Original subtitles

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS THREE MONTHS

\hINTO A FOUR-MONTH DEPLOYMENT OFF THE EAST COAST OF AMERICA.

Man: THIS IS WARSHIP 08, \h\h\hCHANNEL 13. OVER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: HER MAIN MISSION IS TO TEST

\h\h\hTHE TOP SECRET F-35B LIGHTNING STEALTH FIGHTER

\h\hIN THE MOST CHALLENGING WIND AND WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE.

\h\h\h\hSHE’S ALREADY SAILED INTO A FULL-BLOWN HURRICANE.

\h\h\h\hCaptain: WELL, THIS IS GREAT FOR US,

\h\h\hAND WE NOW KNOW THE JET IS REALLY GOOD

IN VERY HIGH WINDS, TOO, \h\hWHICH IS FANTASTIC.

\hNarrator: BUT NOW THINGS ARE ABOUT TO RAMP UP CONSIDERABLY.

\h\h\hMan: THE F-35 AND QUEEN ELIZABETH

\hARE NOW MARRIED, IF YOU LIKE, BUT THE TASK AHEAD IS DAUNTING.

Man: STOP!

Narrator: THE PILOTS MUST NOW \h\h\hTRY A METHOD OF LANDING

NEVER BEFORE ATTEMPTED.

Man: ABORT, ABORT, ABORT.

WAVE OFF, WAVE OFF, WAVE OFF.

Narrator: AND ANOTHER CHALLENGE WILL BE TO LAUNCH WITH WEAPONS

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Man: WE SMASHED IT.

THE AMERICANS ARE LOOKING AT US FOR ONCE WITH ENVIOUS EYES.

Narrator: AND NOT LEAST OF ALL, IN NEW YORK,

WHERE THE QUEEN ELIZABETH FLIES THE FLAG IN SPECTACULAR FASHION.

Man: IT’S VERY MOVING. I WAS JUST WELLING UP.

♪

Man: STEER A COURSE OF 1-9-0, \h\h\h\h\h\hSPEED, 12 KNOTS...

♪

[BAGPIPES PLAYING]

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS IN THE MIDDLE

OF GRUELING FLIGHT TRIALS \hIN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC,

\h\h\hBUT WITH AN IMPORTANT DIPLOMATIC VISIT TO NEW YORK

LOOMING IN TWO WEEKS,

\h\h\h\h\hPREPARATIONS ARE ALREADY UNDER WAY.

Man: JUST HOLD IT BACK, \h\h\h\h\hHOLD IT BACK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHOLD IT BACK, HOLD IT BACK, HOLD IT BACK.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVENTS

WILL BE THE WORLD-RENOWNED \h\h\hROYAL MARINES BAND.

Man: SO, HALT AND HALT.

\h\h\h\hTWO PACES LATER, THE OUTSIDE FILES HALT.

SO, 1, 2, 3...

Narrator: THEY WILL PROVIDE \h\h\h\h\h\hPOMP, PAGEANTRY,

\h\h\h\h\hAND MILITARY SPECTACLE TO WOO THE VIPs AND DIGNITARIES

OF THE UK’S CLOSEST ALLY.

Man: 4, 5, 6, 7.

Jerry Kyd: I THINK WE FORGET \h\hTHAT AIRCRAFT CARRIERS,

THEY ARE A GREAT POLITICAL \h\h\h\hAND MILITARY TOOL

TO HAVE AT YOUR DISPOSAL, \h\h\h\hBOTH FOR WARFARE,

BUT ALSO DETERRENTS AND HUMANITARIAN AID

AND DISASTER RELIEF \h\hAND SOFT POWER,

\h\h\h\h\hIMPORTANT DIPLOMACY, SELLING BRITISH INDUSTRY, UM,

AND ALL THOSE SORT OF THINGS, \h\hWHICH YOU CAN’T REPLICATE

\h\h\h\hIN ANY OTHER PART OF THE ARMED SERVICES IN THE SAME WAY.

♪

Narrator: FRANK ROCHFORD, THE BAND’S ONLY BAGPIPER,

WILL HAVE A LEADING ROLE \h\h\h\h\h\hIN NEW YORK

\hAND DOESN’T WANT TO PUT A FOOT OR A FINGER WRONG,

BUT TO REHEARSE, HE’S BANISHED \h\h\hTO THE BACK OF THE SHIP.

Frank Rochford: THE BAGPIPE’S \h\h\h\h\hJUST A BIT TOO NOISY

\h\h\hAND UNSOCIABLE, ESPECIALLY ON A SHIP.

YOU’VE GOT PEOPLE ON WATCH.

YOU JUST DON’T WANT TO BE \h\h\h\h\hANNOYING FELLOW,

LIKE, COLLEAGUES,

SO FINDING TIME TO PRACTICE \h\hAND KEEP THE STAMINA UP

IS QUITE DIFFICULT.

I’M JUST GETTING MYSELF READY \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE BIG EVENT,

HEADING INTO NEW YORK.

\h\h\h\h\hI AM PLANNING TO PLAY IN THE FRONT OF THE FLIGHT DECK

\h\h\h\h\hON THE RAMP AS WE ENTER NEW YORK.

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENT, \h\h\h\hI WOULD SAY, YEAH.

IT SHOULD BE REALLY GOOD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ONCE IN A LIFETIME FOR FRANK,

BUT FOR JERRY KYD, NEW YORK \hWILL BE THE END OF AN ERA.

Man: NAVIGATOR, ROGER.

Kyd: CAPTAIN, ROGER.

Narrator: CAPTAIN KYD HAS BEEN WITH THE SHIP

\h\h\hFROM THE BEGINNING, BRINGING HER OUT OF BUILD

AND TAKING HER TO SEA \hFOR THE FIRST TIME,

\h\h\h\hBUT NATURAL ROTATION MEANS IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON.

Kyd: OFFICER WATCH.

Narrator: JERRY KYD’S COMMAND \h\hMIGHT BE NEARING THE END,

BUT IT’S NOT OVER YET, \h\h\h\h\hFAR FROM IT.

THE F-35 TEST PILOTS \h\h\hARE PREPARING

FOR THEIR MOST DANGEROUS \h\h\hCHALLENGE TO DATE.

Man: GREEN LIGHT, GREEN FLAG, \h\h\h\h\h\hPLOWING IN THREE.

Narrator: THEY’RE GOING TO TRY \h\h\h\h\hA METHOD OF LANDING

\hTHAT’S NEVER BEEN ATTEMPTED ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER BEFORE.

IT CARRIES GREAT RISKS

BUT COULD REVOLUTIONIZE \h\hCARRIER OPERATIONS.

THE F-35B IS DESIGNED \h\hTO STOP IN MIDAIR

\h\hBEFORE LANDING VERTICALLY, USING IMMENSE DOWNWARD THRUST,

LIKE A ROCKET IN REVERSE.

\h\h\hBUT IT CAN ONLY DO THAT IF IT’S AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE.

\h\h\h\h\hANY UNEXPENDED WEAPONS BROUGHT BACK OR ANY UNBURNT FUEL

WOULD HAVE TO BE DITCHED \h\h\h\h\hINTO THE SEA,

SO THE DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE PLAN

IS TO ADD FORWARD SPEED TO THE VERTICAL LANDING,

FLYING HALF LIKE A ROCKET \h\hAND HALF LIKE A PLANE

TO GIVE EXTRA LIFT \hUNDER THE WINGS.

James Blackmore: GROUNDBREAKING, NEVER BEEN DONE IN THE WORLD,

\h\h\h\hNEVER BEEN DONE TO AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

AND IT’S CALLED A SHIPBORNE \h\hROLLING VERTICAL LANDING

BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT IS GONNA \hMAKE AN APPROACH TO THE DECK

AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR,

\h\hAND IT’S GONNA COME DOWN ON ABOUT A SEVEN-DEGREE GLIDE PATH,

\hTO ABOUT TWICE AS STEEP AS AN AIRLINER WOULD MAKE

AND THEN COME TO A STOP \hUNDER ITS OWN BRAKES.

