Original subtitles

Narrator: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\h\hIS FINALLY AT SEA.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAHEAD OF HER, SIX WEEKS OF GRUELING TRIALS

DESIGNED TO TEST HER AND HER CREW

TO BREAKING POINT.

[BOOM]

\h\h\h\h\hMan on loudspeaker: EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: CASUALTY, CASUALTY, CASUALTY.

\h\h\h\hMan: SMOKE ALARM, SMOKE ALARM, SMOKE ALARM.

ATTACK PARTY INVESTIGATE.

Man: WE ARE SEEING PROBLEMS \h\hON THE STARBOARD SHAFT,

AND THERE’S A DISTINCT SMELL \h\h\hIN THE AIR OF BURNING,

WHERE THE PADS ARE JUST CONTACTING ON THE DISC.

Man: MAN OVERBOARD, \hMAN OVERBOARD...

Man: MAINTAIN RATE ON THE BOATS.

Man: ...STARBOARD SIDE.

Man: NOT AN EXERCISE, \h\hTHIS IS FOR REAL.

Man: THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hA BED OF ROSES.

IT’S AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT \h\hTHINGS WON’T GO AS PLANNED.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

\h\h\h\h\hTHIS SHIP’S COMPANY ARE TRAINING UP TO GO TO WAR.

THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

IT’S NOT ABOUT LOOKING PRETTY.

[JETS ROARING]

\h\h\h\hNarrator: EVERY DAY THROWS UP A NEW CHALLENGE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEN, AFTER ONLY A WEEK AT SEA,

THE CREW HEAR A STRANGE KNOCKING FROM UNDER THE SHIP,

\h\h\hAND IT WILL PROVE TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF ALL.

♪

\h\h\h\hTHIS IS THE INSIDE STORY OF BRITAIN’S FIRST SUPERCARRIER.

♪

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION \h\h\h\hFOR EIGHT YEARS

IN ROSYTH DOCKYARD IN SCOTLAND.

AFTER SQUEEZING OUT OF THE TINY SEAGATE

FROM THE HARBOR BASIN \h\hTO THE OPEN SEA,

SHE MUST NOW PROVE HER WORTH,

ALL $4.4 BILLION OF IT.

♪

THE FIRST THINGS TO BE TESTED

WILL BE HER SPEED, ENDURANCE, \h\h\h\hAND MANEUVERABILITY.

♪

Man: OK, ROGER. CHECK QUARTERS.

Man: MIDSHIPS.

\hWoman: MIDSHIPS. WHEEL FOR MIDSHIPS.

\hMan: 435. Woman: 435.

Narrator: NOBODY KNOWS

JUST HOW THE QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWILL PERFORM.

\h\hBUT AS AN UNTESTED PROTOTYPE, SHE MUST BE PUSHED TO THE LIMITS

BEFORE SHE’LL BE DEEMED \h\h\hREADY FOR COMBAT.

24 HOURS AFTER LEAVING \h\h\hROSYTH DOCKYARD,

\h\hSHE’S IN A BODY OF WATER KNOWN AS THE FIRTH OF FORTH,

OFF THE EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE GIANT WARSHIP IS HEADING FOR THE NORTH SEA,

HER ULTIMATE PROVING GROUND.

Man: THREE, TWO, ONE,

PORT 35.

Narrator: ON BOARD,

\h\h200 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS STILL FINISHING OFF THE BUILD

AND 700 ROYAL NAVY SAILORS.

FOR THEM, THIS WILL BE A VOYAGE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hINTO THE UNKNOWN.

MANY HAVE NEVER BEEN \h\h\hTO SEA BEFORE,

AND THEIR GREAT CHALLENGE

WILL BE TO HELP TRANSFORM \h\h\hTHE QUEEN ELIZABETH

FROM AN EMBRYONIC PROTOTYPE

TO A FULLY FUNCTIONING \h\hFRONT-LINE WARSHIP.

\h\h\hEVERY MAN AND WOMAN MUST STEP UP TO THE MARK.

Man: EVERYBODY’S GOT A JOB TO DO.

MAKE SURE YOU HELP \h\hYOUR OTHER OUT.

TRUST ME, IF YOU DON’T,

\h\hYOU’LL BE GETTING MY SIZE 7 UP THE CRACK OF YOUR BACKSIDE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBruce Milne: PROBABLY GOT, I DON’T KNOW,

\hBETWEEN 40% TO 50% OF BRAND-NEW SAILORS,

YOU KNOW, ON BOARD.

\h\h\h\h\h\hUM, AND THEN, ALSO, YOU’VE GOT THE OTHER OLD HANDS,

\h\h\h\h\hA LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVEN’T BEEN TO SEA

FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

SO, END OF THE DAY,

IT’S A BRAND-NEW SHIP, BRAND-NEW TECHNOLOGY,

UM, SO, REALLY,

YOU’RE RESETTING THEM BACK \h\hTO ZERO AGAIN AS WELL.

\h\h\h\hInterviewer: SO, STEEP LEARNING CURVE FOR ALL OF YOU.

\hMilne: OH, YEAH, I THINK WE’RE NEAR ENOUGH VERTICAL.

[LAUGHS]

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THIS IS THE QUEEN ELIZABETH’S NERVE CENTER,

DEEP IN THE BELLY OF THE SHIP.

\h\h\h\h\h\hHERE, TEAMS MONITOR EVERY PART OF THE SUPERCARRIER

24 HOURS A DAY.

[BOOM]

[ALARM SOUNDS]

\h\hAND JUST HOURS INTO THEIR JOURNEY,

THEY HAVE THEIR FIRST EMERGENCY.

\h\h\h\hMan: SMOKE ALARM, SMOKE ALARM, SMOKE ALARM.

ATTACK PARTY INVESTIGATE.

Man on loudspeaker: \hFIRE, FIRE, FIRE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THERE’S BEEN AN EXPLOSION

IN AN AIR CONDITIONING PLANT.

\h\h\h\hMan: HUDDLE! KEEP THE NOISE DOWN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: A MASSIVE BLAST OF STEAM

\h\h\hHAS OBSCURED THE VIEW OF THE CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV CAMERAS,

OR CCTV.

NO ONE QUITE KNOWS \hWHAT’S HAPPENED.

\h\h\h\h\h\hDAVE GARRAGHTY, EXECUTIVE WARRANT OFFICER,

\h\hIS ALWAYS ONE OF THE FIRST ON THE SCENE IN ANY EMERGENCY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDave Garraghty: HEY, IT’S LIKE A SAUNA IN HERE.

YOU GUYS WANT SOME HELP?

Man: IT’S GOT A LOT LESS STEAMY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: LUCKILY, THERE’S NO FIRE,

\h\h\hBUT THERE HAS BEEN A SUDDEN RELEASE OF STEAM

FROM A FRACTURED COOLING PIPE \h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT OVERHEATED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGarraghty: THE PIPE WE’VE GOT DOWN THERE

IS A HIGH-PRESSURE \h\hSALTWATER PIPE.

THAT’S HEATED UP,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT’S BLOWN UP THE PIPE THERE, AS YOU CAN SEE.

Man: IT’S OVERHEATED \h\h\hAND BLEW, THEN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGarraghty: WE’VE GOT CCTV DOWN HERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK ON THE SCREEN, \h\h\h\h\h\hYOU SEE ALL THAT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU INSTANTLY GO, "BLOODY HELL, THAT’S SMOKE,"

SO YOU GET, GET DOWN HERE,

\h\h\h\hAND ACTUALLY, IT’S, UH, IT’S STEAM.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT, \h\h\hYOU KNOW, YEAH?

Man on loudspeaker: IT’S A STEAM BOILER.

\hIT’S BEEN CONFIRMED THAT IT’S NOT A FIRE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: A GREMLIN IN THE SYSTEM,

BUT AT LEAST NO ONE WAS INJURED.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMan on loudspeaker: THEREFORE, STAND DOWN, ASSIST.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT HOW MANY MORE GREMLINS

\h\hARE STORED AWAY ON THE MOTHERSHIP?

THAT’S THE QUESTION.

IT’S THE PURPOSE OF SEA TRIALS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO FIND OUT,

\h\hAND IT’S UP TO THE SHIP’S COMPANY

TO HUNT THEM DOWN--

\hNOT ONLY TO MAKE THE QUEEN ELIZABETH

AN EFFECTIVE WARSHIP,

BUT ALSO A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

♪

\h\h\h\hROYAL NAVY SAILORS OFTEN REFER TO THEIR SHIPS

AS GRAY VILLAGES,

\h\h\h\hSELF-CONTAINED CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITIES

FLOATING ON THE HIGH SEAS.

