This episode features PT boats (short for Patrol Torpedo boat) — torpedo-armed fast attack craft used by the United States Navy in World War II. They were small, fast, inexpensive to build, punched well above their weight, and highly valued for their maneuverability and speed. Inch for inch, pound for pound, the Patrol Torpedo boats of World War II were among the most powerful warships of all time. Like David against Goliath, these small wooden boats were designed to take on and destroy the steel-hulled giants that dominated the oceans. Journey back to the early days of WWII to see how these remarkable boats came into being, and hear from the men who fought aboard them. Take a thrilling ride on a restored PT Boat, and get an up-close look at the features that made it so dangerous both for the ships it was designed to cripple and its own crew! In the brilliance of their design, in the daring of their missions, and in the pure can-do ingenuity of their crews, these swift, powerful vessels have left one of the most enduring legacies in maritime history.

The frigate was the most versatile and arguably the most vital warship in the age of sail. Through the late 18th and early 19th centuries, they prowled the seas, acting as the “eyes of the fleet” for the navies they served. THE GREAT SHIPS presents the story of these famed vessels. Discover how they were the heart of the first American Navy – not from choice, but because the Colonies could afford these small swift ships that could be built in only two months. Traditionally used for dispatches and scouting, the American ships were armed with enough guns to devastate the renowned Royal British Navy. FRIGATES brings the great engagements of the Revolution to life through period art and accounts and expert commentary. And go aboard the most famous frigate ofall – the U.S.S. Constitution.The Yankee Frigate not only took a place in history, but helped to shape it.

Roaming majestically over the oceans of the world, the modern Aircraft Carrier is the largest warship ever to sail the seas. Displacing over 90 thousand tons, more than 1,000 feet long and over 200 feet wide, with 4 acres of armoured steel flight deck towering above the water, a nuclear powered NIMTZ class Carrier can transport 6,000 men on a voyage of over one million nautical miles at top speeds exceeding 40 knots.

On July 21, 1997, the U.S.S. Constitution raised its canvas off Marblehead, Massachusetts and sailed into history. At 200 years of age, the oldest commissioned warship in the world was under its own power for the first time in 116 years. From the initial idea through the reconstruction process to the triumphant moment when her sails filled again, THE GREAT SHIPS tells one of the great stories in maritime history. See how the ancient vessel was made seaworthy again, and hear of the baffling problems that almost derailed the dream from Charles Dean, who was in charge of the restoration. Maritime experts trace the illustrious history of Old Ironsides, and period art and accounts celebrate her prowess in battle. With the raising of the sails, one journey is over and another begun. Thrill to the sight of the oldest warship on earth underway as the historic sail is captured by cameras on deck, in the air, and on land.

On July 21, 1997, the U.S.S. Constitution raised its canvas off Marblehead, Massachusetts and sailed into history. At 200 years of age, the oldest commissioned warship in the world was under its own power for the first time in 116 years. From the initial idea through the reconstruction process to the triumphant moment when her sails filled again, THE GREAT SHIPS tells one of the great stories in maritime history. See how the ancient vessel was made seaworthy again, and hear of the baffling problems that almost derailed the dream from Charles Dean, who was in charge of the restoration. Maritime experts trace the illustrious history of Old Ironsides, and period art and accounts celebrate her prowess in battle. With the raising of the sails, one journey is over and another begun. Thrill to the sight of the oldest warship on earth underway as the historic sail is captured by cameras on deck, in the air, and on land.

Recalling noted pirate ships that sailed during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Carrying the largest, most destructive naval guns ever built and protected by massive steel armour, battleships were designed to be the ultimate expression of naval power. They were the embodiment of the cherished belief held by virtually every naval commander since the age of sail that the immense might of naval gunfire was the decisive element in combat at sea. Now you can relive the power of these ships, from the dreadnoughts of the First World War to the last use of a battleship in the Gulf War. See the greatest naval battles of the 20th century - Jutland, the Bismarck chase and Leyte Gulf - and experience the might of a battle fleet in action.