BY DRIVING THE AIRPLANE \h\h\h\hTHROUGH THE AIR,

WE’RE GENERATING MORE LIFT,

\h\h\h\hAND THAT LIFT ALLOWS TO BRING MORE WEAPONS BACK.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: THAT’S BETTER, A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER THIS TIME.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: SO FAR, THE PILOTS HAVE JUST BEEN MAKING

\hTENTATIVE APPROACHES TO TEST SPEED AND HEIGHT COMBINATIONS.

Jet Computer: FUEL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT NO ONE HAS YET ATTEMPTED

\h\h\hA SHIPBORNE ROLLING VERTICAL LANDING FOR REAL.

\h\h\h\hAndy Edgell: SO, WHAT A SHIPBORNE

ROLLING VERTICAL LANDING IS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS COMING IN IN THAT SEMI JET BORNE MODE,

40, 50, 60 MILES AN HOUR, \h\h\hSOMETHING LIKE THAT,

AND THEN COMING DOWN THE HILL \h\hWITH OVERTAKE ON THE BOAT.

AND THEN YOU HIT THE DECK, \h\h\h\h\h\hYOU ROLL OUT,

\h\hYOU HIT THE BRAKES, AND YOU COME TO A STOP.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE CARE ABOUT--

ONE IS COMING IN TOO LOW

\hAND EITHER HAVING A STERN STRIKE THERE

OR THE BACK END OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ANGLED UP.

\h\h\hSO, THIS CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE STERN AND THE NOZZLE THERE,

WE DON’T WANT THAT TO GET TOO SMALL.

SO, WE CARE ABOUT COMING IN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTOO LOW HERE,

\h\h\hAND OBVIOUSLY WE CARE ABOUT THAT.

THAT’S A DISASTER. THAT’S A DISASTER.

BOTH OF THOSE ARE CATASTROPHIC.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE MAN WHO WILL ATTEMPT

THE WORLD’S FIRST EVER SHIPBORNE ROLLING VERTICAL LANDING

IS PETE "WIZZER" WILSON.

WITH OVER 30 YEARS FLYING EXPERIENCE

IN THE RAF AND THE NAVY,

\h\h\h\h\hWIZZER NOW FLIES AS A CIVILIAN TEST PILOT.

Producer: HOW ARE YOU FEELING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS MORNING?

Peter "Wizzer" Wilson: \h\h\h\h\hI’M EXCITED.

ACTUALLY REALLY, UM,

I’M TINGLING, YOU KNOW?

\h\h\h\h\h\hI’M TINGLING WITH, WITH ANTICIPATION

FOR GOING OUT AND DOING IT,

\h\hAND ABOUT EVERY TWO MINUTES, I’M PLAYING IT BACK IN MY HEAD.

THIS IS A MOMENT IN HISTORY.

UM, THIS IS SOMETHING PHENOMENAL THAT’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN

BECAUSE THE CAPABILITY \hTHAT THIS WILL BRING

FOR THE F-35 TO BE ABLE

TO BRING BACK MORE WEIGHT \h\h\h\hTO QUEEN ELIZABETH

MEANS THAT THE UK MILITARY

IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE F-35

\h\h\h\h\hIN A WAY THAT THE OTHER FORCES CANNOT.

Narrator: THIS WILL BE A FIRST FOR EVERYONE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNOT ONLY WIZZER, BUT THE AIRCRAFT HANDLERS, TOO.

THEY WILL HAVE TO BE READY \h\hFOR EVERY EVENTUALITY.

Man: OPTION ONE, RIGHT? SRVL.

Man: YEP.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: YEAH. IF HE MISSES HIS OVERSHOOT,

\h\hAND THEN IT’S JUST A NORMAL TRANSITION TO FOUR SPOT, RIGHT?

Man: WHO’S GONNA LINE IT UP?

Man: BILLY’S GONNA LINE IT UP. \h\h\h\hMan: WHO’S PARKING IT?

Man: AD’S IS GONNA PARK IT.

Man: SO, THAT’S THEM TWO, SO WE’LL, WE’LL STAND BY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: STAND BY IN CASE WE HAVE TO SPIN IT.

Blackmore: DO THE LAUNCH.

Man: READY.

READY.

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

Blackmore: LAUNCH THE JET.

Man: GREEN, GREEN.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hNathan Gray: WHAT WE’RE ABOUT TO DO

\h\h\hWITH THE SHIPBORNE ROLLING VERTICAL LANDING

HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE,

\h\h\h\hAND WE’RE PROVING A CONCEPT SO CUTTING-EDGE

\h\hAND SO INNOVATIVE, THE WORLD’S WATCHING.

\h\hNarrator: WIZZER HAS TO GET THIS JUST RIGHT.

HIS RATE OF DESCENT AND SPEED \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMUST BE EXACT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWizzer: ALRIGHT, GOOD PLATEAU ON CENTERLINE.

Man: COPY THAT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THIS COULDN’T BE MORE CRITICAL.

HE’S USING VERTICAL THRUST \h\h\h\h\h\hTO KEEP HIM UP

AND HORIZONTAL THRUST \hTO PUSH HIM FORWARD.

REMEMBER, HE IS HALF ROCKET, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHALF AIRPLANE.

Man: SLIGHTLY HIGH \hAND CORRECTING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE SLIGHTEST MISTAKE NOW,

AND HE COULD SMASH INTO THE DECK AND BECOME A FIREBALL.

\hWizzer: ALRIGHT, WHY HAS THE SPEED

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNOT GONE TO WHERE I WANTED IT TO?

\h\h\hMan: WAVE OFF, WAVE OFF, WAVE OFF.

Narrator: FIRST ATTEMPT, \hTOO HIGH AND TOO FAST.

WIZZER GOES ROUND AGAIN.

Wizzer: ALRIGHT, 2.3 ON THE GAS. WE’RE DOING ALRIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBlackmore: THIS COULD BE LAST SECOND.

\hNarrator: HE MUST NOW FOLLOW THOSE GUIDELINES ALL THE WAY.

\h\hTHAT HORIZONTAL LINE HALFWAY DOWN IS HIS POINT OF NO RETURN.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBEYOND THAT, THERE’S NO TURNING BACK.

HE’LL BE COMMITTED TO LAND.

Man: WAVE OFF, WAVE OFF.

WAVING OFF.

Narrator: SECOND ATTEMPT, \h\h\h\hTOO FAST, TOO LOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\hANOTHER TWO SECONDS, AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMMITTED

AND PROBABLY CRASH-LANDED.

Man: LET’S TAKE IT AROUND \h\h\h\h\hFOR ANOTHER GO.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IF WIZZER CAN’T LAND THIS TIME,

HE MAY HAVE TO ABANDON \hTHE SRVL ALTOGETHER.

TEST PILOT WIZZER WILSON \h\h\h\h\hIS ATTEMPTING

THE WORLD’S FIRST SHIPBORNE \hROLLING VERTICAL LANDING.

\h\hAFTER TWO FAILED ATTEMPTS, HE’S COMING IN ONE MORE TIME.

Blackmore: THEY HAVE TO DO A PRECISE HELMET ALIGNMENT

BECAUSE ALL THE INFORMATION IS DISPLAYED IN THE HELMET.

\h\hIF YOU DON’T GET A PERFECT ALIGNMENT,

\h\h\h\h\hYOU CAN’T DO AN ACCURATE APPROACH,

SO HE’S JUST GOT ANOTHER,

\h\h\hAND HOPEFULLY WE’LL GET THE SRVL.

Wizzer: OKAY, COMING DOWN NOW.

Man: ALRIGHT, JUST SWING AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

IT’S BELOW 200 FEET.

Wizzer: AND COMING DOWN NOW.