\h\h\h\hBUT HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH IS FAR TOO BIG TO BE A VILLAGE.

IF ANYTHING, SHE’S SET TO BECOME THE NAVY’S FIRST GRAY CITY.

Man: HEY, FINGERS,

YOU NEED TO MOVE YOUR EGGS \h\h\h\h\h\hFROM HERE, MAN.

\h\h\hNarrator: VIBRANT, BUSTLING, MULTICULTURAL.

Man: IT’S ALL HAPPENING.

CURRY NIGHT, TONIGHT, \h\h\h\hCURRY NIGHT.

PAPADUMS GETTING DONE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: LEADING CHEF MOHAMED KHAN,

KNOWN TO ALL AS WES,

HAS BEEN IN THE NAVY \h\h\h\hFOR 16 YEARS,

\h\h\hBUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE’S TAKEN A SHIP ON SEA TRIALS.

Wes: OH, IT’S ALL THE RUSH,

THE COOKING,

\h\h\h\hYOU DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THERE MIGHT BE A FLOOD \h\h\h\h\hOR SOMETHING,

AND THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE OFF.

IT’S ALL THE EXCITEMENT.

[LAUGHING]

\hMan: HOT TRAY. I GET PRIORITY.

Interviewer: IS IT BETTER \h\h\hBEING AT SEA, WES?

\h\h\hWes: DEFINITELY, I THINK IT’S ABOUT TIME WE CAME TO SEA.

WE’VE BEEN ALONGSIDE \h\hFOR A LONG TIME,

AND, UH...

OH, I FELT THAT.

DID YOU FEEL IT MOVE?

I THOUGHT WE WOULDN’T FEEL ANYTHING ON HERE.

IT DOES MOVE. \h\h[LAUGHS]

Narrator: ALL LIFE IS HERE.

\hA LITTLE BRITAIN ON THE OCEAN WAVES.

\h\h\hFOR THE SAILORS, A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

Man: HOW YOU DOING TONIGHT?

Narrator: THE MESS DECKS,

WHERE THE SAILORS \hLIVE AND SLEEP,

HAVE BEEN QUICKLY PERSONALIZED.

\hMan: HEY, IT LOOKS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

\h\h\hYOU’RE REALLY MAKING IT YOUR OWN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND A MIRROR, JUST TO CHECK YOURSELVES OUT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT THIS IS STILL THE MILITARY,

AND EVERYWHERE IS SUBJECT \h\hTO DAILY INSPECTION.

\h\h\hMan: AH, MASTER HAS FOUND A PILLOW WITHOUT A PILLOWCASE.

Man: IS IT THE BOTTOM ONE?

Narrator: A GRAY CITY, THEN,

\h\h\hBUT EVER SURROUNDED BY A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT.

THE SEA TAKES NO PRISONERS.

[ALARM SOUNDS]

Man on loudspeaker: \h\hMAN OVERBOARD,

MAN OVERBOARD, MAN OVERBOARD.

MAN OVERBOARD PORT SIDE,

AWAY, STARBOARD SEA-BOAT, AWAY, STARBOARD SEA-BOAT.

Narrator: SMOKE IS BILLOWING \h\h\h\h\h\hOUT ON THE WATER.

\hIT’S COMING FROM A LIFE BUOY WITH A BUILT-IN SMOKE CANISTER

\hTHAT AUTOMATICALLY SIGNALS ITS POSITION.

Man: MAN OVERBOARD, \hMAN OVERBOARD...

Man: MAINTAIN RATE ON THE BOATS.

Man: ...STARBOARD SIDE.

Man: THE SEA TEMPERATURE’S \h\h\h\h\h\h\h13.5 DEGREES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGarraghty: A LIFE BUOY HAS BEEN RELEASED.

\hSO, WE DON’T KNOW IF SOMEONE HAS GONE OVER THE SIDE OR NOT.

THEREFORE, WE NEED TO ACCOUNT \h\h\hFOR ALL OUR PERSONNEL.

\hNOT AN EXERCISE, THIS IS FOR REAL.

Man on loudspeaker: AWAY, PORT SEA-BOAT.

Jerry Kyd: A MAN OVERBOARD IN THIS AREA IS NOT GOOD,

\h\h’CAUSE THE SEA STAYS QUITE ROUGH,

\h\hSO IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO SPOT A MAN IN THE WATER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: SEA-BOATS PROCEEDING TO THE LIFE BUOY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IS IT AN ACCIDENTAL RELEASE,

OR IS THERE SOMEONE OUT THERE?

NO ONE IS TAKING ANY CHANCES.

ANOTHER WARSHIP IN THE VICINITY \hIMMEDIATELY JOINS THE SEARCH,

AND SO DOES HER HELICOPTER.

Man: ROGER, JUST MAKE SURE

THAT YOU HAVE A GOOD SEARCH \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THAT AREA.

Narrator: AND ON BOARD,

IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE \h\h\h\h\hIS PUT INTO ACTION.

Garraghty: EWO SPEAKING,

COMMENCE OPERATION THIMBLEHUNT, COMMENCE OPERATION THIMBLEHUNT.

ALL PERSONNEL NOT ON WATCH

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE TO MUSTER IN THEIR RESPECTIVE NEST EGG.

Narrator: OPERATION THIMBLEHUNT \h\h\h\hIS A FULL-SHIP SEARCH.

THAT MEANS 900 PEOPLE MUST BE ACCOUNTED FOR

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Man: ALL NON-SHIP’S \hCOMPANY PERSONNEL

ARE TO MUSTER IN THE HANGAR.

Garraghty: SO, THE PHASE ONE \h\h\hIS THE CRITICAL PIECE,

WHICH IS ACTUALLY JUST SEEING \h\h\hIF SOMEBODY IS MISSING.

\hNarrator: THE SEARCH IS FAST AND THOROUGH.

\hEVERYONE IS ACCOUNTED FOR, AND NO ONE IS IN THE WATER.

BUT THIS IS AN EARLY REMINDER

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT A WARSHIP IS A DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE,

AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE \h\h\hEVER VIGILANT.

Kyd: YEAH, VERY PLEASING, \h\hVERY RAPID RESPONSE.

SUTHERLAND CAME IN VERY FAST.

\h\h\h\hLUCKILY, WE WERE ON TOP OF THAT LIFE BUOY

WITHIN, WHAT, TWO MINUTES?

Narrator: WHY THE LIFE BUOY \h\h\hENDED UP IN THE WATER

IS A MYSTERY.

PROBABLY JUST A TECHNICAL FAULT.

ANOTHER GREMLIN IN THE SYSTEM,

\hBUT EVERYBODY KNOWS IT WON’T BE THE LAST.

♪

Man: WHEEL COMING ON \h\h\hTO STARBOARDS.

STOP PUMPS TWO AND THREE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ON HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,

THE DAY STARTS EARLY...

AND WITH A BANG.

Man: GOOD. KEEP GOING, GUYS! \h\h\h\h\h\hLAST 20 SECONDS!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FIRST CIRCUITS START AT SIX.

Man: LUNGES THERE WITH THE COWBELLS.

SWITCH!

Wes: AH, THANK YOU.

[LAUGHING]

Narrator: IN THE GALLEY, \h\hWES, A DEVOUT MUSLIM,

IS KNOWN AS A MEAT-DISH WIZARD.

\h\h\h\h\hWes: I’M MAKING A MARINADE FOR THE PORK.

Interviewer: IT’S GOOD? \h\h\h\h\h\hWes: YEAH.

\hWELL, I DON’T KNOW. I CAN’T EAT IT, SO...

[LAUGHS]

SO, UH, THEY’LL...

\h\h\hTHEY’LL LET ME KNOW WHETHER IT’S GOOD OR BAD.

IT’S A BIT HARD, TOUCHING IT.

WHEN I JOINED UP,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI DIDN’T ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT THAT UNTIL TRAINING.

THE FIRST TIME WHEN I WAS \hGOING TO DO A PORK DISH,

BECAUSE I REFUSED TO TOUCH THE PORK,

I THOUGHT THAT WAS IT.

WE CAME TO A CONCLUSION \h\h\h\h\hWITH THE IMAM

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT SO LONG AS I’M WEARING GLOVES,

IT’S FINE.

