The Warship: Tour of Duty
 

What an unusual programme....

I started watching it but turned to another channel after about 20 minutes.
Maybe it’s just me , but I didn’t like the way it was done.

'Sailor' of 1976 was SO much better!

Too much attention paid to ‘characters’ and very little about the actual operations. No-one seems to be natural, they're all playing to the camera in one form or another. The Ch5 programme about the T45s is much better.

Then again, I’m not the target audience, am I.

I too expected it to be more like ‘Sailor’.
The focus on ‘characters’ was what made me stop watching it but I DID think it wasn’t aimed at the likes of me.
I expected more ‘factual’ & less ‘Big brother on an aircraft carrier’.

What a strange series of posts!

I thought that it was very good.

Only difference that I could see between this and Sailor of the mid 70’s was the sharpness, resolution and quality of the TV images and the lack of semi criminal hooligan drunkenness.

Warship - the original - 1970s fictional TV series set on a Leander class Frigate called HMS Hero? Ran to about 45 episodes I think.
Or would that be the true life series set on HMS Ark Royal; started off with a Buccaneer at sea level heading straight for the the ship then rotating into a zoom climb.? Sorry could have been called 'Sailor' after the Rob Stewart theme tune.

The series featuring HMS Ark Royal!

RoD Stewart's 1975 song was actually 'Sailing'...

It was a Phantom, not a Bucc and using "Sailing" as the soundtrack was a stroke of genius

It was essential viewing for us at the time, but, interestingly enough and for reasons I really don't know, whilst there are various clips on YT, the full opening sequence shots have never been available...which is shame really.

As for the programme in the title, I thought it was interesting and informative... hence worth watching.

Cost of copyright of the song on Sailing is the reason the song is not on many versions of the opening sequences following the original BBC Series,

The Able Seaman featured (Lambert?) seemed to have no idea of responsibility, even moaning after his shore leave was cancelled, also too 'gobby'. I hope the series picks up!
I've always thought the RN has a better take on PR than the RAF and their 'minders' must have been looking at the way the thing was going but perhaps that's how it is in the Navy these days.

If it does not improve, I might have to look for a box set of "Get Some In'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Old Duffer

The film-maker was on Breakfast TV a couple of days ago, together with the ship's current captain, and they were anxious to get the message across that it was a "warts and all" documentary.

My first comment to my wife was “I hope we don’t see too much of this guy”.

It just reminded me what a strange old bunch the Navy are. I used to work in a joint staff role and their total adherence to nautical slang even when not on a ship (boat?) made me wish outlook had some kind of auto-translate function.

"Too much attention paid to ‘characters’ and very little about the actual operations."

If you know any TV people you'd know they aren't really interested in facts - its all a story to them..............

I suspect that the 'characters' are a good idea; don't forget that recruitment is an important challenge for all the forces, and the "young person who didn't get the best start in life joining the Royal Navy and making something of themselves" narrative is exactly in line with the RN's TV advertising. If young people with potential watch the documentary, see people like themselves, and sign up, it's a win. Sure, I'd prefer to see non-stop footage from the ops room, flight deck and onboard the aircraft, but it's not aimed at old has-beens like me.

I'm with Pr00ne on this. People and personalities make a ship, not just the kit. I enjoyed it, but I am a tad biased

In the BBC Sailor TV series I always liked Captain Wilfred Graham and 'Little Wilf'. (a wooden ventriloquist dummy dressed like the Captain)......little Wilf would ask 'So Big Wilf (the Captain)....where are we going today.'

The Captain would then explain the days activities.

This was televised on the internal TV monitors to the crew...then the winker band would make an appearance!

Also - not everybody wants to be a 'star' so sometimes we are restricted to those willing particpants like 'Lambert' and 'the Vicar' :)
Hopefully the content will improve as the cruise continues - it will be interesting to see how they treat the loss of the F35 over the sharp end :)

A couple of times on detachment with the company we have had the 'pleasure' of a TV crew with us - I just said to them don't expect me to talk to you and I said to the cameraman not to expect me to be in front of t'camera,he was a nice guy and only caught me when I was in the cockpit being towed :)

It was better in the old days? Phantoms and Buccs better than F-35B? Sea King HAS3 better than Merlin HM2? Escorts with updated versions of Second World War radars and sonars (and things like Sea Cat) better than ones with SAMPSON radar and Sea Viper, or Sea Ceptor and towed array sonar?