I’M ON THE CENTERLINE.

Man: ON CENTERLINE.

Wizzer: ALRIGHT, LOOKING GOOD.

ON CENTERLINE, SLIGHTLY LOW NOW.

Man: A LITTLE LOW.

Wizzer: INDICATING GOOD.

ON CENTERLINE.

Man: THERE’S 150 FEET, 140.

Wizzer: COMMITTED.

Man: 10 FEET.

Wizzer: A LOT OF NOISE.

TOUCHDOWN ON CENTERLINE, \h\h\h\h\hON THE BRAKES.

AND OFF THE BRAKES \hAND STATIONARY.

[APPLAUSE AND WHISTLING]

Blackmore: BEAUTIFUL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWizzer: THAT’S CALMED DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

I’VE GOT TO TELL YOU, \h\hTHAT WAS SURREAL.

Blackmore: FANTASTIC.

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT APPROACH, \h\h\h\hJUST WHAT WE EXPECTED.

\h\h\h\h\hLANDED JUST IN THE RIGHT POSITION

AND, UH, AND CAME TO A STOP \hIN A VERY SHORT DISTANCE,

SO, YEAH, AND PROVING,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE FIRST STEP IN PROVING THE CAPABILITY,

WHICH IS, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

Wizzer: THAT WAS SO EXCITING,

\h\h\h\h\hAND TO FINALLY GET THE FIRST ONE DONE,

AND THEN SEE IT HAPPEN JUST LIKE IT HAPPENED IN THE SIMULATOR

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS JUST THE MOST SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

OF MY ENTIRE CAREER, I THINK.

\h\h\h\h\hUH, THERE, IT WASN’T WITHOUT ITS STRESS, YOU KNOW.

AT THE TIME, IT DIDN’T WORK OUT

\h\hEXACTLY PERFECTLY AS WE INTENDED IT TO,

BUT WE ULTIMATELY EXECUTED IT \h\hSAFELY AND PROFESSIONALLY,

AND WE GOT THE DATA \h\hTHAT WE WANTED,

AND NOW WE’RE READY TO MOVE ON \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND DO MORE,

AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD \hTO DOING THE NEXT ONE

’CAUSE THAT WAS PRETTY SPECIAL.

Man: RECOVER LIGHTNING \h\h\h\hTO FOUR SPOT.

Narrator: BELOW DECK,

WHERE MOST OF THE SHIP’S \hCOMPANY LIVE AND WORK,

THE INTEREST IS NOT SO MUCH

\hIN SHIPBORNE ROLLING VERTICAL LANDINGS, BUT WHAT’S FOR LUNCH.

\h\h\h\hMohamed "Wes" Khan: I’M DOWN HERE. I’M ON LUNCH,

UH, MAKING CHEESY WAMBAMS.

[LAUGHS]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hProducer: WHAT ARE CHEESY WAMBAMS?

\h\h\h\h\hWes: CHEESY WAMBAMS ARE THE FAVORITE FOR THE NAVY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY LOVE IT. EVERYONE LOVES A CHEESY WAMBAM.

IT’S TOAST WITH HAM COVERED WITH CHEESE

AND FRIED EGG ON TOP.

\h\h\h\h\hWELL, BECAUSE THIS IS THE LAST WATCH,

THAT’S WHY WE CAN CRACK IT OUT.

Man: YEAH, RIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWes: HEY, DON’T, DON’T HATE THE PLAYER, MAN.

\h\h\h\h\h\hHATE THE GAME, YOU KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING?

[LAUGHTER]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AFTER THREE MONTHS AT SEA,

\hTHE CREW IS NOW A TIGHT COMMUNITY,

MEN AND WOMEN WHO CARE FOR EACH OTHER AS FRIENDS AND SHIPMATES.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Glenn: CAPTAIN, SIR.

\h\hON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE SHIP’S COMPANY,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIR.

\h\h\h\hKyd: AH, LEAD STEWARD, THAT IS JUST VERY KIND OF YOU.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

Glenn: SORRY, IT BLEW OUT, SIR.

\h\hKyd: I WAS JUST THINKING THAT EVERYONE HAD FORGOTTEN.

Glenn: NO, NOT AT ALL, SIR.

Kyd: YOU’RE NOT 4--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGlenn: NO, WE NEVER FORGET, SIR.

\hKyd: YOU’RE NOT 40 EVERY DAY, ARE YOU?

Glenn: NO, YOU’RE NOT, SIR, \h\h\h\h\h\hNO, YOU’RE NOT.

[PLAYING "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON BAGPIPES]

[PLAYING "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON BAGPIPES]

Rochford: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIR.

\h\hKyd: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, INDEED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI HAVE TO SAY, I’VE EXPERIENCED A LOT IN LIFE,

\hBUT I’VE NOT EXPERIENCED SUCH A GREAT CAKE AS THAT.

Glenn: WHY, THANK YOU, SIR.

Kyd: BUT ALSO THE MOST AMAZING \h\h\h\h\h\h"HAPPY BIRTHDAY."

THANK YOU VERY MUCH \h\h\hFOR DOING IT.

I’M VERY TOUCHED.

\hNarrator: CHEESY WAMBAMS AND BIRTHDAY CAKES ASIDE,

\h\h\h\h\hTHIS REMAINS A STEELY SHIP OF WAR,

\h\hAND THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT THOSE ON BOARD

WILL ONE DAY BE CALLED \hTO BATTLE STATIONS.

Kyd: I THINK THE THREATS ARE INCREASING AS EVER,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSO I THINK WE HAVE TO REMAIN STRONG.

DO I THINK THE STATE-ON-STATE \h\h\h\h\hFRICTION’S OVER? NO.

DO I THINK THE ROOT CAUSES \h\h\hOF WAR IS OVER? NO.

AND THEREFORE WE MUST ABSOLUTELY REMAIN PREPARED FOR IT, SADLY.

THE BOTTOM LINE FOR ANY WAR \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS IT’S NASTY,

REALLY GUT-WRENCHING, \hVISCERAL NASTINESS,

AND I THINK PEOPLE FORGET THAT,

\hAND WE MUST PREPARE PEOPLE AND EQUIP PEOPLE FOR THAT CHALLENGE.

IT’S, IT’S PROFOUND.

Man: TOUCHDOWN.

Kyd: IF I WAS AN ENEMY,

WOULD I WANT TO COME UP AGAINST THE ROYAL NAVY?

HAD A CHOICE, I DON’T THINK SO.

WE’RE NOT THE BIGGEST,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWE HAVEN’T GOT THE BIGGEST MASS ANYMORE,

BUT, MY WORD, WE’D MAKE THE ENEMY’S EYES WATER.

I GUARANTEE THAT.

Narrator: IT’S HIGHLY LIKELY \h\hTHAT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWILL ONE DAY HAVE TO PLAY A LEADING ROLE

IN A BLOODY THEATER OF WAR.

\hMan: ANY OF YOU HEARD OF METHOD ACTING, OKAY?

YOU’VE GOTTA OWN THE PART.

YOU’VE GOTTA OWN THE PROBLEM \h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT YOU’VE GOT,

AND YOU’RE PANICKED BECAUSE...

Narrator: REALISTIC ROLE-PLAYING IS PREPARATION FOR COMBAT.

\h\h\h\hWes: THE TRAINING WE DO, IT MAKES IT SO REALISTIC, YEAH?

Producer: YEAH.

\h\h\h\hWes: SO, AT LEAST WHEN IT HAPPENS FOR REAL,

THE FIRST AIDERS DO NOT GET, \h\h\h\hYOU KNOW, BACK AWAY.

[EXPLOSION]

Man: FIRE, FIRE, FIRE.

[SCREAMING]

Wes: I WANT TO FIGHT \h\h\hTHE FIRE, MAN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FIRE AND FLOOD EXERCISES

FOR EVERYBODY ARE CONTINUOUS.