SO, I’VE GOT THE GLOVES ON.

AND I CAN’T TASTE IT, THOUGH.

[LAUGHS]

♪

Narrator: THE QUEEN ELIZABETH \hHAS COME BACK CLOSE TO SHORE

FOR AN IMPORTANT RENDEZVOUS.

TWO ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS \h\h\h\hAND HELICOPTERS

HAVE COME TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS.

Kyd: LOVELY TO SEE

\h\hTWO TYPE-23 FRIGATES JUST SAIL PAST US HERE--

\h\hHMS SUTHERLAND AND HMS IRON DUKE.

UM, FANTASTIC, AND LOTS OF MERLIN HELICOPTERS AROUND.

Narrator: THE QUEEN ELIZABETH \hWILL BE A MOBILE AIRFIELD,

CAPABLE OF LAUNCHING UP TO 40 AIRCRAFT--

EITHER JET FIGHTERS

TO DELIVER LETHAL FORCE \h\h\h\h\hTO AN ENEMY,

\h\h\h\hOR HELICOPTERS TO BRING HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE NEEDY.

\hBUT SHE WILL NEVER GO TO SEA ON HER OWN.

\hSHE’S TOO VALUABLE AND TOO VULNERABLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSHE WILL ALWAYS BE AT THE CENTER OF A TASK GROUP,

\h\h\h\hCOMPRISING FRIGATES FOR ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE,

DESTROYERS TO CONFRONT \hATTACK FROM THE AIR,

AND SUBMARINES,

\h\hAS A SCREEN AGAINST HOSTILE SURFACE SHIPS.

Kyd: THIS IS THE START \h\hOF THE JOURNEY NOW,

THE CARRIER STRIKE JOURNEY,

’CAUSE IT’S A STRATEGIC ASSET,

AND THE VERY NATURE OF IT IS ABOUT POWER PROJECTION.

IT’S ACTUALLY THE COMBINATION

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF ALL THOSE DIFFERENT FORCE ELEMENTS--

SHIPS, FRIGATES, DESTROYERS, \h\h\hSUBMARINES, AIRCRAFT--

COMING TOGETHER AT ONCE

THAT REALLY GIVES YOU THAT MILITARY POTENCY.

EVEN JUST TWO DAYS OUT \h\h\h\hFROM BUILD NOW,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWE CAN ALREADY SEE THE CULTURE OF THE ROYAL NAVY’S

COMING BACK INTO TASK GROUPS.

THERE’S A SENSE OF PURPOSE \h\h\h\hAND A BIT OF POWER.

IT’S GREAT, ISN’T IT?

Narrator: AS THE UK’S

\h\hMAIN CONVENTIONAL STRATEGIC DETERRENT,

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

\h\h\hWILL BE THE MOST CLOSELY GUARDED WARSHIP

IN BRITISH NAVAL HISTORY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTODAY, THE ESCORTS ARE ONLY HERE FOR A FEW HOURS.

\hBUT THIS IS A GLIMPSE INTO HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH’S FUTURE.

\h\hAND THE NEXT SMALL STEP TOWARD THAT BRAVE NEW WORLD

\h\h\hWILL TAKE PLACE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS,

\h\h\hWHEN A MERLIN HELICOPTER WILL BE THE FIRST AIRCRAFT EVER

TO ATTEMPT A LANDING ON HER FLIGHT DECK.

[SHIP HORN BLOWS]

[KNOCKING]

\h\h\h\hBob Hawkins: THREE OUT OF ACTION.

\hMan: NO, THERE’S SOMEBODY IN THERE.

Hawkins: THERE’S SOMEBODY \h\h\hIN THERE, IS THERE?

SO, WE’VE GOT TWO OUT OF ACTION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FIRST LIEUTENANT BOB HAWKINS,

38 YEARS IN THE NAVY,

WAS A NAVAL CLEARANCE DIVER,

A BOMB DISPOSAL EXPERT.

NOW, AMONGST OTHER THINGS,

\h\h\hHE’S IN CHARGE OF THE SHIP’S HEADS,

OR TOILETS.

Hawkins: WELL, ONCE UPON A TIME,

BECAUSE I USED TO \hBLOW SHIT UP...

NOW I JUST CLEAN SHIT UP.

[LAUGHS]

UM, WE’RE JUST BEGINNING \h\h\hTO LEARN OUR SHIP.

WE’VE GOT, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT \h\hHARBOR HASSLE THAT GOES,

YOU KNOW, THE BUILD HASSLE,

QUITE FRANKLY, WITH US BEING ALONGSIDE THERE,

AS WE’RE AWAY FROM THAT NOW.

\h\h\h\hBUT MORE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THE SHIP.

\h\hYOU THEN GET TO UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE ARE USING THE SHIP,

AND THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE \h\h\hGENERAL PURPOSE HEADS.

\h\hSO THAT’S OUT OF ORDER. GOD KNOWS WHAT’S IN THERE.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

I MEAN, THAT’S [BLEEP] SAD.

’CAUSE THE NEXT THING IS

THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE \h\h\h\h\h\hA DUMP IN HERE,

AND THEY’RE GONNA START PUTTING \h\h\h\hBROWN PAPER DOWN THERE,

WHICH IS GONNA CAUSE A BLOCKAGE.

THE IMPORTANT POINT HERE

\h\h\h\h\h\hIS THESE CAN BE A REAL BREEDER OF DISEASE,

SO WE’VE GOT TO MAKE THESE HEADS OUT OF BOUNDS.

IT’S FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

Man: THAT’S THE ALARM!

[ALARM SOUNDS]

Narrator: SECOND DAY AT SEA,

AND THE GREMLINS ARE STIRRING.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: FIRE DANGER IN LOCATION 5 KILO ZULU 4.

[LOUDSPEAKER CHATTER]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NOW THERE’S BEEN A FUEL LEAK

IN ONE OF THE ENGINE ROOMS,

AND SOMEONE’S BEEN HURT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGarraghty: CASUALTY, CASUALTY, CASUALTY.

CASUALTY IN 8 FOXTROT.

Man: COME HERE, SHIPMATE, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOME HERE.

COME ON, I’VE GOT YOU, ALL RIGHT.

JUST GET YOU OUT, LET’S GET YOU OUT.

GET US A DOC. THERE’S A DOC.

Man: THERE YOU GO, COME ON.

I’VE GOT YOU FROM BEHIND.

Narrator: A BURST FUEL FILTER

HAS LEFT DIESEL SPRAYING ACROSS THE ENGINE ROOM,

STRIKING A SAILOR RIGHT IN THE FACE.

Man: GET A FOAM BLANKET, GUYS!

Narrator: THE TEAM SPREADS FOAM

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO SMOTHER THE FUEL FLOODING INTO THE ENGINE SPACE.

IT’S A GENUINE FIRE HAZARD.

Man: JUST KEEP THAT AIRLOCK... \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEN GO IN,

’CAUSE IF THIS GOES,

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT’S GONNA GO STRAIGHT UP THE AIRLOCK,

\h\h\hSO MAKE SURE THE AIRLOCK’S SHUT.

AIRLOCK, DISCIPLINE, FELLAS!

SHUT ONE DOOR, OPEN THE OTHER!

Narrator: FIREFIGHTERS STAND BY, JUST IN CASE.

Man: STAND BY, JUST PUTTING \h\h\hTHE TEAM IN POSITION.

Milne: NOW IN THE BILGE-WELL,

\h’CAUSE IT’S SUNK A BILGE-WELL NOW.

FUEL GONE UP TO PROBABLY ABOUT \hTWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY ALONG.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THEY RACE TO SHUT OFF THE FUEL,

AND SOON, A BLANKET OF FOAM \hCOVERS THE LEAKED DIESEL.

Man: DO YOU NEED SOME MORE FOAM?

Man: NO, NO, WE’RE GOOD.

Man: OK, BUD.

Man: WHERE DID HE COME IN?

Milne: I WAS HOPING HE WOULD’VE \h\h\hBEEN ABOUT THIS POSITION,

SO, LITERALLY, HE COPPED IT.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE SEAL POPPED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM,

AND HE GOT IT ALL.

IT’S A THING THAT COULD HAPPEN \h\h\h\h\h\hANY DAY, YOU KNOW,

\h\hJUST UNFORTUNATE FUEL GOT ONTO SOMEBODY’S FACE.

