State of Alert

Synopsis

Desmond Hamill reviews the British Royal Navy in the post-Cold War world. Features the Royal Navy fleet as well as NATO weapons from satellite trained naval guns to Cruise and Trident missiles. Includes unrestricted on-board access from aircraft carriers to landing craft, to meet the pilots and cooks, admirals and ratings, and give an insight into the modern navy and its state of alert. Based around 13 reference points: ‘Show of strength’ - on board HMS Gloucester during a NATO exercise; ‘Fly navy’ - filmed on HMS Invincible en route to the Balkans; ‘Changing course’ - the evolving role of the Royal Netherlands Navy within NATO; ‘Guardians of the deep’ - on board HMS Splendid and SSBN-HMS Vanguard; ‘On trial’ - the weekly trial assessing each Royal Navy vessel for battle; ‘Assault from the sea’ - shows the British and Dutch marines in anti-terrorist training; ‘Bang!' - the weapons of the modern navy;
'Damage control’ - the ship comes first, the people second. Includes footage of the direct hit taken by US aircraft carrier Forrestal off Vietnam; ‘Replenishment from the sea’ - the huge floating warehouses that support the fleet; ‘Danger in waiting’ - the deadly game modern minesweepers have to play; ‘Defending their coast’ - the unique amalgamation of Sweden’s military and its futuristic technology; ‘Commanders of the sea’ - the pressurised combat trials to test would-be captains; ‘Over the horizon’ - the technological advances helping the Royal Navy and NATO to respond to an increasingly unstable world.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Digital versatile disk. col. 325 min.

Year of production

2000

Availability

Sale; 2001 sale: £19.99 (inclusive)

Subjects

Technology

Keywords

military weaponry; NATO; naval operations; Royal Navy

Credits

Director

Roger Thomas

Producer

Roger Thomas

Contributor

Desmond Hamill

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Production Company

Name

Alpha Television

Sponsor

Name

Discovery Channel

Phone

020 7462 3600

Fax

020 7462 3700

Address

160 Great Portland Street
London W1N 5TV

Distributor

Name

Quantum Leap

Notes

Ceased trading in 2018.

 

Available from retail outlets