Man: RIGHT, I’VE GOT HIM, \h\h\h\h\h\hI’VE GOT HIM.

Wes: MY MEN’S IN THERE, \h\h\hMY MEN’S IN THERE.

Narrator: TODAY’S SCENARIO,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAN EXPLOSION IN ONE OF THE MAIN ENGINE ROOMS.

EVEN IN PEACETIME,

\h\h\h\h\hLIVING UNDER AN ACTIVE FLIGHT DECK

OR INSIDE WHAT IS EFFECTIVELY \h\h\hA FLOATING POWER STATION

CARRIES IMMENSE RISKS.

Wes: I CAN’T FEEL MY HANDS, MAN. I CAN’T FEEL MY HANDS.

\h\hWoman: SO, READY FOR THAT STRETCHER.

\h\hMan: CAN YOU PULL HIM TO YOURSELVES? 2-6, LIFT.

\h\hNarrator: THE SHIP HAS A FULLY EQUIPPED HOSPITAL

AND OPERATING THEATER

\h\hWITH A TEAM OF TRAUMA SPECIALISTS AND SURGEONS.

\hSTRETCHER BEARING IS A SECONDARY ROLE

OF THE ROYAL MARINES MUSICIANS.

[SCREAMING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hProducer: SO, BAGPIPES LAST NIGHT

AND BLOODIED BODIES \h\h\hTHIS MORNING.

\h\h\h\hRochford: YEAH, IT’S QUITE A DIFFERENCE

GOING FROM RELAXING AND ENJOYING HAVING,

HAVING FUN PLAYING MUSIC TO NOW GETTING STUCK IN.

OBVIOUSLY IT’S NICE TO HAVE AN EXERCISE

\hSO EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THEY’RE DOING,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT IN REAL LIFE, IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE FULL-ON.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE SHIP IS DESIGNED FOR WAR.

Man: BOSS, I’VE GOT...

\hNarrator: VIRTUALLY ALL OF ITS 3,000 COMPARTMENTS

HAVE A TACTICAL PURPOSE--

\h\hWEAPONS, PLANNING, POWER, AND PROPULSION,

\h\hIN ADDITION TO THOSE NEEDED FOR ACCOMMODATION OR RECREATION.

THIS MIGHT BE BRITAIN’S \h\h\h\hBIGGEST WARSHIP,

\h\hBUT SPACE FOR ITS 1,500 PEOPLE UNDER THE FLIGHT DECK

IS AT AN ABSOLUTE PREMIUM,

AND EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY \h\h\h\h\h\hIS SPOKEN FOR.

[BAGPIPES PLAYING]

FRANK IS NOW REDUCED \h\h\hTO PRACTICING

IN THE TOILET PAPER COMPARTMENT.

♪

Wes: BISH, DO YOU NEED A HAND? \h\h\hLET ME CARRY SOMETHING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AND WES, A COMMITTED MUSLIM,

\hHAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR A PLACE TO PRAY.

Wes: BISH, YOU SHOULD HAVE \h\hLET ME CARRY IT, MAN.

Narrator: THE SHIP’S CHAPLAIN, \h\hKNOWN TO ALL AS THE BISH,

\h\h\hHAS FOUND HIM A LITTLE CUBBYHOLE.

Wes: ESPECIALLY SUCH A BIG SHIP.

Alastair Mansfield: \hWELL, THIS ONE...

Wes: YEAH?

Mansfield: WE DISCOVERED \h\h\hIS NOT TOO NOISY.

Wes: OH, WE’VE GOT CARPET \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS WELL?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMansfield: YEP, LET’S ROLL THIS OUT TOGETHER.

Wes: YES.

Mansfield: START DOWN HERE.

Wes: WITH THIS CARPET \hIS ONCE I’VE PRAYED,

I CAN ROLL IT BACK UP THERE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMansfield: YOU CAN ROLL IT UP, EXACTLY.

IT’S A BIT SHORT.

Wes: NO, IT’S ALRIGHT, BISH.

Mansfield: THE WHOLE WORLD \h\h\h\h\hIS GOD’S WORLD,

\h\h\h\h\hBUT WE SHARE THAT, SO THAT’S, THAT’S THE PLACE

WHERE WE START FROM.

THAT GIVES US AN ENORMOUS \hAMOUNT OF COMMON GROUND.

\h\h\h\hWes: WHAT IS COMMON IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO WORK ON.

THAT’S WHAT THEY SAY.

RIGHT.

ALLAHU AKBAR.

ALLAHU AKBAR.

Narrator: NEW YORK IS NOW \h\hLESS THAN A WEEK AWAY,

BUT BEFORE THAT, THE PILOTS \h\h\hMUST ATTEMPT LAUNCHING

WITH HEAVY BOMBLOADS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

\h\hTHE QUEEN ELIZABETH IS SHARPENING HER TEETH.

[EXPLOSION]

[ALARM]

BUT THEN A CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE

RAINS DOWN STRANGE FRAGMENTS \h\h\h\h\hALL OVER THE DECK.

\hTHEY CALL THIS FOD, FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS,

A PILOT’S WORST NIGHTMARE.

IF INGESTED, THIS COULD BRING DOWN AN AIRCRAFT.

Derek Walsh: WHEN THEY FIRED UP THE ENGINES,

SMOKE CAME UP CARRYING

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA LOT OF BITS OF LAGGING AND FOD WITH IT,

SORT OF LIKE THE INSULATION

THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOME \h\h\h\h\h\hIN YOUR LOFT.

\h\h\hTHEY’RE GONNA HAVE TO INVESTIGATE IT A LOT FURTHER

AND OBVIOUSLY TRY AND DETERMINE EXACTLY WHERE IT’S COMING FROM.

WE’VE HAD TO CANCEL FLYING

BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FOD \hCOMING OUT OF THE FUNNEL.

Narrator: BUT WHERE IS THIS FOD COMING FROM?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRob Rowston: YOU’LL NEED TO UNDO THESE ONES.

THERE’S FIVE OF THEM.

Narrator: THE MARINE ENGINEERS \h\hQUICKLY TRACE THE PROBLEM

\hBACK TO ONE OF THE SHIP’S MASSIVE GAS TURBINE ENGINES.

\h\h\h\h\h\hRowston: THE LAGGING THAT’S DAMAGED IS ON THIS SIDE,

SO WE GO ROUND AND THEN BACK.

Narrator: FOR ROB ROWSTON,

\hTHE GAS TURBINE IS LIKE HIS BABY.

\hRowston: WHAT’S HAPPENED IS THIS COWLING’S FAILED, SPLIT,

LET ALL THE AIR OUT THE SIDE,

\hAND THAT’S TORE INTO THE LAGGING,

SHOOTING THE FIBERGLASS UP THE EXHAUST ONTO THE FLIGHT DECK.

\h\hTHE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE NOW IS HOW HOT IT RUNS INSIDE HERE,

SO WITHOUT THE LAGGING, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S JUST,

THE TEMPERATURE’S GONNA ROCKET \h\h\h\hAND ROCKET AND ROCKET

AND ROCKET IN HERE,

\hAND THERE, THE GAZZY THEN WILL TRIP ITSELF,

RENDERING IT USELESS \h\hTO THAT ENGINE.

SO, THE ENGINE ITSELF IS GREAT.

IT’S THE BITS AROUND IT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT HAVE,

\h\h\hHAVE ACTUALLY LET THE ENGINE DOWN.

THE LAGGING THAT’S DAMAGED HERE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hALL THIS IS LIKE YOUR FIBERGLASS INSULATION,

AND THE POWER OF THE EXHAUST \h\h\h\hHAS TORN THIS APART,

AND THEN IT’S SENT THIS \h\h\h\h\hUP THE EXHAUST

ONTO THE FLIGHT DECK, CREATING A FOD HAZARD.

