Warship - the 2008 TV version
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Warship - the 2008 TV version
On Five Monday 19th May at 9pm. Six-part series.
Don't shoot me for the above quote - I am but the messenger.
This new, six-part observational documentary series is filmed onboard the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious during a four-month deployment. The programme follows the professional lives of the crew as well as the personal stories of the young men and women who are thousands of miles from home. In the first episode, problems plague Illustrious's departure from Portsmouth and the crew members are assessed to see if they are battle-ready.
The mighty Illustrious aircraft carrier is about to set sail on a four-month deployment. With a crew of 1,000, this 22,000-ton floating city - nicknamed 'Lusty' - is home to all manner of sailors, from stewards to engineers, officers to deckhands. The ship's projected route will take it through the Strait of Gibraltar, across the Mediterranean and through the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean, where it will support Harrier jump jets serving in Afghanistan.
The man overseeing this massive operation - two years in the planning - is Captain Steve Chick, on his first mission in charge of an aircraft carrier. "Obviously, there's an element of nervousness for anybody in taking command of a ship for the first time," he says. "Getting to know the ship, getting to know how it handles, getting to know the people."
Captain Chick's crew includes a large number of new recruits, each of whom has his or her own reason for signing up. Lieutenant John 'Sid' Little left a job in a clothes shop to serve as a trainee weapons engineer. "It wasn't really what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, so I thought I'd make a career choice and join the navy," he says. Trainee warfare officer Suzie Williford sees the navy as her calling. "I realised this is what I wanted to do," she says. "I wanted to drive ships. I wanted to be in command." Nineteen-year-old John Farnsworth, meanwhile, was attracted by the prospect of playing for the ship's football team.
Before Lusty can depart British waters, the crew members must pass tests to prove they are battle-ready. Tensions run high as a team of tough naval inspectors arrives onboard to stage a series of mock battles. Kitted out in fireproof suits, the sailors are put through their paces in everything from firing weapons and fighting fires to first aid and cooking meals under pressure. "You've got to get it right," says inspector Captain Michael Cockran. "If you get it wrong, people get killed."
Unfortunately for the Lusty's eager but inexperienced sailors, they fail the first test. The ship docks in Portland, Devon and crew members are allowed 48 hours' shore leave to let their hair down as only sailors know how. But when yet another problem strikes the engines, rumours circulate that Illustrious must return to Portsmouth for a two-month layoff. Is the trip over before it has even begun?
The mighty Illustrious aircraft carrier is about to set sail on a four-month deployment. With a crew of 1,000, this 22,000-ton floating city - nicknamed 'Lusty' - is home to all manner of sailors, from stewards to engineers, officers to deckhands. The ship's projected route will take it through the Strait of Gibraltar, across the Mediterranean and through the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean, where it will support Harrier jump jets serving in Afghanistan.
The man overseeing this massive operation - two years in the planning - is Captain Steve Chick, on his first mission in charge of an aircraft carrier. "Obviously, there's an element of nervousness for anybody in taking command of a ship for the first time," he says. "Getting to know the ship, getting to know how it handles, getting to know the people."
Captain Chick's crew includes a large number of new recruits, each of whom has his or her own reason for signing up. Lieutenant John 'Sid' Little left a job in a clothes shop to serve as a trainee weapons engineer. "It wasn't really what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, so I thought I'd make a career choice and join the navy," he says. Trainee warfare officer Suzie Williford sees the navy as her calling. "I realised this is what I wanted to do," she says. "I wanted to drive ships. I wanted to be in command." Nineteen-year-old John Farnsworth, meanwhile, was attracted by the prospect of playing for the ship's football team.
Before Lusty can depart British waters, the crew members must pass tests to prove they are battle-ready. Tensions run high as a team of tough naval inspectors arrives onboard to stage a series of mock battles. Kitted out in fireproof suits, the sailors are put through their paces in everything from firing weapons and fighting fires to first aid and cooking meals under pressure. "You've got to get it right," says inspector Captain Michael Cockran. "If you get it wrong, people get killed."
Unfortunately for the Lusty's eager but inexperienced sailors, they fail the first test. The ship docks in Portland, Devon and crew members are allowed 48 hours' shore leave to let their hair down as only sailors know how. But when yet another problem strikes the engines, rumours circulate that Illustrious must return to Portsmouth for a two-month layoff. Is the trip over before it has even begun?
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I thought Portland was in Dorset... 
Let's hope this doesn't turn out to be the sort of programme in which we are breathlessly informed of how many football pitches would fit on her flight deck or how many London buses would equal her length.
Let's hope this doesn't turn out to be the sort of programme in which we are breathlessly informed of how many football pitches would fit on her flight deck or how many London buses would equal her length.
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Let's hope this doesn't turn out to be the sort of programme in which we are breathlessly informed of how many football pitches would fit on her flight deck
Its about one for a Brit aircraft carrier isn't it? (5 a side that is)
It would be very interesting to compare 'Warship' with 'Sailor'.....
