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S2 E3 Doomed Vessels

Documentary

12+

43m

2 Jul 2025

Explore the design flaws and human errors that condemned great ships to a tragic end. In 1628 the warship Vasa sank on her maiden voyage. Together with Vasa curator Fred Hocker, solve the mystery of why this great ship sank.

Season 2, 8 Episodes

Season 2 (8 Episodes)

Combat Ships - Viking Longships

Viking Longships,

Viking combat ships changed the course of history. Their longships brought William the Conqueror’s troops to Hastings, adventurers to North America and raiders to plunder the Saxon kingdoms.

Combat Ships - Stealth

In Stealth we examine the methods ships have used to evade detection. With the advent of radar in WW2, ships that wanted to remain undetected had to find ways to hide.

Combat Ships - Doomed Vessels

Doomed Vessels,

Explore the design flaws and human errors that condemned great ships to a tragic end. In 1628 the warship Vasa sank on her maiden voyage. Together with Vasa curator Fred Hocker, solve the mystery of why this great ship sank.

Combat Ships - Destroyers And Cruisers

Destroyers And Cruisers,

Destroyers and Cruisers showcases ships that with their speed and firepower became the backbones of 20th century navies. We tell the incredible story of USS Laffey, the WW2 destroyer that would come to be known as ‘the ship that would not die’.

Combat Ships - Secrets Of The Sea

Secrets Of The Sea,

This episode tells stories about the secret world of naval deception and cloak and dagger missions. 1914, the yacht Asgard, manned by Erskine Childers, smuggled rifles into a fishing village to arm an Irish militia in their struggle for Home Rule.

Combat Ships - Galleon And Privateers

Galleon And Privateers,

The 16th century witnessed a revolution in combat ship design and saw the birth of two legendary sea captains; Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake – both superb seamen and adventurers who would have a lasting impact on naval history.

Combat Ships - Battle Of Leyte Gulf

Battle Of Leyte Gulf,

The Battle of Leyte Gulf tells the story of the largest sea conflict in history involving Pearl Harbor warships and the largest battleships in the world, and how the US Navy, despite kamikaze attacks and a Japanese decoy fleet, were victorious.

Combat Ships - Amphibious Assaults

Amphibious Assaults,

In this episode we look at vessels built for amphibious combat. We begin by looking at the last reaming Landing Craft Tank (LCT) to serve on D-Day – LCT 7074. These huge landing craft were essential in delivering tanks, trucks, soldiers and supplies.

Details

Combat Ships

Documentary

12+

1 Season

44m

Combat Ships is a 10-part series that shows how technology transformed naval warfare and tells the stories of the greatest maritime battles, escapes and disasters

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