Narrator: WITH ONE GAS TURBINE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOUT OF ACTION,

\hTHE SHIP WON’T BE ABLE TO GET THE SPEED NEEDED

FOR HEAVILY LOADED JETS \h\h\h\h\h\hTO TAKE OFF.

THE ALL-IMPORTANT BOMB RUNS \hARE IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED.

\hRowston: ALRIGHT, BOYS. SLIDE IT BACK IF YOU CAN.

Narrator: ALL THE COWLING \h\h\hON BOTH GAS TURBINES

\h\h\h\hWILL NEED TO BE CHECKED TO SEE WHY THE WELDS HAVE FAILED

AND IF THEY CAN BE FIXED.

Rowston: ALL OUR FLIGHT PLANS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE DAMAGED

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDUE TO A BIT OF STAINLESS STEEL SPLITTING.

THE SIMPLEST OF THINGS, EH?

YOU’VE GOT MULTI, MULTIMILLION, BILLION-POUND AIRCRAFT,

GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH THEY ARE.

\hCLEVER, CLEVER HIGH LEVEL TECHNOLOGY THAT ARE GROUNDED

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDUE TO A BIT OF STAINLESS STEEL SPLITTING.

IT’S NUTS, ISN’T IT?

Narrator: WITH FLYING CANCELLED,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SHIP HEADS FOR THE U.S. NAVAL BASE NORFOLK

FOR URGENT REPAIRS.

\h\hIF THE GAS TURBINES CAN’T BE FIXED QUICKLY,

THE BOMB RUNS WON’T HAPPEN \h\h\hON THIS DEPLOYMENT.

IT WOULD BE A MASSIVE SETBACK.

\hDESPITE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TURBINE,

\hTHE ROYAL MARINES BAND STILL NEED TO REHEARSE FOR NEW YORK.

Rowston: YOU GOT IT?

Narrator: BUT THE REAL PRESSURE IS ON THE MARINE ENGINEERS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRowston: IT’S A BIT OF A BUGGER, LIKE.

Man: YEP, TO ME.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THERE’S A LOT OF COWLING

\hTO BE DISMANTLED, CHECKED, AND TESTED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S HEAVY AND VERY AWKWARD TO HANDLE.

Man: YOU’RE PUSHING ME TOWARDS-- OH, MY GOD.

Man: GO SLOWLY.

Narrator: BUT THEY HAVE TO FIND OUT THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE

AND WHETHER IT CAN BE REPAIRED \h\h\h\hIN LESS THAN 24 HOURS.

IT’S A VERY TALL ORDER.

Rowston: HEY, UP.

\h\hMan: GOOD MORNING. HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?

Rowston: GOOD MORNING, ALRIGHT. GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

HEY, YOU ALRIGHT?

OKAY, WE’LL GET ON BOARD, \hAND WE’LL GO FROM THERE.

\h\h\hNarrator: THESE MEN ARE FROM BAE SYSTEMS USA.

THEIR BOSS, LOUIS PARROT, \h\h\hIS A MASTER WELDER.

\hLouis Parrot: I’M JUST MARKING OFF SOME SPACES.

I SEE THERE ARE CRACKS.

THEY ARE STRANGE, THOUGH,

’CAUSE THAT WELD CRACKED \hRIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

YEAH. IF IT WAS JUST BAD...

Narrator: THERE IS NOTHING \h\h\h\hLOUIS DOESN’T KNOW

ABOUT WELDING STAINLESS STEEL.

\h\hLouis: THAT’S WHY I WANT TO ANALYZE IT,

\h\hTO FIND OUT WHICH METAL WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE USING.

Rowston: YEAH.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: HE RECKONS THE WRONG WELD HAS BEEN USED,

\h\h\hBUT TO REPAIR IT, HE NEEDS TO KNOW EXACTLY

WHAT SORT OF STAINLESS STEEL \h\h\h\h\hHE’S DEALING WITH.

Louis: 304, 308...

Rowston: YEAH.

Louis: 309, 310, 316, \h\h\h\h321, AND 347.

ALL OF THOSE ARE DIFFERENT, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hUH, STAINLESS.

THEY’RE ALL STAINLESS,

BUT THEY’RE DIFFERENT TYPES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF STAINLESS.

Rowston: YEAH.

I TELL YOU WHAT, YOU’RE MAKING \h\hTHAT LOOK HARD, AREN’T YA?

\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE COWLING IS SENT OFF FOR IMMEDIATE ANALYSIS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMEANWHILE, THE INSTALLERS HAVE ARRIVED

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO REPLACE THE BURNED INSULATION.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHESE GUYS ARE NO ROOKIES EITHER.

Man: RONNIE AND MYSELF,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hME AND HIM, WE’VE WORKED TOGETHER 40 YEARS.

Rowston: BLOODY HELL!

\h\h\h\h\hMan: AND BILL, WE’VE BEEN TOGETHER 37.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRowston: SO, RIGHT FROM THE START, THEN.

Man: YEAH. WE WAS ALL YOUNG GUYS IN OUR TWENTIES.

Rowston: THEY STILL WANNA KEEP \h\h\hTHE SAILING WINDOW OPEN

FOR TOMORROW MORNING, 0900,

\h\hSO IT MIGHT BE A LONG DAY FOR US.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT IS WHAT IT IS. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING

AND WATCHING A BAND \h\hIN TOWN TONIGHT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT I DON’T THINK I’LL BE DOING THAT ANYMORE, SO.

A LOT OF PRESSURE ON, BASICALLY.

\h\h\hTHE CLOCK’S TICKING, AND TIME IS LOOMING ON US.

WHAT THE...

[LAUGHING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE CLOCK MIGHT BE TICKING,

BUT TODAY IS HALLOWEEN, \h\hAND THIS IS AMERICA.

Rowston: WHO’S THE CRAZY ONE \hANYMORE? THIS GUY, NOT ME.

AM I SEEING THINGS? \hWHAT’S HAPPENING?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: WE WERE JUST LOOKING AROUND,

AND THIS IS WHAT WE SAW.

LIKE, IT WAS JUST LIKE, \h\h\h\h\h\hHOLY [BLEEP]

IT’S SO MUCH BETTER BECAUSE \hYOU’RE ON A BRITISH BOAT.

Rowston: YEAH.

THAT IS SICK!

[LAUGHING]

Narrator: TWO HOURS LATER,

THE COWLING COMES BACK \h\h\h\hFROM THE LABS.

Rowston: DICKIE’S RETURNED \h\h\h\h\h\hWITH THE NEWS

\h\h\h\hTHAT THIS IS STAINLESS STEEL 316.

Narrator: NOW THE WELDERS KNOW \h\hWHAT THEY’RE DEALING WITH,

\h\h\hBUT IF THE SHIP’S GOING TO LEAVE TOMORROW,

IT’S STILL A RACE AGAINST TIME.

Man: 1, 2, 1.

\h\h\h\h[PLAYING "OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER"]

♪

Rowston: THE LAGGING GUYS HAVE FINISHED THE LAGGING.

INCREDIBLE, REALLY.

THEY PUT IT TOGETHER PRETTY, \h\h\h\h\hPRETTY DAMN QUICK.

YEAH, IT’S SMART, THAT.

HERE SHE IS.

Man: THANK YOU.

Rowston: THE LAST PIECE. \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHANK YOU.

♪

Man: GOOD, A NICE SHORT ENDING. DA-DA-DA-DA. STACCATO ENDING.

Rowston: CHEERS, LOUIS, MATE. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHANK YOU.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FOR LOUIS, THE MASTER WELDER,

HIS WORK HERE IS DONE.

Man: YEP, COOL.

\h\h\hProducer: SO, ROB, WHAT’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN?

\h\hRowston: WE’RE ABOUT TO FLASH UP THE AFT GAS.

FLASH HER UP, A BIT OF NOISE.

WHAT YOU CAN HEAR THERE \h\h\h\h\h\hIS THE HSS.

THAT’S THE HYDRAULIC \h\h\hSTART SYSTEM.