\h\h\h\h\hBUT LIKE I SAY, WE ENDED UP WITH NO FIRE,

GOT THE FOAM BLANKET DOWN,

SO EVERYTHING WAS MADE SAFE \h\h\hAS QUICK AS POSSIBLE

\h\h\h\h\hFOR A SHIP THAT’S ONLY BEEN AT SEA FOR, WHAT,

ONE AND A BIT DAYS.

YOU KNOW, AND VERY QUICKLY

\h\hPEOPLE ARE BACK INTO BEING AT SEA,

RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, BEING A CIVVY IN A BUILDING SITE.

Interviewer: IS THE MAN ALL \h\h\h\hRIGHT, DO YOU KNOW?

Milne: OH, I DON’T KNOW. \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSHOULD BE.

\h\hHE RAN PAST ME AT A RATE OF KNOTS,

SO, YEAH, HE’LL BE GOOD.

♪

Narrator: ANOTHER GREMLIN \hWRESTLED TO THE GROUND.

IT’S DAY FOUR OF SEA TRIALS,

AND A VERY SPECIAL ONE

FOR BRITAIN’S SUPERCARRIER \h\h\hHMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Man: THE FOCUS FOR TODAY,

WHICH IS A HISTORIC ONE,

IS THE FIRST LANDING

\hOF A HELICOPTER FROM 820 SQUADRON

ON OUR FLIGHT DECK.

IT’S THE DAY WE BECOME \hAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

Narrator: THE FLIGHT DECK TEAMS HAVE BEEN TRAINING FOR THIS DAY

FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS.

\h\h\hFIRST, THEY MUST WALK THE LENGTH OF THE CARRIER--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBIGGER IN AREA THAN THREE FOOTBALL FIELDS--

TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO DEBRIS THAT COULD DAMAGE THE AIRCRAFT.

\h\h\h\h\hMark Deller: ...FUEL CONTAMINATION,

\h\hAND THE ONLY PLACE THAT’S TAKEN FUEL IS...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: TWO HELICOPTERS ARE EXPECTED,

\hALTHOUGH RIGHT NOW, THEY’RE RUNNING LATE.

Deller: THE ONE THING, PERHAPS, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI’D BRING OUT

\h\hIS THIS MORNING WE WOKE UP IN WHAT WE WOULD CALL RED-RED,

REALLY POOR CONDITIONS,

CLOUD WAS ON THE DECK,

NO VISIBILITY WHATSOEVER.

\hWE PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FLY.

THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT A CARRIER,

IT’S DRIVEN THE 70 MILES \h\hWE NEED TO DRIVE IT,

WE’RE NOW BACK INTO THE CLEARANCE AGAIN,

AND WE’VE POSITIONED OURSELVES \h\h\h\h\h\hSO THAT WE CAN FLY.

\h\h\hTHE THING THAT’S HOLDING THE AIRCRAFT UP

IS THAT BAD WEATHER \hWE’VE JUST LEFT,

SO THAT’S WHY THEY’RE LATE.

Kyd: WE RUN THE FLYING PROGRAM \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH PRECISION,

\h\h\hBECAUSE WE HAVE TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER TO WIND.

IT’S A VERY COMPLICATED \h\h\h\h\hCHOREOGRAPHY

BETWEEN THE HANGAR, THE DECK,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE BRIDGE, AND THE FLYING CONTROL,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO MAKE THIS WHOLE MACHINE WORK IN SEQUENCE,

\hTO MAKE SURE THE AIRCRAFT LAND AND TAKE OFF AT THE RIGHT TIME.

WE HAVEN’T GOT THE SPACE, LIKE A LAND-BASED RUNWAY,

TO HAVE ANY FLEXIBILITY.

SO, TIMING IS EVERYTHING FOR US,

\h\h\h\h\hTO MAKE SURE THE PLAN GOES SMOOTHLY.

Narrator: AND IT’S THESE ROOKIE AIRCRAFT HANDLERS

\h\hWHO WILL BE HELPING GUIDE THE AIRCRAFT ONTO THE DECK--

POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND FOR MOST, IT WILL BE THEIR FIRST TIME.

\hMan: THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU HAVEN’T DONE ON THE FLIGHT DECK

DURING THE LAST FEW \hTRAINING SERIALS.

IT’S A WALK IN THE PARK, OK?

WE’RE READY TO DO THIS.

EVERYONE HAPPY?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: HAPPY? RIGHT, GUYS, LET’S DO IT.

BE SAFE.

Deller: HAVE WE GOT THIS AIRCRAFT, YET?

Man: 1-5-0.

Deller: WELL DONE.

HAPPY.

HAVE WE LET THEM KNOW \hABOUT THE SEABIRDS?

ROGER DODGER.

THE HISTORICAL PROBLEM

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH SEABIRDS FLYING CLOSE TO THE SHIP...

WE’RE JUST MONITORING \h\h\h\hTHE SEABIRDS.

UM, THERE’S NOT A LOT \hWE CAN DO ABOUT IT

OTHER THAN GO A BIT FASTER AND \hHOPEFULLY LEAVE THEM BEHIND.

WE CERTAINLY WOULDN’T WANT \h\hONE OF THE HELICOPTERS

\h\h\hFLYING INTO A SEABIRD AND GETTING A BIRD STRIKE,

’CAUSE THAT WOULD CAUSE \h\h\h\h\hSOME MAYHEM.

SO IT’S JUST SOMETHING \hWE’VE GOT TO MANAGE.

\h\hIN OLD MONEY, WE’D HAVE PROBABLY GOT OUT A SHOTGUN

AND JUST LET THEM KNOW \h\h\h\hWE WERE AROUND,

BUT WE CAN’T DO THAT ANYMORE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE SEABIRDS DISPERSE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND MAKE WAY FOR THE FIRST AIRCRAFT EVER

\h\h\h\h\hTO ATTEMPT A LANDING ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH’S DECK.

♪

THE FLIGHT DECK

OF THE SUPERCARRIER HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

IS ABOUT TO BE CHRISTENED.

Deller: HISTORIC MOMENT.

Woman: AIR LANE CLEAR TO PORT.

Hawkins: A TRULY MOMENTOUS DAY

\h\h\h\hFOR, NOT ONLY FOR THE SUPERCARRIER,

FOR THE QUEEN ELIZABETH CLASS,

BUT FOR NAVAL AVIATION.

FIRST NAVAL AIRCRAFT LANDING \hON BOARD THE SUPERCARRIER.

BLOODY MARVELOUS.

PORTENT OF THINGS TO COME.

NEXT YEAR IT’LL BE JETS.

♪

♪

Kyd: THAT’S FANTASTIC.

\h\hWELL, YOU KNOW, WE’RE FOUR DAYS OUT

\h\h\h\h\hFROM SEEING IT FROM THE BUILDERS’ YARD,

\h\h\h\h\hAND HERE WE ARE WITH 820 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ARRIVED,

TWO AIRCRAFT, FANTASTIC.

Man: THAT’S AIRCRAFT TWO CROSSING THE DECK, SIR.

♪

Man: AIRCRAFT TWO ON DECK.

\h\h\h\hKyd: AND GREAT FOR THE SHIP’S COMPANY

TO SEE AIRCRAFT ON DECK,

\h\hFORGETTING A LOT OF THE SHIP’S COMPANY

HAVE NOT BEEN TO SEA BEFORE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLET ALONE ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

SO, TO KNOW THERE’S AIRCRAFT

BURNING AND TURNING \h\h\hON DECK NOW,

IT’S JUST ANOTHER...

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S ANOTHER PART OF THE JOURNEY TICKED OFF.

Narrator: THE FIRST FLIGHT DECK LANDING

FOLLOWED BY THE FIRST FLIGHT DECK TAKEOFF--

\h\h\h\hA SMALL STEP FOR THE HELICOPTERS,

\h\h\h\hBUT A GIANT LEAP FOR THE QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Man: AH, BRILLIANT, FANTASTIC.

I’VE BEEN UP HERE ABOUT A YEAR NOW,

TO SEE HER FROM DAY ONE,

FROM BEING PRETTY MUCH \h\h\h\hA BUILDING SITE

TO WHERE IT IS NOW...

\h\hUH, IT’S JUST, IT’S JUST TOTALLY OVERWHELMING, REALLY.

A PART OF HISTORY, ISN’T IT?

Wes: ALL RIGHT, ANDY.