As well as the programmes, perhaps a comparison of the RN's capabilities then and now would also prove....interesting
.
As well as the programmes, perhaps a comparison of the RN's capabilities then and now would also prove....interesting
.
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Warship series
Sailor was just superb, if sad that it was the Ark's last commission.
What about the series about HMS Brilliant in 1995? I seem to recall a memorable run in Istanbul and a WEM getting himself in bother for slugging an officer.
The much earlier (1973-1977) docu-drama "Warship" about HMS Hero (PHOEBE in disguise) was required viewing. Incidentally, there are some lovely photographs of her in the Phoebe Bar in the Bournemouth Pavilion.
I don't remember many such series about the RAF...
What about the series about HMS Brilliant in 1995? I seem to recall a memorable run in Istanbul and a WEM getting himself in bother for slugging an officer.
The much earlier (1973-1977) docu-drama "Warship" about HMS Hero (PHOEBE in disguise) was required viewing. Incidentally, there are some lovely photographs of her in the Phoebe Bar in the Bournemouth Pavilion.
I don't remember many such series about the RAF...
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'Squadron'
Yes, but the 'Phantom killing Jag' was a bit close to home at the time after recent events !
There was also a sequence as I recall of a Harrier GR3 managing to straddle a target vehicle with Matra 155's !
" Good shooting, Biffo ! " - More like sheer b***dy amazing !
' Warship ' wasn't too special either, long on dull scripts & short on action footage - better off watching ' Thunderbirds ', as a Test pilot I knew remarked !
There is an hotel near Sandhead, by the West Freugh range ( the scrapyard was nearby ) which has the quite impressively detailed damage-control flooding diagram of the 1970's Ark Royal.
There was also a sequence as I recall of a Harrier GR3 managing to straddle a target vehicle with Matra 155's !
" Good shooting, Biffo ! " - More like sheer b***dy amazing !
' Warship ' wasn't too special either, long on dull scripts & short on action footage - better off watching ' Thunderbirds ', as a Test pilot I knew remarked !
There is an hotel near Sandhead, by the West Freugh range ( the scrapyard was nearby ) which has the quite impressively detailed damage-control flooding diagram of the 1970's Ark Royal.
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A Phantom killing a Jag? Script writer's poetic licence, surely?
Sorry, I'd forgotten "Fighter Pilot"; according to t'interweb that was the one which upset Their Airships when it showed a young officer at home - eating baked beans.
Anyone remember "A Piece of Cake"? "Behind you, Ginger!" "Take that, you dirty Hun!" etc., etc.. Oh dear.
Sorry, I'd forgotten "Fighter Pilot"; according to t'interweb that was the one which upset Their Airships when it showed a young officer at home - eating baked beans.
Anyone remember "A Piece of Cake"? "Behind you, Ginger!" "Take that, you dirty Hun!" etc., etc.. Oh dear.
Last edited by exscribbler; 18th May 2008 at 12:37.
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exscribbler, I have a copy of the book "Fighter Pilot" that accompanied the series. An old library was throwing it out - we're talking about 20 years ago, now!
The six "characters" in the series were Trevor Lewis, Robbie Low, John McCrea, Martin Oxborrow, Rhoderick Smart and Alistair Stewart.
The BBC made a documentary on board HMS Eagle in the 1960s. Will report back as my dad has a copy and I'm seeing him later in the week.
The six "characters" in the series were Trevor Lewis, Robbie Low, John McCrea, Martin Oxborrow, Rhoderick Smart and Alistair Stewart.
The BBC made a documentary on board HMS Eagle in the 1960s. Will report back as my dad has a copy and I'm seeing him later in the week.
Was a very unfriendly jaguar though, it had shot down a Puma. Also had a strange capacity of being able to change camouflage in flight between of the RAF and Oman AF scheme and back. Saying that I do remember somebody writing a latter to ‘Points of View’ or whatever show did its role at the time saying why did the Phantom change colour scheme when it launched a missile??? Of course if you really want to go down market on RAF Drama, there is always the 1995 ITV one off ‘Strike Force’, made Squadron look totally brilliant. Most of Squadron was filmed before the Falklands, as some of the Harriers in it, later fought in the war (According to the bible on the subject, Falklands – The Air War), so maybe the final script of the first episode of Squadron was written before the incident on 25 May 82.
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EAGLE in the 1960s... Sea Vixens... Scimitars... Gannets... Perhaps a Buccaneer or two...
Heaven.
Get Some In here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Some_In!
Heaven.
Get Some In here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Some_In!
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Slightly off topic, there was the BBC 'Comedy' All along the watchtower (1999). I say 'comedy', that is at least how the BBC described it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Alo...wer_(TV_series)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Alo...wer_(TV_series)