[HUMMING]

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

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRowston: SO, THAT’S TURNING THE ENGINE

OVER AND OVER AND OVER \h\hAND OVER AND OVER.

[HUMMING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IF THE WELDING DOESN’T HOLD UP,

THE ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT \hAND SHUT ITSELF DOWN.

Rowston: HEY, BRO.

[HUMMING]

THERE WE GO.

THERE SHE GOES.

[LAUGHS]

I’M HAPPY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: WITH THE ENGINE RESTORED,

THE SHIP IS BACK TO FULL SPEED.

\h\h\h\hTHE F-35s CAN NOW LAUNCH WITH WEAPONS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Gray: THESE WEAPONS ARE LASER \h\h\hAND GPS GUIDED WEAPONS,

BUT THEY’RE ACTUALLY CONCRETE,

\h\h\h\h\hSO THEY’VE GOT THE REAL FRONT SECTION,

THE REAL AFT SECTION,

BUT THE ACTUAL MIDDLE SECTION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hISN’T EXPLOSIVE,

IT’S JUST CONCRETE.

\hFOR US AS TESTERS, WE CARE ABOUT THE AERODYNAMIC FALL,

\h\h\hBUT WHAT WE DON’T CONCERN OURSELVES ABOUT

IS WHETHER THE BOMB GOES BANG.

[RADIO CHATTER]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE JETS ARE BACK IN THE AIR,

\hBUT NOT EVERYONE IS WATCHING THEM.

Rowston: EVERYONE’S ALL, "JETS THIS, JETS THAT."

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’VE GOT TWO BIGGER JET ENGINES RIGHT HERE,

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

\h\hLIKE, THESE ARE ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINES

\h\h\h\h\hFROM JET PLANES THAT HAVE BEEN MARINIZED.

THEY’RE BIGGER AND BETTER.

Producer: SO, YOU’RE BIGGER \hAND BETTER THAN THE F-35s?

Rowston: YEAH.

[LAUGHS]

\hYEAH. MAYBE THEY’VE GOT MORE WIRES AND MORE SQUIGGLY BITS,

BUT IF IT WASN’T FOR THESE TWO

\h\h\h\h\hAND THE LIKES OF THE DIESELS AS WELL,

THEY WOULDN’T BE GOING TO A SKY OFF OF THIS SHIP.

SHE’S A GOOD SHIP AS WELL.

I’VE GOT A LOT OF TIME FOR HER. I LIKE HER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI’M GROWING MORE AND MORE FOND OF HER EVERY DAY.

Producer: ARE YOU?

Rowston: YEAH, I AM.

SHE’S GOOD, THOUGH. \h\h\h\hSHE’S GOOD.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: WIZZER, THE FIRST TO EXECUTE AN SRVL,

WILL BE THE FIRST TO DROP BOMBS FROM THE QUEEN ELIZABETH.

\h\hMan: WINGS TEST COMPLETE. PERMISSION TO LAUNCH THE JET.

Blackmore: LAUNCH THE JET.

Wizzer: NICE AND STRAIGHT.

SLIGHTLY LEFT.

UP SHE COMES.

1119.

IT’S A GOOD AXLE.

[RADIO CHATTER]

FLYCO APPROVED.

\hSTORES JETTISONED, DOWNWIND, NEXT BARS.

Narrator: WIZZER LINES UP \h\h\h\hFOR HIS BOMB RUN,

AND EVERY MOVE IS MONITORED AND MEASURED BY CIVILIAN SCIENTISTS.

Wizzer: I’M GETTING PERMISSION \h\h\h\h\h\hSLOWLY BUT SURELY

\hFROM THE SHIP TO DO IT ON THIS NEXT PASS ROUND.

ARE YOU GUYS READY?

Man: CONFIRMED, CONFIRMED. \h\h\h\h\hCONTROLS READY.

Narrator: THEY MIGHT BE INERT BOMBS THAT WIZZER IS CARRYING,

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME

THE F-35B HAS RELEASED \h\h\hWEAPONS AT SEA.

THE F-35B IS ABOUT TO DROP BOMBS AT SEA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE QUESTION IS WILL THEY RELEASE SUCCESSFULLY?

Wizzer: RELEASING. \h\hIN 5, 4, 3, 1.

RELEASING.

1, 2, 3, 4.

AND ALL THE BOMBS ARE AWAY.

Man: LOOKS GOOD HERE.

Narrator: THE FIGHTER JET- \h\h\hWARSHIP COMBINATION

\hIS BEGINNING TO REALIZE ITS FULL LETHAL POTENTIAL.

\h\h\h\hWizzer: THAT PUTS US IN A VERY, VERY SOUND PLACE

TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND MAINTAIN PEACE,

\h\h\h\hWHICH ULTIMATELY IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S REALLY MAINTAINING THE PEACE.

RIGHT, WE DON’T WANT TO USE IT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI PERSONALLY DON’T WANT TO SEE IT USED.

IF IT HAS TO BE USED, I GET IT.

ONE AWAY, TWO AWAY, THREE AWAY.

I WANT IT TO BE SEEN \h\h\hAS THE FIGHTER

YOU REALLY DON’T WANT \h\hTO GO UP AGAINST.

IT’S THE DETERRENT TO PREVENT \hTHE WAR AND KEEP THE PEACE,

\h\hAND THAT WOULD JUST BE ICING ON THE CAKE FOR ME.

THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, \h\h\hTHE CHERRY ON TOP.

\h\h\h\hTHAT WOULD BE PERFECT. THAT’S THE WAY I’D LIKE TO BE.

Narrator: BOMB RUNS COMPLETE,

\h\h\h\h\hHMS QUEEN ELIZABETH HEADS NORTH TOWARDS NEW YORK.

THE SHIP APPROACHES THE HUDSON ESTUARY, GATEWAY TO NEW YORK.

Man: STARBOARD 5, STEER 2-9-2. Man: STARBOARD 5, STEER 2-9-2.

Kyd: THERE’S A GOOD BEACH \h\h\h\h\h\hTHERE AS WELL.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THIS WILL BE JERRY KYD’S FINAL FOREIGN PORT.

IN A FEW DAYS, HE HANDS OVER \hCOMMAND TO A NEW CAPTAIN.

\h\h\hKyd: MY LAST ENTRY INTO HARBOR AS A SEAGOING CAPTAIN.

\h\h\h\h\h\hI’M JUST LOOKING AT THE NEW YORK SKYLINE NOW,

AND RIGHT ON MY RIGHT-HAND SIDE HERE IS MANHATTAN,

\h\h\hAND, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

JUST OVER THERE.

IT’S VERY, VERY SPECIAL, \h\h\h\h\h\hVERY ICONIC,

\h\h\hBUT THIS IS WHAT THE SHIP’S ALL ABOUT,

\h\h\h\hWHICH IS SHOWING THE BRITISH FLAG ABROAD,

SHOWING HER THAT WHILST \hWE FLY JETS ALL WEEK,

WE, IN A HEARTBEAT,

CAN CHANGE TO DIPLOMACY \h\h\h\hAND SOFT POWER,

\h\h\h\h\hBUT FOR ME TODAY VERY, VERY SPECIAL INDEED.

\h\h\h\h\h\hYEAH, I’M VERY, VERY QUITE EMOTIONAL, I HAVE TO SAY.

♪

♪

♪

♪

[BAGPIPES PLAYING]

Mansfield: IT’S A VERY, SORT OF, ELEMENTAL THING REALLY UP HERE.

WE’RE JUST ABOUT TO GO INTO THIS HUGE HARBOR

UNDER THIS ENORMOUS BRIDGE,

\h\h\h\hALL THIS FREIGHT OF HUMAN LIFE ON BOARD,

\h\h\h\h\hALL, ALL THE STORIES THAT WE KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT.

IT’S VERY MOVING.