During one of the episodes on the 1976(?) Sailor a Buccaneer pilot takes six attempts to land on - not a problem with the F-35B.

With something like a thousand hours of footage to edit into six one hour programmes, a lot had to be left out. They did not mention the participation of the Queen Elizabeth group in the NATO Exercises Steadfast Defender 21 - a transatlantic reinforcement exercise. I wonder if the role of the other ships will be mentioned properly - for example the destroyers controlling intercepts and the frigates working with ASW helicopters from the carrier to keep tabs on hostile submarines?

From the Future Carrier thread - by yours truly on 21 May 21:

Ten hectic days for the Royal Navy's Carrier Strike Group

The Royal Navy was central to the maritime phase of exercise Steadfast Defender 2021, the first large-scale test of NATO’s adapted command structure, with the involvement of two new commands – for the Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia and for logistics in Ulm, Germany.

As NATO’s biggest exercise this year, it aims to test readiness and military mobility, with forces deploying across land and sea, from North America to the Black Sea region. Twenty ships were involved in the maritime phase 20-28 May. A ‘free play’ scenario involved ships of SNMG 1 and SNMG 2 attempting to attack the carrier strike group charged with protecting merchant vessels crossing the Atlantic to Europe.

This was also mentioned here on another carrier related thread (focusing on sea control in the NATO theatre) on another website. I expect the following episodes will include intercepts and submarine hunting.

Oh dear, I’m feeling very old – it wasn’t like that in my day.

Yes, way too much focus on ‘characters’ like Lambert. I don’t need to eves drop on his phone call to his partner and he even has someone to help him put his whites on for Commander's defaulters! Oh, and that was a very nice ‘interview’, the only things missing was coffee and biscuits FFS!

The ship exists to project our influence and military power beyond the horizon with the Fleet Air Arm. I didn’t see any input from aircrew, maintainers or the briefing room.

It might improve but it looks to me like an audition for a future reality show.

Agreed. Far too much fecking aromatherapy. And you can’t speak too harshly to Jack these days as he / she/ they might cry.
As to our AB Chef legend in his own standeasy, agreed, far too much exposure; whatever Essex trailer Park he was dragged out of is missing its coke dealer.
Frankly turning up 6 hours adrift under sailing orders would have had him polishing galvanized buckets with brick dust back in the day in some fairly average accommodation in Pompey; and he’d have been better for it. Instead did nothing but whinge about not being on Queens’ Divisions, his rig, which, frankly, he should be proud to wear, and his non existent punishment. Combine that with non combatant female sailors, and the vicar of Dibley. ROMFT.
Great shame as Chris Terrill ( the oldest man and civvy to complete the All Arms course) has made some great documentaries in the past.

I thought there might be explanation as to why US Marine F-35s were on board....presumably because we don't have enough ourselves...

We don’t have enough bodies nor aircraft to provide an air group. Hence US marines and RAF personnel embarks. By the same token if both carriers are manned ( and they are designed for minimal manning hence the **** show when any sort of damage control is required, such as fire in a trash compactor space ) then they can’t man the ‘45’s that are meant to defend them.

The Ch5 programme has a better balance. This film maker, Chris Terrell, seems to like the ‘let’s show everyone as a character’ approach as I remember it from other series of his.

But, as I said earlier, I’m not the target audience so as long as it hit the mark with that demographic, who am I to comment?

It depends if you paid your licence fee! Tick in the box, dog in the fight, say I.

Similar to the previous programmes on Ark Royal and QE, where they focussed on various people at different roles within the ship?

Fair play to Lambert, his comments about everyone just enjoying the moment on the flight deck during Maintenance Day made me warm to him. But the Master-At-Arms needs a rocket for not calling “STOP!!” when Lambert marched out with his hat on back-to-front!

