The first hour follows the last remaining "Hood" survivor, Ted Briggs, as he joins the expedition and returns to the site of the sinking. Using archival film, dramatic reconstruction, computer effects and interviews with the men involved, the program brings "HMS Hood" back to life and follows the expedition members as they solve a 60-year-old mystery: why did the biggest and best ship in the British fleet sink so quickly?

The second hour brings to life the pursuit and destruction of the legendary warship and attempts to solve another mystery: did the British sink the "Bismarck" or did her own crew scuttle the ship to prevent her capture?