WHEN FRANK WAS PLAYING, \hI WAS JUST WELLING UP.

[SHIP’S HORN BLOWS]

Producer: SO, WES, WE’RE COMING INTO NEW YORK,

BUT YOU CAN’T GO AND SEE IT.

Wes: NO, I CAN’T SEE IT BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING.

SOME OF THE YOUNG LADS \h\h\h\hHAVE GONE UP,

BUT I’VE GOT TO WORK DOWN HERE.

I’M ON LUNCH, DINNER, \hAND THEN BREAKFAST.

Producer: ALWAYS WORKING, WES.

Wes: ALWAYS WORKING. \h\hSOMEONE HAS TO.

[LAUGHS]

BUT WE’VE GOT FUNCTIONS ON \hFOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS.

\h\h\hALL THE CHEFS ARE WORKING FLAT-OUT

WITH A LOT OF VIPs COMING.

THE AMBASSADOR WILL BE ON BOARD AS WELL.

♪

Rowston: IT’S GREAT, ISN’T IT? \h\h\hHAVE YOU SEEN THE VIEW?

\h\h\h\hIT’S SPLENDID, ISN’T IT? CAN’T GO WRONG, CAN’T GO WRONG.

IT’S KIND OF A CHEEKY LITTLE \h\hPERK BEING HERE AS WELL,

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? \h\h\h\hTHE GOOD END.

[LAUGHS]

[BAND PLAYING]

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

\h\hSAILS TO WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE OF LOWER MANHATTAN

AND THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

♪

SHE IS THE BIGGEST WARSHIP EVER

TO COME THIS CLOSE TO THE BIG APPLE,

\h\h\h\hAND HER SHIP’S COMPANY IS AS EXCITED TO SEE NEW YORK

AS NEW YORK IS TO SEE THEM.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWoody Johnson: SO, IT’S A BIG DAY FOR NEW YORK,

A BIG DAY FOR THE SHIP.

IT’S A BIG DAY FOR THE CREW

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THE CAPTAIN AND THE LEADERSHIP AND, UH,

THEY HAVE TO BE VERY PROUD

OF WHAT THEY’VE ACCOMPLISHED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THIS SHIP.

IT’S AN AMAZING SHIP.

\h\hProducer: AND SHE’S HERE TO ENDORSE THE US-UK RELATIONSHIP.

Johnson: OH, I THINK THAT’S REALLY WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT,

AND IT, IT PROJECTS THE POWER \h\hTHAT WE NEED IN THE WORLD.

IN A DANGEROUS WORLD,

\h\h\hYOU HAVE TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF ASSETS,

THESE KINDS OF PLATFORMS TO DO \hTHE THINGS THAT WE ALL WANT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH IS TO MAINTAIN OUR SECURITY AND OUR PROSPERITY.

♪

♪

Narrator: THE QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\h\h\hWILL NOW TRANSFORM

\h\hFROM A SHIP OF WAR TO A FLOATING EMBASSY,

A CONFERENCE CENTER, \hAND CONCERT HALL.

[LAUGHTER]

Man: WE’RE GETTING THERE, \h\h\hWE’RE GETTING THERE.

Narrator: ONE OF THE FIRST VIPs TO ARRIVE IS GAVIN WILLIAMSON,

THE BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR DEFENSE.

\h\h\h\hHE’S HERE TO LAUNCH A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL FORUM

\h\h\h\hON CYBER WARFARE THAT WILL BRING TOGETHER

SCIENTISTS, BUSINESSMEN, AND THE MILITARY IN ONE ROOM, OR HANGAR.

\h\hTHERE COULD HARDLY BE A MORE APPROPRIATE VENUE.

Officer: LET’S GO, LET’S GO. GO, GO.

[SIREN]

Narrator: MEANWHILE, SAILORS ON LEAVE ARE HEADING ASHORE

TO EXPERIENCE THE BIG APPLE.

HEADING FOR LOWER MANHATTAN,

\h\h\h\h\hWES KAHN IS HAVING HIS FIRST TASTE OF NEW YORK.

HE’S ON A PERSONAL PILGRIMAGE.

♪ BLOOD IN MY VEINS ♪

♪ IT’S RUNNING COLD ♪

♪ BURNING LIKE A FLAME ♪

♪ WAITING ON THE SUN ♪

♪ SUN TO GO DOWN ♪

♪ SUN TO GO DOWN ♪

\hONCE AGAIN, TRAVEL SAFE TO HAVE A REMARKABLE DAY.

[APPLAUSE]

Wes: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, \h\hTHANK YOU, THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE A GOOD VOICE.

Man: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

\h\h\h\hWes: GOT THAT DEEP SOUL VOICE, HUH?

REALLY NICE, MAN.

♪

IT’S INCREDIBLE.

IT’S THE FIRST TIME \h\hI’VE BEEN HERE.

\hUH, I DON’T KNOW, IT’S, IT’S QUITE, UH, TOUCHING.

\h\hWHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, ACTUALLY I WAS IN TRAINING.

I WAS DOING MY BASIC TRAINING,

AND, UH, IT WAS A BIT BAD \h\h\h\h\hFOR ME BACK THEN

BECAUSE WE SAW IT LIVE ON TELLY.

WE STOPPED TRAINING \h\h\hAND ALL THAT,

AND THEN I HAD TO, LIKE,

\hMY GUYS I WAS TRAINING WITH WERE NOT REALLY HAPPY WITH ME

\h\h\hBECAUSE I WAS A MUSLIM, AND THE MUSLIMS HAD DONE THAT,

AND THEN, UH, I WAS SEPARATED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR A FEW DAYS.

\hIT WAS HARD. I WAS ABOUT TO, I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE NAVY,

\h\h\h\hAND I THOUGHT I MIGHT JUST PUT MY NOTICE IN AND GO,

BECAUSE EVERYWHERE YOU WENT, \h\h\h\h\h\hYOU HAD THAT...

PEOPLE LOOKED AT YOU IN A SUSPICIOUS WAY,

\h\h\h\hBUT AFTER THAT, EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT.

\hPEOPLE FORGET THAT THERE WAS ALSO MUSLIMS IN THIS BUILDING

WHO DIED AS WELL.

ACCORDING TO THE TEACHINGS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF ISLAM,

WHATEVER HAPPENED WAS WRONG.

IT SHOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED, \h\h\hBECAUSE WE AS MUSLIMS,

WE BELIEVE THAT, UH, \hYOU SAVE ONE LIFE,

\h\h\h\hYOU HAVE SAVED THE WHOLE OF HUMANITY,

AND YOU TAKE ONE LIFE, YOU’VE \hTAKEN THE WHOLE OF HUMANITY.

SO, I PERSONALLY CONDEMN \h\h\h\h\hWHAT HAPPENED.

WE’LL LET THE ALMIGHTY \h\hCREATOR JUDGE THEM

ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT.

Narrator: BACK ON THE SHIP,

THE FORUM ON CYBER WARFARE IS ABOUT TO GET UNDER WAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hROBOTS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

\h\h\h\h\h\hWILL TRANSFORM FUTURE COMBAT OPERATIONS,

AND THE DECISIONS MADE HERE \hTODAY COULD FUNDAMENTALLY

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAFFECT THE WAY THE QUEEN ELIZABETH GOES TO WAR.

\h\h\h\h\hGavin Williamson: THERE IS NO PROBLEM TOO BIG

THAT WE CAN’T OVERCOME.

Narrator: A HIGH-LEVEL FORUM

\h\h\h\h\h\hBEING HELD ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH

IS CONSIDERING THE IMMENSE \hTHREAT OF CYBER WARFARE.

\hWilliamson: EXPOSING RECKLESS CYBERATTACKS

BY THE LIKES OF RUSSIAN \hINTELLIGENCE SERVICES

AROUND THE WORLD.

Woman: A DIFFERENT KIND OF AI...