Built for speed, strength and the ability to scout far and wide, cruisers have played a key role in the world's navies for the past 200 years. From early missions as raiders savaging enemy merchant ships to sailing in support of the battle fleet, cruisers have shown an amazing versatility and longevity exceeding that of almost any other type of warship. BROADSIDE charts the history and development of this exciting line of fighting ships, from 18th-century frigates to today's cruisers with their deadly guided missile systems. Included is rare footage of WWI cruisers in action, as well as a dramatic account of the German cruiser Graf Spee and the epic battle of Savo Island.

They keep the world's economy rolling. They helped save Europe (and possibly the world) from Nazi domination. They are the most important vessels ever to sail the seas. THE FREIGHTERS is a fascinating look at the vital ships that haul billions of tons of cargo annually. From giant container ships to the super-specialized automobile carriers that carry hundreds of cars at once, get an up-close look at the ships that are the backbone of the world's maritime economy. See how today's high-tech freighters evolved from humble ships like old tramp steamers, and trace the developments that have improved their safety, speed and capacity. Examine the pivotal role that Liberty Ships played in World War II, when brilliant industrialist Robert Kaiser laid the foundations for victory by devising a way to build the workhorse freighters in mere weeks. And meet men who served aboard the WWII convoys, as well as sailors today who offer guided tours of their huge ships.

Knifing through the waves, destroyers are amongst the fastest and most deadly warships ever built. Mounting a powerful arsenal of offensive and defensive weapons, they can serve equally well as escorts for other vessels or as formidable attack ships in their own right. From their humble beginnings as stripped-down vessels designed exclusively to destroy torpedo boats, through the WWII models battling the U-boat 'wolf packs' in the North Atlantic to the most modern versions each now more powerful than a whole squadron of WWI dreadnought, BROADSIDE shows how the destroyer has continued to live up to its name. Rare and exclusive footage captures destroyers in action during both World Wars - in pitched battle at Cape Esperance and the Solomons, supporting the D-Day landings, fending off swarms of kamikazes at Okinawa and much more.

With their menacing dark silhouettes belching fire and smoke, the Ironclad warships of the mid 19th century burst onto the naval scene like hulking metal monsters. Combining iron plating, steam propulsion and the biggest and most powerful guns afloat, the Ironclads represented a radical advance over all previous warships. Although pioneered by the French and British with ships like HMS Warrior, today they are best remembered for the part they played in the American Civil War. Discover how the Confederate Merrimac devastated Union shipping until its epic duel with the Monitor, relive the epic sea battles of Charleston and Mobile Bay and follow the Ironclad duels for control of the mighty Mississippi river.

Powerful racing boats go against the challenge of the seas in ‘Great Ships: The Power Racers’, as technological advances enable designers to create faster and sleeker machines. Some slam across the dangerous swells of the ocean on an ever- changing racecourse where a shift in wind or wave can be deadly. Others skim across the placid waters of rivers and lakes at speeds well over 100 miles an hour. THE POWER RACERS are some of the most advanced boats ever made, designed with only one thing in mind — speed. THE GREAT SHIPS takes to the water with these record-setting machines and the men who design and race them. Hear from Dave Villcock, driver of Miss Budweiser, one of the most famous and successful of the flat- water Ultimate Hydroplane boats, and Lee Austin, owner and driver of the offshore racer, Key West Lager. See incredible footage of great races and get an up-close look at these amazing machines, guided by the men who design and build them. And thrill to the view from the cockpit.

When HMS Dreadnought was launched in 1906, she immediately rendered every other battleship in the world obsolete and started the 20th century's first arms race. Constructed from thousands of tons of steel and armour plate, these new leviathans took on the generic name of 'dreadnoghts' and were the first modern battleships. They were both a technical marvel and a stirring symbol of national might. Discover how the personal vision of a British Admiral brought about an entire fleet of these superweapons of their era, and see how the new dreadnoughts were put to the ultimate test on the high seas during the First World War in such epic clashes as the Battle of Jutland.