Sailor

1976 · 30m · Documentary

A major BBC television documentary series, first shown in 1976. About the life on board the fourth HMS Ark Royal, a British aircraft carrier. It followed the ship on a five and a half month deployment to North America in 1976 & the follow up years later to find out about some of the characters.

Episodes

▶1. Last Run Ashore30m · As the Ark makes preparations to sail on the morning tide, the ship's company take the opportunity to hit the bars and clubs of Plymouth for one last time.▶2. The Squadrons Are Coming30m · As the deployment gets under way, the air squadrons embark from their shore bases. Meanwhile the ship's company settle back into messdeck life.▶3. Happy Birthday30m · Plans for the ship's 21st birthday celebrations are interrupted by a call for assistance from an American submarine.▶4. Thoughts of Home30m · Ark Royal undertakes a Replenishment At Sea, and when a welcome mail drop arrives thought turn to those back at home. Spirits are kept up by Ark's own TV station and it's biggest star, Wilf.▶5. Puerto Rican Banyan30m · An insight into the work of the ship's chaplain; and the ship's arrival in San Juan provides the opportunity for a beach party and a night out on the town.▶6. Officer Territory30m · There is concern when it is suspected that somebody may have fallen over the side in rough weather. Officer training continues onboard, and life in the wardroom is highlighted.▶7. A Theatre Workshop30m · Seven weeks into the deployment, the squadrons are practicing bombing runs at the Vieques Weapons Range and there are preparations for a "sod's opera" in the hangar to entertain the crew.▶8. Florida USA30m · The ship's arrival in Mayport gives the crew the opportunity to sample the delights of the USA in it's Bi-Centennial year. One group travels to the Everglades to check out the wildlife, while a steward marries his American sweetheart.▶9. Homeward Bound30m · After leaving Florida, the ship's company look forward to their return to Plymouth. While one rating is allowed to fly home to see his pregnant wife, another pays the price for trying to do the same without permission.▶10. Back Home30m · After six months at sea, the Ark Royal returns home to Plymouth. As the crew are reunited with their families, one sailor is instead on his way to the naval detention centre.▶11. Eight Years On30m · The BBC follow-up programme - Sailor Eight Years On - revealing the sad fate of the now decrepit Ark Royal in dock and going in search of its crew members to discover how their lives have changed.▶12. Med Patrol30m · Also present we find another Ark Royal documentary, this one made in 1971 by the Central Office of Information and titled Med Patrol. At only 15-minutes it’s, of course, nowhere near as detailed or nuanced as five hours worth of Sailor, but then it provides an interesting comparison point.

More Like This

HMS Ark Royal

2011

The HMS Ark Royal carried the Harrier and 3 types of helicopter during its active service, these included the Lynx which is currently the fastest helicopter in the world and the Sea King, equipped with an early warning radar system.

More info →

Empire Of The Seas

2010 · ★ 6

Historian Dan Snow charts the defining role the Royal Navy played in Britain's struggle for modernity - a grand tale of the twists and turns which thrust the people of the British Isles into an indelible relationship with the sea and ships.

More info →

Blackbeard

2006 · ★ 6.1

Drama documentary about Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard, who terrorised the British colonies in the Americas during the golden age of piracy.

More info →

Royal Navy School

2016

The cameras follow every step of the training course as two classes of new recruits begin their journey to become sailors at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.

More info →

The Warship: Tour of Duty

2023 · ★ 5.6

The exciting, surprising and often moving story of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s first operational mission: a seven-month voyage to the other side of an increasingly troubled world.

More info →

Ice Patrol

2009 · ★ 10

Built especially for the challenging conditions of Antarctica, HMS Endurance is the Royal Navy’s only ice patrol ship and its only one capable of breaking into the icy wastes of Antarctica. We join the elite, 140-person crew as they embark on a four-month expedition in perhaps the most extreme and hostile environment on the planet. Follow the extensive and diverse duties of the Royal Navy and the British Antarctic Survey, and the trials and tribulations that the frozen continent brings. In the first episode, Return to the Ice HMS Endurance prepares for another season in Antarctica. Captain Bob Tarrant has taken her there for the last two years but in 10 days time he must hand over to a new captain and is determined that the ship is ready for the ice before he leaves. Faced with a series of engine problems, can the crew get the vessel ready for both a long and dangerous journey and a new commander? Then bad news from home causes further problems as the ship leaves the Falklands.

More info →