Nice to hear Jackspeak in full flow. Can some ex-Senior Service remind me of the old “ditching stations” pipe?

It's inevitable that the media are going to pick characters to single out for entertainment. AB Lambert must have been seen as a gift from the gods to the producer. A cheeky chappy, from Essex, no less, with a gift for playing to the camera. Likewise the contrasting guy on the bridge with the plummy accent. May have been the biggest dick on earth but he highlighted the "salt of the earth" character of AB Lambert.

Commanders Desk seems to have been toned down from years ago, but my view was that the penalty was fair. The programme played up AB Lambert being adrift, without actually saying whether or not he'd caused a real delay to the ship sailing (I'm near-certain he didn't).

I did watch the programme with a copy of Rick Jolly's book to hand. Used it as a decode handbook. Met Rick Jolly once. years ago. One of the nicest blokes I've ever met. Like all the best blokes (even those in the wrong service) his life was cut too short. He's one bloke I'd have loved to have known better.

Like it or loathe it service life has changed and adapted with society. Personally I was dead impressed with the way the RN have reshaped life at sea to fit with today's society. Bloody good show, from what I've seen so far.

I quite enjoyed it, I thought it interesting that the Commodore and the Commander were on the programme, but no Captain speaking. The episode with the F35 ejecting will be interesting to hear what the initial thoughts were.

The Commander at the time of filming is now the ship's Captain.

I suppose it has to be mostly about personalities. I would like to know what exactly the ship and its aircraft can do, and how exactly it would react to real threats. Short of signing up for the Navy, I am never going to learn that.

Oh yes it was! Go and have a look see at the 1976 Sailing Ark Royal documentary. It is packed full of complaining and whinging lower ranks, drunkenness, awol charges, and focus on a few interesting characters.

Anyone who thinks that the lower ranks having a bit of a moan is anything new does simply not understand the British military, or is suffering from a serious case of rose tinted glasses affecting memory.

I thought it showed the RN in a very positive light in terms of personality and especially in terms if a terrific capability once the aircraft numbers and weapons have been sorted out.

The RAF presence is nothing whatsoever to do with a shortage of personnel. The Lightning is a joint force, 617 squadron is a Royal Air Force squadron, and the RN members are part of a RAF squadron.

Spot on. Anyone in any doubt go and spend time on ARRSE: https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/

Been a haven for whingers for years, often with a lot of justification.

Not the case.

Good point, although I would like to think that Captain Angus Essenhigh (son of a former First Sea Lord) will make some appearances. One Captain, namely Captain James Blackmore, a former Sea Harrier pilot, did make a brief first appearance as CAG, a rank up on previous Commanders Air and presumably to match US Navy CAGs and the senior USMC office on board QUEEN ELIZABETH. Incidentally, Commodore Steve Moorhouse is a former commanding officer of the ship, having had a pierhead jump from CO (Desig) of PRINCE OF WALES to replace Captain Nick Cooke-Priest when the latter had a little car trouble.

Jack

I recall the on-camera de-brief was along the lines of 'Well, you got there in the end, well done'. I also recall reading the off camera debrief was a little more robust....

The series last year from onboard a Type 45 came closer. Although filmed before Russia started it's war with Ukraine, there were obvious signs that Russia was already an aggressor. The tension as they tracked a Russian boat on its way to interfere with a major arctic subsea data cable was palpable. Made all the more real by the Russian boat colliding with the Type 45's towed sonar array and rendering it inop. Not knowing anything at all about ASW I found the way they showed the hunt compelling viewing.

The guy who made this series of programmes, (this being the first) also made an excellent series of programmes about todays Royal Marines. It focused on people but also the challenges they encountered in the quest for the Green Beret. He also followed them in Afghanistan.
Incidentally the guy at the age of 55 went on to win the much coveted Green Beret. How many of us could even contemplate doing that?
I get the comparisons with that 1970, Sailor and the sentimentality that goes with it, but we are 50 years on, and by the way why not make serious judgements as the series moves along.