\h\h\hNarrator: SOME ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED IN OPEN FORUM,

SOME BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

♪

FOR THE NEXT TWO NIGHTS,

\h\hTHE QUEEN ELIZABETH BECOMES THE MANHATTAN VENUE TO DIE FOR--

GLITTERING COCKTAIL PARTIES \hFOR A HOST OF AMBASSADORS,

DIPLOMATS, GOVERNMENT MINISTERS, AND MILITARY TOP BRASS.

♪

Philip Jones: THE ARMED FORCES \h\h\h\hOF THE UNITED KINGDOM

AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

\hHAVE ALWAYS SHARED A VERY SPECIAL BOND WITH EACH OTHER

THAT HAS STOOD FOR GENERATIONS.

\h\hI WILL ALWAYS BE DEEPLY HONORED

\h\hAT HAVING BEEN THE FIRST SEA LORD

\h\hAT THE POINT OF WHICH THIS SHIP ENTERS SERVICE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE BUILT SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA SENSE IN ALL THE SHIP’S COMPANY

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THEY’RE PART OF SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT,

\h\h\h\h\hAND YOU CAN SEE THE EFFECT IT HAS ON THEM,

WHETHER IT’S THE CRUSTY \hOLD CAPTAIN JERRY KYD,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNOW COMMANDING HIS THIRD AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

\hAND, OF COURSE, LEAVING THIS WEEK,

\h\h\h\h\h\hOR WHETHER IT’S THE YOUNG SAILORS

\h\h\hWHO ARE IN THEIR VERY FIRST JOB AT SEA,

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE PROUD TO WEAR THAT CAP TALLY,

AND THEY KNOW THEY’RE PART \h\hOF SOMETHING SPECIAL.

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

\hNarrator: THIS HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO A KEY ALLY,

THE FIRST OF COUNTLESS \h\h\hDIPLOMATIC STOPS

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH WILL MAKE \h\h\h\h\h\hALL OVER THE WORLD

DURING HER LIFETIME.

\h\h\hEVENTUALLY IT’S TIME FOR JERRY KYD TO DEPART HIS SHIP.

Producer: SO, TODAY’S THE DAY.

Kyd: YES, THE DAY IS FINALLY \h\h\hHERE TO HAND HER OVER,

WHICH IS A BIT EMOTIONAL, \h\h\h\h\h\hI HAVE TO SAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI SUPPOSE I LOOK BACK PERSONALLY,

IF I COULD ALLOW A MOMENT, \h\hAND TO SAY, YOU KNOW,

AFTER THREE AND A HALF DECADES \h\h\h\hOF BEING IN THE NAVY,

\h\hIT WAS ALL FOR THIS SHIP, AND THAT’S WHAT I REALIZE NOW.

MY COMMANDS BEFORE,

RUNNING THE NAVAL OFFICERS COLLEGE DOWN IN DARTMOUTH,

MY PREVIOUS AIRCRAFT CARRIER \hCOMMANDS, ALBEIT SMALLER,

WERE, I SUPPOSE, IN HINDSIGHT, \h\h\h\h\hALL STEPPING STONES

\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR BEING PREPARED TO TAKE THIS GREAT SHIP TO SEA

AND LEAD THE WAY,

GETTING QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\hUP ON ITS LEGS.

\h\h\h\hSO, IT’S BEEN A COMPLETE PRIVILEGE.

I WOULDN’T HAVE MISSED IT \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE WORLD.

I’M NOT SURE IF MY WIFE \h\hWOULD AGREE, BUT...

BYE, GUYS.

Man: BYE, SIR.

Kyd: HAVE A GOOD TIME \h\h\h\h\hIN VIRGINIA.

Man: YES, SIR.

Kyd: THANKS, GUYS.

THAT’S VERY KIND OF YOU.

THANKS, GUYS.

THANKS, GUYS.

\h\h\h\hLOOK AT THAT. IS THAT A GREAT VIEW?

THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR ME.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S THE SAILORS WHO MAKE THESE THINGS WORK.

GREAT PRIVILEGE LEADING THEM.

♪

\h\h\hGUYS, IT’S BEEN A COMPLETE PRIVILEGE.

\hSERVE THE NEW CAPTAIN AS WELL AS YOU HAVE ME,

AND HE’LL BE LAUGHING KITBAGS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI’VE PASSED ON THAT YOU’RE ALL VERY AVERAGE,

AND HE’S LOOKING FORWARD TO KNOWING HOW YOU ARE.

[LAUGHTER]

BUT WELL DONE, GUYS. \h\h\hSEE YOU SOON.

HAVE A GOOD TRIP BACK.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: JERRY KYD WILL BE RETURNING HOME

TO TAKE UP THE ROLE

\h\hOF ADMIRAL IN COMMAND OF THE UK MARITIME FORCES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S A RECOGNITION OF HIS HUGELY SUCCESSFUL COMMAND

OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH.

DURING THIS DEPLOYMENT, \h\h\h\hTHERE HAVE BEEN

OVER 200 LAUNCHES AND LANDINGS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE F-35B,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h20 SHIPBORNE ROLLING VERTICAL LANDINGS,

AND NEARLY 100 BOMB DROPS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE F-35B AND THE QUEEN ELIZABETH

HAVE BEEN PROVEN COMPATIBLE.

THE TEST PILOTS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hHAVING ESTABLISHED THE JET’S OPERATIONAL LIMITS,

WILL NOW HAND IT OVER \hTO FRONTLINE PILOTS,

WHO WILL START TO TRAIN \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR COMBAT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWalsh: IT’S BEEN, IT’S BEEN GREAT.

IT HAS, REALLY HAS BEEN \hAN EYE-OPENER AS WELL.

AS I SAY, HAVING THE F-35,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWATCHING THEM LAUNCH AND RECOVER, IT’S BEEN AMAZING.

\h\h\h\hLIKE, I CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT WE’VE ACTUALLY ACHIEVED,

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? \h\h\hWE’VE SMASHED IT.

\h\h\hProducer: YOU’RE PROUD OF BRITAIN’S BIGGEST WARSHIP, THEN?

Walsh: OH, YEAH. DEFINITELY.

AS I SAID, THERE’S NOTHING LIKE IT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

\h\h\h\h\h\hBEING IN NORFOLK ALONGSIDE ALL THE AMERICANS,

AND THEN WHEN YOU SEE THIS \h\hPULL UP ALONGSIDE IT,

HOW MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL SHE IS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THE AMERICANS ARE LOOKING AT US FOR ONCE WITH ENVIOUS EYES.

Narrator: AFTER FOUR GRUELING \h\h\h\h\hBUT EVENTFUL MONTHS,

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH CROSSES \h\h\hBACK OVER THE ATLANTIC

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND RETURNS HOME JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS.

♪

THE SHIP’S COMPANY IS NOW BONDED

INTO AN EFFECTIVE \hFIGHTING FORCE,

\h\hTHE SEABORNE FAMILY OF MEN AND WOMEN NOW FIRM SHIPMATES.

[CHEERING]

BUT RIGHT NOW,

\h\h\h\hIT’S TIME FOR THEM TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR LOVED ONES.

Woman: OH!

♪

Walsh: HI, KIDS. ALRIGHT?

THIS IS THE MISSUS \h\hAND THE KIDS.

THEY’RE ALL HAPPY TO SEE ME.

\hNarrator: IN 2021, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

WILL EMBARK ON HER FIRST OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT.

THIS WILL NOT BE FOR TRAINING.

SHE WILL BE READY FOR ACTION \h\h\hAND PRIMED FOR COMBAT.

THAT WILL BE THE FIRST \hOF MANY DEPLOYMENTS

FOR THE QUEEN ELIZABETH OVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS,

HER EXPECTED LIFE SPAN.

\h\h\hMANY THOUSANDS OF SAILORS WILL SERVE ON HER IN THAT TIME,

ALTHOUGH HER FINAL CREW \h\hHAVE YET TO BE BORN.