Britain's Biggest Warship: Goes to Sea

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The behind-the-scenes story of HMS Queen Elizabeth and her crew.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the largest and most advanced warship ever constructed in Britain. As she embarks on gruelling sea trials, we see ship and crew pushed to breaking point.

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Britain's Biggest Warship: Goes to Sea: Manhattan Ahoy!

Manhattan Ahoy!

Goes to Sea

BBC Two - Britain's Biggest Warship, Goes to Sea, Manhattan Ahoy!

The F35 Lighting stealth fighters try a method of landing never attempted before.

With just a few weeks to go before HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives in New York in spectacular style, the F35 jets try a method of landing never attempted before.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is Britain's biggest ever warship. It took nine years to build her at a cost of £3.5 billion. Nearly 1,500 sailors, marines and aviators have left for a make-or-break four-month deployment on the high seas. This is to forge the brand new ship's company into an effective fighting force, but their main mission is to test the top secret F-35B Lightning Stealth Fighter – the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world that will give the ship its lethal sting.

After three months at sea, the test pilots from the Royal Navy and RAF have successfully landed the F35 jets on the flight deck for the first time and even tested launching and landing in hurricane conditions. So far, so good. But now they are about to try a method of landing never attempted before. It carries great risks but could revolutionise carrier operations globally. Another first for HMS Queen Elizabeth will be to launch the jets with heavy weapons for the first time, but suddenly one of the ship's massive gas turbines overheats dangerously and all flying is cancelled. It's a massive setback but one that has to be resolved as soon as possible.

Finally, the Queen Elizabeth heads to New York and enters the harbour in spectacular fashion. The ship transforms into a floating embassy to take on her secondary role as diplomatic envoy to help consolidate relations with the UK's closest ally. Whilst many of the ship's company head ashore to enjoy the delights of Manhattan, a round of glittering cocktail parties and VIP functions are hosted on board for the great and the good of America's political, industrial and military elite. It is now that the world-renowned Royal Marines band come in to their own.

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Following HMS Queen Elizabeth as the crew prepare for their first transatlantic crossing.

Following HMS Queen Elizabeth as 1,500 sailors, marines and aviators are about to leave on their first transatlantic crossing.

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