HI.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS ALL CHEF AND STEWARDS MESS DOWN HERE,

SO THERE’S NO ONE ELSE.

EVERYONE’S BUSY.

NIGHT WORKERS SLEEPING.

[LAUGHING]

SO, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS MY...

MY PRAYER ROOM, HERE.

\h\h\hIT’S NOTHING, IT’S JUST THE SAME,

SO IT’S NICE AND CLEAN,

SO I CAN COME HERE WHENEVER,

\h\h\h\h\h\hI DO MY PRAYERS FIVE TIMES A DAY, YOU KNOW.

I DO HAVE TO PRAY TO MECCA,

BUT BECAUSE THE SHIP \h\hKEEPS ON TURNING,

\h\h\h\hAND SO I CAN’T KNOW WHERE EAST IS ALL THE TIME.

SO, THIS IS MY... MY DIRECTION IS...

THAT’S MY DIRECTION.

SO, THIS IS MY DIRECTION HERE, \h\h\hSO I JUST PRAY THAT WAY.

BUT IT’S NOT ONLY FOR ME.

IT’S ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME IN AND PRAY--

NOT JUST MUSLIMS.

IT’S FOR ANYONE.

WHEN I JOINED THE NAVY \h\h\h\h\hIT WAS 2001,

AND THAT WAS WHEN 9/11 HAPPENED.

BUT THEN THEY SOON REALIZED

THAT I’M NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW,

LIKE THE TERRORISTS AND ALL THAT STUFF.

ALLAHU AKBAR. ALLAHU AKBAR.

Interviewer: SO YOU DON’T HAVE \h\h\hANY TROUBLE ON THE SHIP?

Wes: NO, NOT AT ALL.

\h\h\h\hI HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE ON ANY SHIP.

SO, SO FAR, IT’S BEEN GOOD.

ALLAHU AKBAR.

Narrator: THE SHIP HAS NOW BEEN AT SEA FOR ONE WEEK.

[GUNFIRE]

THE UPPER DECK MACHINE GUNS ARE BEING TESTED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

[GUNFIRE]

THESE WILL BE USED AGAINST TERRORISTS

OR SUICIDE ATTACK BY SMALL BUT FAST INCOMING VESSELS.

[GUNFIRE]

\h\h\h\h\hEuan Stuart: TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY

THAT WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE WEAPONS UP ON THE MOUNTS

AND ACTUALLY TEST THEM

TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FIRE \h\hTHROUGH THE RIGHT ARCS,

SO THAT THEY GO AS FAR LEFT, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS FAR RIGHT,

AS FAR UP, AS FAR DOWN \h\hAS WE NEED THEM TO,

TO GIVE US THE RIGHT COVERAGE.

FOR ME, AS A GUNNERY OFFICER,

\h\h\h\hFOR ME, IT ACTUALLY CAPS OFF THE PERFECT WEEK.

ON MONDAY, WE SAILED, \hSO WE BECAME A SHIP.

\h\hON FRIDAY, WE LANDED TWO HELICOPTERS ON BOARD

AND LAUNCHED THEM AGAIN \h\h\h\hFROM OUR DECK,

\h\h\h\hSO WE BECAME AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

AND AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED,

\h\h\h\h\hON SATURDAY, WE FIRED LIVE ROUNDS OUT OF OUR WEAPONS,

SO WE’VE BECOME A WARSHIP.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSO, IT’S NOT A BAD FIRST WEEK, REALLY.

Man: SET BOTH LEVERS AHEAD. 9-0.

Woman: 9-0 AHEAD, 1-5-0 AHEAD.

Man: THE NAVIGATING OFFICER \hSPEAKING WITH THE CENTER.

THE BIG THING FOR TODAY

\hIS TO CONDUCT THE FIRST OF OUR HIGH-SPEED TRIALS,

\h\h\hWE’LL BE COMING UP TO OUR TOP SPEED FOR THE FIRST TIME...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS,

THEY’RE GOING TO PUSH THE SHIP \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO HER LIMITS.

Kyd: THIS IS REALLY LETTING HER \h\h\h\h\hSTRETCH HER LEGS NOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’VE GOT SOME CLEAR SPACE OF WATER HERE,

\h\h\h\h\hNICE AND QUIET, NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AROUND,

\hAND HERE WE ARE, BEAUTIFUL EVENING,

AND WE’RE LETTING HER \h\h\hLIFT HER SKIRTS

AND SEE WHAT SHE CAN DO.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: JEZ BRETTELL, THE NAVIGATOR,

\h\hIS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THE DIESEL-POWERED SUPERCARRIER

FROM A TO B.

HER PROPULSION COMES FROM \hTWO GIGANTIC PROPELLERS,

\h\h\h\hPROVIDING MORE THRUST THAN A THOUSAND FAMILY CARS.

\h\h\h\hJez Brettell: THIS AIRCRAFT CARRIER

\h\h\h\h\h\hIS ALL ABOUT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE

TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE WIND OVER THE DECK FOR AIRCRAFT,

\h\h\h\hAND TO BE ABLE TO GO ACROSS THE WORLD

PROJECTING THAT POWER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE QUEEN ELIZABETH’S RANGE?

\h\h10,000 MILES ON ONE FULL TANK.

Brettell: CURRENT GUESS

\h\h\hSAYS THAT WE’LL MOVE ABOUT 80 METERS PER GALLON.

SO, NOT QUITE AS EFFICIENT \h\h\hAS YOUR STANDARD CAR.

Man: 20 KNOTS.

\hMan: 20 KNOTS. THAT’S 20 KNOTS.

Man: BOTH LEVERS AHEAD, 1-2-0.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE BRIDGE IS WORKING CLOSELY

WITH THE SHIP’S CONTROL CENTER,

WHERE A TEAM OF CIVILIAN \h\h\hAND NAVAL ENGINEERS

MONITOR PROGRESS.

Man: I KNOW WHERE SHE IS, \h\h\hWE’RE GOING AT 150.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: LEADING THEM IS SCOTT McCLAREN,

FOR THE SHIPBUILDERS.

Scott McClaren: YOU NEVER KNOW \hA SHIP TILL YOU TAKE IT OUT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I THINK WE NEED TO BEAR IN MIND,

THIS IS ONLY...

\h\h\hONE WEEK TODAY, THE SHIP WENT TO SEA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

\h\h\h\hSHE REALLY HADN’T TURNED A BLADE IN ANGER.

WE’VE GOT A STABLE PLANT \h\h\h\h\hUNDERNEATH US,

\h\h\h\h\hA CRACKING TEAM HERE, GUYS AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME.

Narrator: IT’S SCOTT’S JOB

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO KEEP HIS FINGER ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH’S PULSE,

\h\hAS THE CAPTAIN PILES ON THE POWER.

THE TWO 30-TON PROPELLERS

\hWILL NOW BE SPUN FASTER AND FASTER

BY THE MASSIVE DRIVE SHAFTS,

EACH ONE GENERATING \h50,000 HORSEPOWER.

THEY ARE SECURED TO THE HULL \h\h\h\h\hBY THRUST BLOCKS--

\h\h\hSORT OF MASSIVE VISES THAT HOLD EVERYTHING DOWN.

\hWITHOUT THEM, THE SHAFTS WOULD SPIN DANGEROUSLY OUT OF CONTROL.

Man: SPEED INCREASING NOW.

THAT’S 25 KNOTS.

Man: READY TO TURN \h\hAT 50 DEGREES.

Man: WHEEL INCREASING, MIGHT GET A BIT MORE.

Man: THERE’S NO VIBRATION, \h\hSHE SEEMS REALLY SOLID.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMcClaren: CERTAINLY HERE IN THE SCC,

SHE’S AS SMOOTH AS I’VE FELT \h\hANY SHIP AT 26, 27 KNOTS.

UM, WE HAVEN’T PUSHED HER \hRIGHT UP TO HER MAX YET

IN TERMS OF HULL SPEED,

\hBUT, NO, ALL IN ALL, A SUCCESSFUL EVENING,

I’M QUITE CONTENT WITH THE OUTCOME.

Man: 14 DECIMAL 2 KNOTS FROM US.

Narrator: IT’S NOW DAY EIGHT.

THE ENGINEERS, STILL TESTING \h\h\hTHE SHIP’S PROPULSION,

KEEP SPINNING THE DRIVE SHAFTS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT DIFFERENT REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE, OR RPM.

