUST GOING FOR A SMOKE, RIGHT,

SO I’LL TALK TO YOU AGAIN LATER.

[LAUGHTER]

[YELLING]

Blackmore: LAUNCH THE JET.

Narrator: NEXT TIME...

\h\h\hSHIP, AIRCRAFT AND CREW TAKE THINGS TO A NEW LIMIT...

FLIGHT TRIALS RAMP UP...

\h\hTHE DECK IS GIVEN A MASSIVE POUNDING...

AND THE SHIP CONFRONTS \hA HURRICANE HEAD ON.