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Combat Ships
Combat Ships

Combat Ships

—Some of the greatest warships have gone on to shape the history of the world and have even pushed their crews into unbelievable and incredible acts of bravery. Take a look at the very first submarine which is rumored to have lurked beneath New York harbor during the Revolutionary War, the smaller ships that rescued thousands from Dunkirk, or the destroyer in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Over the years, conflicts and wars have prompted extreme advances to ship designs and now they are faster, stronger, and smarter than ever before.
2 seasonsDocumentary, HistoryTV-PG
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Season 38 of 8 Episodes

  • A look at experimental ships and revolutionary designers that have changed the tide of war through the centuries.

  • The legendary Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, which pitted Napoleon's French ships against a British armada under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson.

  • A portrayal of a crucial September 1950 military operation that helped the UN and ROK gain the upper hand over North Korea in the Korean War.

  • A look at key naval battles that have taken place in the Persian Gulf over the last 50 years and the warships involved, from both sides of the conflicts.

  • New high-tech investigations uncover what sunk a World War I cruiser, a World War II submarine, a British destroyer from the Falklands War, and more.

  • A look at how navy weapons have evolved over the centuries, from cannons to gun turrets to nuclear missiles and beyond.

  • A look at Naval warfare's fastest combat ships and how the advantage of speed determined the outcome of some of the great seas battles of the last 150 years.

  • A look at riverine warfare from the Civil War to Vietnam and small but powerful combat ships.

Record to Watch Later

20 episodes will be broadcast over the next two weeks

    The Battle of Leyte Gulf
    The Battle of Incheon
    Lightning Strikes
    Explosion!
    Viking Longships
    Wooden Warships
    Destroyers and Cruisers
    Rescue Ships
    Game Changers
    D-Day
  • The Battle of Leyte Gulf

    It is considered the largest sea battle in history: the Battle of Leyte Gulf in WWII was three days of ingenious strategy and white-knuckle combat between warships, aircraft and kamikazes.
    Upcoming
  • The Battle of Incheon

    A portrayal of a crucial September 1950 military operation that helped the UN and ROK gain the upper hand over North Korea in the Korean War.
    Upcoming
  • Lightning Strikes

    Examining some of maritime history's most effective lightning strikes; how the French frigate Nivôse set a trap to lure Somali pirates; how the HMS Illustrious captured a well-defended Mediterranean harbor in WWII; a surprise attack on Tokyo in 1942.
    Upcoming
  • Explosion!

    Recounting some of maritime warfare's explosions, from world wars and Vietnam to the nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll.
    Upcoming
  • Viking Longships

    The story of one of the world's most effective war machines: the Viking longship, seeing how its design evolved from swift war canoe to versatile and feared ship that would change the course of history.
    Upcoming
  • Wooden Warships

    A look at the most famous wooden warships over the course of 500 years.
    Upcoming
Combat Ships

More about Combat Ships

Some of the greatest warships have gone on to shape the history of the world and have even pushed their crews into unbelievable and incredible acts of bravery. Take a look at the very first submarine which is rumored to have lurked beneath New York harbor during the Revolutionary War, the smaller ships that rescued thousands from Dunkirk, or the destroyer in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Over the years, conflicts and wars have prompted extreme advances to ship designs and now they are faster, stronger, and smarter than ever before.

Starring

Joseph Balderrama, Kieran O'Brien

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