[PHONE RINGS]

BUT JEZ, THE NAVIGATOR, \hHAS GROWING CONCERNS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBrettell: THAT’S NOT GOOD NEWS.

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS,

\hAS WE’VE BEEN DOING THE HIGH-SPEED TRIALS

ON THE BRIDGE,

WE’VE BEEN NOTICING \hA BIT OF A WOBBLE

AS THE SHIP INCREASES SPEED \h\h\h\hABOVE CERTAIN RPM.

IT’S BEEN NOTICEABLE ENOUGH

THAT THE COFFEE’S BEEN SWILLING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM SIDE TO SIDE

AS WE’VE BEEN SAT THERE,

AS WE’VE GOT UP TO THOSE CERTAIN RPM.

LAST NIGHT, SOME OF THE OFFICERS WHO LIVE DOWN AFT

HEARD SOME KNOCKING \h\h\hON THE SHAFT.

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT KNOCKING, COUPLED WITH THE WOBBLE,

MEANS THAT WE’RE CONCERNED.

\h\h\h\hInterviewer: AND IS THAT WORRYING?

Brettell: IT’S VERY WORRYING.

WE SHOULDN’T WOBBLE THAT MUCH,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND WE THINK IT’S SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SHAFT,

BUT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT’S CAUSING IT.

Narrator: KNOCKING AFT.

THAT’S AT THE BACK END \h\h\h\h\hOF THE SHIP.

THE ENGINEERS ARE MYSTIFIED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMcClaren: THEY’RE REPORTING DOWN THERE

THAT THERE IS A BIT MORE NOISE \h\h\h\hON THE STARBOARD SIDE.

Man: THEY SAID THERE IS A NOISE, NOTHING SIGNIFICANT,

\h\h\h\hBUT IT’S LOUDER ON THE STARBOARD SIDE.

Man: THERE’S NO WHIPPING AND SCRAPING, BUT IT IS LOUDER.

Narrator: REPORTS SUGGEST

THE KNOCKING IS WORSE ON THE STARBOARD SIDE,

ON THE RIGHT.

McClaren: WE’RE STILL LEARNING \h\hABOUT THIS SHIP, YOU KNOW,

WE DON’T KNOW, IT COULD \hJUST BE A DIFFERENT...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NEIL McCALLUM, NICKNAMED SCOTTY,

IS COMMANDER MARINE ENGINEERING.

\h\h\h\hSCOTTY AND SCOTT PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER.

Neil McCallum: BUT I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW IS GET TO 120,

’CAUSE THAT’S THE MAGIC NUMBER, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAPPARENTLY.

McClaren: YEAH, YEAH, \hLET’S GO UP TO 120.

Man: 120 AHEAD.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THEY DECIDE THERE’S ONLY ONE THING TO DO--

RAMP UP THE REVS AND LISTEN.

\h\h\h\h\hMcClaren: GIVE SCOTTY TWO OR THREE MINUTES BACK AFT.

JUST SETTLE THERE NOW, OK. ALL RIGHT, MATE, THANK YOU.

\h\h\hMcCallum: IF YOU GO AFT, YOU CAN GET ALL THE VIBRATIONS,

SO YOU GET A MUCH BETTER FEEL \h\h\h\h\hOF WHAT’S GOING ON.

[KNOCKING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: DEEP BELOW THE WATERLINE,

\h\h\hIMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE STARBOARD PROPELLER,

IT SOUNDS LIKE A WASHING MACHINE LOADED WITH BRICKS.

[KNOCKING]

\hMcClaren: TWO BIG OLD OVER 30-TON PROPELLERS DOWN THERE

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHRASHING AROUND AT A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT SPEED

ON A LONG LEVER.

THERE ISN’T A SHIP IN THE WORLD

\h\h\h\hTHAT DOESN’T MAKE NOISE BACK AFT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT THEN, SOMEONE NOTICES

\h\hTHAT THE BRAKE DISC ON THE STARBOARD SHAFT

IS SPARKING.

\h\hAndrew Watkis: WE ARE SEEING PROBLEMS ON THE STARBOARD SHAFT.

\h\h\h\h\hWHAT YOU CAN’T SMELL IS THE SLIGHT SMELL OF BURNING.

\h\hJUST BEHIND US IS THE SHAFT BRAKE,

WHICH WORKS BROADLY EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE BRAKES ON YOUR CAR,

AND THERE’S A DISTINCT SMELL \h\h\hIN THE AIR OF BURNING,

WHERE THE PADS ARE JUST CONTACTING ON THE DISC,

WHICH, AS ANYBODY WHO’S HAD THAT IN THEIR CAR WILL KNOW,

IT’S QUITE A DISTINCT SMELL \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND FRICTION,

AND WE THINK THERE’S A PROBLEM \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH THE SHAFT.

Narrator: THIS GREMLIN \h\hIS NOT GOING AWAY.

\h\h\h\hTHE STARBOARD SHAFT IS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND LOCKED.

\h\h\hTHE QUEEN ELIZABETH PROCEEDS ON THE PORT SIDE

OR LEFT-HAND PROPELLER ONLY.

IT’S A BIG CONCERN.

COULD THIS SCUTTLE SEA TRIALS \h\h\hJUST AS THEY’VE BEGUN?

♪

IT’S THE FOLLOWING MORNING,

AND HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH \hIS STOPPED MID-OCEAN.

WHATEVER’S WRONG IS PROBABLY \h\h\h\h\hLURKING UNDERWATER.

McClaren: JUST LOOKING ALONG \h\hTHE SHAFT FOR ANY DAMAGE.

Narrator: ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,

\hTHE DIVER IDENTIFIES A SORT OF SCARRING ON THE STARBOARD SHAFT.

Diver: AND IT GOES ANTICLOCKWISE OVER THE TOP OF THE SHAFT.

McClaren: IT LOOKS LIKE THERE’S \h\hMAYBE BEEN SOMETHING THERE,

THERE’S SPIRALING THAT LOOKS LIKE...

I DON’T WANT TO SPECULATE \h\h\hON WHAT IT MAY BE.

THERE’S BEEN SOME IMPACT DAMAGE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE PAINT,

THERE’S BEEN SOME SPIRALING AROUND THE STARBOARD SHAFT.

\hI’M NOT A BETTING MAN, BUT I THINK THE ODDS ARE

THAT IT WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING AS SIMPLE

AS A LOBSTER POT OR A CREEL

OR A MOORING BUOY \hOR A MARKER BUOY

\h\h\h\hTHAT’S MAYBE BEEN WRAPPED AROUND THE SHAFT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: ALL RIGHT, DOES THAT LOOK STRAIGHT, JOHN?

Man: AYE, THAT LOOKS SPOT ON, \h\h\h\h\hHAVE YOU GOT THAT?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AT THE END OF EACH SHAFT

\hIS A VAST HUB ONTO WHICH THE PROPELLERS ARE BOLTED.

AND THESE MARKINGS BETWEEN \hTHE BLADES AND THEIR HUB

MUST LINE UP EXACTLY, \hTO THE MILLIMETER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMcClaren: THAT’S FINE, JOE. CARRY ON.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE FIVE BLADES ON THE PORT,

OR LEFT-HAND PROPELLER,

ARE PERFECTLY ALIGNED,

\h\hAND SO ARE THOSE ON THE STARBOARD HUB.

ALL, THAT IS, EXCEPT ONE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDiver: APPROXIMATELY 26 AT MOST.

Narrator: THIS BLADE IS A WHOLE 26 MILLIMETERS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

IN PROPELLER ENGINEERING TERMS, \hTHAT MIGHT AS WELL BE A MILE.

McClaren: I’D BE LYING IF I SAID I’M NOT A LITTLE BIT WORRIED.

THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSUBJECTIVELY,

A LITTLE MORE MOVEMENT \h\hIN THAT ONE BLADE.

THE REASONS BEHIND IT,

\h\h\h\h\hWE DON’T KNOW, WE DON’T UNDERSTAND YET.

WE NEED TO OPEN UP THE HUB \h\hAND HAVE A LOOK AT IT.

BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE FAIRLY QUICKLY

\h\hSO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH OUR PROPULSION TRIALS.

BUT EVEN AT THAT,

THE PRESSURES ACROSS THE BLADES \h\h\h\hARE FAIRLY CONSISTENT.

\h\h\h\hIT STILL WOULDN’T FORCE THE BLADES ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

IT JUST WOULDN’T.

\h\hNarrator: ONCE AGAIN, THE EXPERTS ARE BAFFLED.

HOW COULD SOMETHING AS SIMPLE

\h\h\h\hAS A LOBSTER POT OR DISCARDED FISHING NET

BRING THE MOST POWERFUL SHIP \h\hBUILT FOR THE ROYAL NAVY

TO A GRINDING HALT?

BUT THEN, INSIDE THE SHIP,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hENGINEERS MAKE ANOTHER STARTLING DISCOVERY.

\h\hTHERE’S AN OMINOUS CRACK IN PART OF THE THRUST BLOCK,

THE HUGE LOAD-BEARING VISE

THAT ANCHORS THE DRIVE SHAFT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE HULL.

Watkis: SO, YOU SEE, THERE’S A LARGE CRACK RUNNING HERE.

THIS IS REPLICATED ON THE OTHER SIDE,

AND THERE’S A START \hOF ANOTHER CRACK

\hON ONE OF THE OTHER BASE MOUNTS, AS WELL.

Interviewer: WHAT’S CAUSED THAT?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWatkis: I DON’T WANT TO SAY PRECISELY

BECAUSE WE HAVEN’T CONFIRMED IT YET,

\h\h\h\h\hBUT WE SUSPECT IT’S TO DO WITH VIBRATION

BEING CAUSED FROM A MISALIGNMENT OF A PROPELLER BLADE,

AND THAT’S CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VIBRATION TO THE SHIP,

AND NOW WE BELIEVE IT’S ALSO \h\hCAUSING DAMAGE ELSEWHERE

AS A RESULT.

THAT’S THE MOST LIKELY ANSWER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S ALL VERY MYSTERIOUS.

THE ENGINEERS SPECULATE

\hTHAT A LOBSTER POT OR SOMETHING LIKE IT

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGOT ENTWINED AROUND THE STARBOARD PROPELLER,

DISLODGING A SINGLE BLADE.

THIS LED TO UNEVEN SPIN

THAT WOULD HAVE DECREASED \h\hEFFICIENCY AND POWER.

THE VIBRATIONS LED

TO THE KNOCKING SOUNDS \h\h\h\hINSIDE THE SHIP

\h\hAND THE WOBBLE FELT ON THE BRIDGE.

THE UNEVEN SPIN ALSO LED TO SPARKING ON THE BRAKE PADS,

\h\hAND ULTIMATELY TO STRESS OVERLOAD

\h\h\h\hAND CRACKING OF THE THRUST BLOCK.

BY THE LOOK OF THINGS,

\h\h\h\hTHAT LOBSTER POT HAS A LOT TO ANSWER FOR.

Man: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE CAPTAIN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSIR, WELCOME TO THIS EVENING’S COMMAND BRIEF.

McCallum: AS YOU’RE AWARE,

\h\h\hTHINGS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT DOMINATED

BY THE STARBOARD SHAFT, \h\h\h\hOUT OF ACTION.

THE PLAN AT PRESENT IS TO GO \hALONGSIDE ON THE SATURDAY.

\h\h\h\h\hDIVERS WILL THEN DO THE CHANGE TO THE PROPELLER.

\h\h\hSO, THE SPECIFIC BLADE WHICH IS NOW OUT OF POSITION

WILL BE PUT BACK INTO POSITION.

I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH IS THE STARBOARD SHAFT.

Narrator: THE QUEEN ELIZABETH IS ALREADY DUE A FOUR-DAY STOP

TO TAKE ON FUEL AND SUPPLIES

IN THE SCOTTISH PORT \h\h\hOF INVERGORDON.

\hNOW IT’LL BE A PIT STOP TO TRY AND MEND A BROKEN SUPERCARRIER.

BUT ON THE WAY IN,

\h\h\h\h\hAN UNEXPECTED MEETING WITH THE OTHER QUEEN ELIZABETH,

THE FAMOUS LUXURY CRUISE SHIP.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBrettell: NAVIGATING OFFICER SPEAKING.

OUR NAMESAKE, THE CRUISE LINER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hQUEEN ELIZABETH,

\hHAS JUST SAILED FROM INVERGORDON.

ALL PERSONNEL ON BOARD

ARE ENCOURAGED TO COME UP \hTO THE FLIGHT DECK NOW

TO SEE OUR NAMESAKE.

\h\h\hIT’S THE FIRST TIME THE TWO QUEEN ELIZABETHS

HAVE BEEN AT SEA TOGETHER.

THAT IS ALL.

[HORNS BLOW]

[HORNS BLOWING]

\h\h\h\hInterviewer: WHICH QUEEN ELIZABETH

WOULD YOU RATHER BE ON?

\h\h\hKyd: UM, WELL, WITH A GIN AND TONIC,

ON THAT ONE.

\h\hBUT WITH ALL MY MEN AND MY WOMEN, ON HERE.

Interviewer: GOOD ANSWER.

[LAUGHTER]

[HORNS BLOWING]

Narrator: AFTER CHATTING \h\h\hIN FLUENT FOGHORN,

THE TWO SHIPS OF THE SAME NAME \h\h\h\hGO THEIR SEPARATE WAYS.

CRUISE SHIP FULL STEAM AHEAD \h\h\hTO THE NORWEGIAN FJORDS

\h\h\h\h\hAND A LIFESTYLE OF UNADULTERATED LUXURY.

AND WARSHIP TO INVERGORDON,

\h\h\hBOTH A REPAIR YARD AND A GRAVEYARD FOR OLD OIL RIGS,

\h\hAND SOON-TO-BE HAVEN FOR ITS FIRST EVER SUPERCARRIER.

Kyd: OH, LOOK,

THE TUG’S PUTTING ON \hA SPRAY, DOWNWIND.

[HORN BLOWS]

♪

THAT’S A CRUISE LINER.

\h\h\h\hACTUALLY, IT’S LIKE A BLOCK OF FLATS, ISN’T IT?

\hTHE YOUNGSTERS, MANY OF THEM ARE BRAND-NEW TO BEING AT SEA.

I THINK GETTING ASHORE

AND FINDING A HOTSPOT \h\h\hFOR THEIR WI-FI

WILL BE IN THEIR MINDS, \h\h\h\h\h\hI IMAGINE,

\h\hAND THEN WE’LL JUST SEE HOW THE REPAIRS GO

AND GET OUT WHEN WE CAN.

\hSO, HOPEFULLY, THE DIVERS WILL BE IN THE WATER BY THIS EVENING.

Narrator: WORK ON THE STARBOARD \hPROPELLER STARTS IMMEDIATELY.

THEY HAVE TO FIND OUT \hHOW A LOBSTER POT,

\h\hIF THAT’S WHAT IT WAS, DISLODGED THE 6-TON BLADE.

INSIDE THE SHIP,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE ENGINEERS CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE

THAT MYSTERIOUS CRACK \hIN THE THRUST BLOCK.

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,

\hTHE DIVERS WORK AROUND THE CLOCK.

\h\hMan: HE’S USING THE TORQUE WRENCH.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BY DAY, THE SAILORS CLEAN THE SHIP

AND BRING ON SUPPLIES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY NIGHT, THEY’RE ALLOWED ASHORE,

\hTO ENJOY ONE OR OTHER OF THE TOWN’S TWO PUBS.

Man: WHO’S IN? WHO’S IN?

Man: SIXTEEN HOURS.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT AS INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWATER

AND ON THE SHAFT CONTINUE,

THE ORIGINAL FOUR DAYS STRETCHES TO ONE WEEK,

THEN TWO WEEKS.

♪

Man: THEY’RE AT TIMES NOISY.

I THINK THAT’S FAIR TO SAY.

BUT, YEAH, NO CRIME \h\hREPORTED TO US,

WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

WE DID HEAR THAT ONE OF THE PUBS RAN OUT OF BEER LAST NIGHT,

SO I’M SURE THEY’RE VERY HAPPY.

Narrator: BUT BEER OR NO BEER,

STUCK MUCH LONGER \hIN INVERGORDON,

AND IT WON’T FEEL LIKE FUN ANYMORE.

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

\h\h\h\hHAS NOW BEEN TWO WEEKS TIED UP ALONGSIDE IN SCOTLAND.

BUT FINALLY, A BREAKTHROUGH \h\hIN THE INVESTIGATIONS.

THE DIVERS HAVE DISCOVERED \h\h\hA MANGLED RUBBER SEAL

UNDER THE DISLODGED BLADE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT MUST HAVE SLIPPED OUT OF ITS GROOVE

\hWHEN THE PROPELLERS WERE FIRST ASSEMBLED.

\h\h\h\hBECAUSE THIS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED

\h\h\h\h\h\hPERFECT CONTACT BETWEEN THE METAL SURFACES,

\hIT MEANT THAT THE BOLTS WERE NEVER QUITE AS TIGHT

AS THE ENGINEERS THOUGHT.

\h\hTHE BLADE WOULD ONLY NEED A NUDGE TO SLIP OUT OF PLACE.

ENTER THE MUCH-MALIGNED \h\h\h\h\hLOBSTER POT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHOUGHT TO BE THE VILLAIN OF THE PIECE.

NOT ANYMORE.

McCallum: FOR THE SHAFT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD FORTUNE THAT THIS HAPPENED,

\hBECAUSE INITIALLY WE THOUGHT WE ONLY HAD A PROPELLER ISSUE.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S ONLY WHEN WE HAD THE CRACK ON THE THRUST BLOCK,

\h\h\h\hWE GOT AN INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WASN’T RIGHT.

THE THRUST BLOCKS THEMSELVES \h\hARE ATTACHED TO THE SHIP

VIA THESE LARGE BOLTS HERE.

ORIGINALLY, THERE HAD BEEN \h\h\h\h\hTEN LARGE BOLTS.

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT HAD BEEN REDUCED TO FOUR AND SIX SMALLER BOLTS.

FROM THE ORIGINAL CALCULATIONS, \hTHAT WAS ALL PERFECTLY SAFE,

\h\h\h\h\hBUT THE ENGINEERS RECHECKED THE CALCULATIONS

\h\h\h\h\hOF THE FORCES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH.

AND THAT’S WHEN WE DISCOVERED \h\h\h\hTHAT, UNFORTUNATELY,

\h\h\h\h\hSEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND I MEAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO,

A MISTAKE WAS MADE,

THE MISTAKE HAD NOT BEEN FOUND,

\h\hIT HAD BEEN CARRIED THROUGH AS EFFECTIVELY "A GOOD NUMBER,"

AND ALL THE CHECKS THEREAFTER \h\h\h\hHAD BEEN ON THE BASIS

\hTHAT THE CALCULATIONS GOT FOR THAT WERE GOOD.

\hAND AS WE FOUND OUT, THEY WERE NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS WE NEEDED,

\hTHEY DIDN’T HAVE THE SAFETY MARGIN.

\h\hNarrator: IT’S LIKE A SHERLOCK HOLMES PLOT,

AND THE ORIGINAL SUSPECT,

A DRIFTING LOBSTER POT,

\hHAS TURNED OUT TO BE THE HERO OF THE STORY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIF IT HAD NOT DISLODGED THE PROPELLER,

CAUSING THE MYSTERIOUS \h\h\hKNOCKING SOUNDS,

THE SPARKING,

THAT TELL-TALE CRACK,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE ENGINEERS MIGHT NEVER HAVE NOTICED

THAT THERE WAS A HIDDEN WEAKNESS IN THE THRUST BLOCK

BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE.

THE GUILTY PARTY--

AN HISTORIC ERROR \hIN CALCULATIONS.

BUT THE REALLY BIG QUESTION--

WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED

IF THE ERROR HAD NOT BEEN \h\h\hDISCOVERED IN TIME?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMcCallum: NOW, THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO

IS IF THE THRUST BLOCK \h\h\h\h\h\hHAD FAILED,

\h\h\h\hIT WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO HOLD THE SHAFT IN PLACE,

AND, EFFECTIVELY, THE SHAFT \hWOULD PROBABLY BREAK FREE.

WE’D PROBABLY HAVE DAMAGED \h\h\hTHE PROPULSION MOTOR,

\hWHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE HERE.

BUT WHERE THE STERN SEAL IS,

WE COULD HAVE DAMAGED \h\h\hTHE STERN SEAL

AND CAUSED THE FLOOD THERE.

THIS IS THE SHAFT TURNING AND LOCKING AND BRAKING MECHANISM.

AGAIN, IT COULD HAVE \h\hPULLED THAT FREE,

\h\hWHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE THERE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE DOOMSDAY OUTCOME, THEN,

\h\h\h\h\h\hCOULD HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE FIRES AND FLOODS,

PROBABLY CASUALTIES,

\h\h\hAND THE SHIP LAID UP FOR MONTHS.

McCallum: THANKFULLY, FOR ONCE,

A BIT OF BAD LUCK HAS TURNED INTO A BIT OF GOOD FORTUNE.

\h\h\hSO, THANK GOD FOR A LOBSTER POT,

OR A ROPE.

SOMETHING SIMPLE HAS SAVED US

\h\h\hA LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF MONEY.

\hNarrator: SOMETIMES IT TAKES A GREMLIN TO CATCH A GREMLIN.

AND THE SOLUTION AFTER ALL THAT \h\h\h\h\hIS REMARKABLY SIMPLE.

STEEL REINFORCEMENTS \h\h\h\hARE WELDED IN

TO STRENGTHEN THE THRUST BLOCK.

Watkis: IT LOOKS VERY SIMPLE,

AND IT LOOKS VERY AGRICULTURAL,

WHICH IN SOME WAYS IT IS,

BUT ACTUALLY, THE DESIGN WORK \h\h\h\h\hTHAT’S GONE INTO IT

HAS BEEN VERY ROBUST,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THEY’VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK ON THAT.

\h\hInterviewer: PRETTY BASIC FOR A STATE-OF-THE-ART SHIP.

Watkis: YEAH, WELL, IT IS.

UM, FOR SOME THINGS,

\hTECHNOLOGY SORT OF REACHES A PINNACLE,

AND, YOU KNOW, AND THAT’S IT.

THIS SHIP FLOATS ON A PRINCIPLE

\h\h\h\hTHAT ARCHIMEDES WORKED OUT IN HIS BATH

SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

SO, THAT’S JUST HOW IT IS.

Man on loudspeaker: \hALL PARTS OF SHIP,

LET GO, ALL WIDE.

♪

[INDISTINCT SPEAKING]

Kyd: JACK’S COMING DOWN, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hEXCELLENT.

Narrator: AFTER AN UNEXPECTED TWO WEEKS TIED UP IN SCOTLAND,

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH \hCAN RETURN TO SEA.

\hHAVING LIMPED IN ON ONE PROPELLER,

SHE’S GOING OUT ON TWO.

\h\h\hTHE THRUST BLOCKS WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED FROM NOW ON.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMcCallum: IT WOULDN’T BE SEA TRIALS

IF WE WEREN’T DEALING WITH ISSUES LIKE THIS.

WHILE SHE’S AT A FANTASTIC \h\h\h\hLEVEL OF MATURITY,

GIVEN THAT SHE’S ESSENTIALLY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA PROTOTYPE,

\hSO IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT WE’RE FINDING ISSUES

THAT NEED TO BE DEALT WITH.

\hBUT THE LEVEL OF ENGINEERING EXPERTISE THAT’S ON THIS SHIP,

\h\h\h\hI HAVE NO QUESTION THAT WE WILL DEAL WITH THIS

IN THE APPROPRIATE MANNER.

Narrator: THE SHIP’S COMPANY,

AFTER AN EXTENDED RUN ASHORE,

ARE BACK WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

TOMORROW, SEA TRIALS RESUME,

AND THE QUEEN ELIZABETH WILL BE TESTED TO HER LIMITS ONCE AGAIN

\h\hIN TERMS OF SPEED AND MANEUVERABILITY.

BUT WILL THAT STARBOARD \h\hPROPELLER STAY PUT?

AND WILL THAT THRUST BLOCK \h\h\h\h\hTAKE THE STRAIN?

Man: HALF AHEAD, BOTH ENGINES, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hREVOLUTIONS 9-0.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWoman: HALF AHEAD, BOTH ENGINES, REVOLUTIONS 9-0.

♪

Narrator: NEXT TIME,

A DRAMATIC RENDEZVOUS \hWITH THE U.S. NAVY;

BRITISH PILOTS IN AMERICA

FLY THE AIRCRAFT DESTINED \hFOR THE QUEEN ELIZABETH;

AND THE SUPERCARRIER WELCOMES \h\h\hA VERY SPECIAL VISITOR,

HER NAMESAKE.

♪

♪