Commander Cooke looks like the kind of guy I'd serve with. Intelligent, self aware, knows his job and keeps the necessary distance from his subordinates. The submarine achieves its mission, but he's not solely responsible. He's built a strong team to achieve objectives. When he talks about dipping below the layer you can see his concentration and assessing his team very intently. He has a look about him that I wouldn't mess with.
Compared to gems like these, modern TV with its the celeb 'lookatme' and drama queens is total balls. Love these old documentaries when they covered military ops including Royal Marines selection and the British Army. Very few melts around then.
The guy chatting at min 20:00 was Harry L. He was my 'sea-dad' when I joined my 1st boat in '89. He was a CPO then and I a lowly oxygen thief (ie unqualified), scared the shit out of me, but once you knew him absolutely TOP BLOKE!! (If you ever see this Harry, I remember you telling an embarrassing story about you receiving a medical examination involving the Doctor's finger!!! Take care shipwreck!!)
@@Biggles2498 I had to have a prostate exam a few weeks back and the doc told me it’s the last thing he wants to do on a Friday afternoon as he was putting his sterile gloves on - I said you could look at it from my point of view having a total stranger shoving his finger up my bum on a Friday afternoon!
The commander is an absolute legend. His kill rate is massive in the exercise and he remains unseen. Also, the way he says Fire😂😂 its like "FYAAAR" yet with a hint of a silent I and a silent H. Might be able to place the I in between the F&Y but can't make my mind up where to place the H. Probably 2 or 3 silent H's come to think of it!
For those who are not upper-class English, 'Faar' means 'Fire.' Interestingly, it is a command never used on surface ships, because it can be confused with there being a fire on board. The equivalent command on RN surface ships is always 'Shoot.'
US Submariner here, and the only time "fire" is used in submarines, is when there is, in fact, an actual fire or during a simulated fire drill. Not for launching torpedoes or anything else. The correct term is "shoot."
@@fishernzThe military of the United States is strictly no-fun allowed. Long and old tradition that's set us apart from the start. Absolutely. No. Fun., Try hard to the max. Just look at our K/D ratio. Absolutely ridiculous.
It seems that Jonathon Cooke - a navigation specialist inter alia - had a long and distinguished career in the British navy, over nearly 35 years. Also apparently he served as British naval attaché in Paris, before an appointment in the Ministry of Defence.
Because these days they are always looking for the 'character' angle, the cheeky chappie rating, the stoic captain etc, etc, whereas in those days that was not what the doc makers were interested in, making them all the better for it.
Its nice the name HMS Warspite continues on Its a tragedy that the Warspite herself was not preserved as museum ship in celebration of the veteran sailors who served on her and for the people of Great Britain 🇬🇧
I'm pretty sure that that there was at least 2 massive salvage attempts which were the most expensive in British history at the time(50's I think). However,sadly it wasn't to be.Instead,things were removed from the ship for displaying in museums etc. Fun fact; King George who was in possession of Warspites wheel,gave it to the King of Norway because of Warspites envolvment in the battle at Narvik.
After ww1 and the various Naval Treaties, historic or museum ships taken out of commission would still have had their tonnage counted towards that navies operational "fleet". At least that was the reason given for not saving any of those Edwardian super-dreadnoughts (HMS Lion comes to mind).
Submariners are a funny bunch. I've served with them but not in this setting. I'm glad they do what they do. Respect to them as I don't think I could do that.
It's a shame you don't get docoes like this anymore All we get is reality cooking shows dancing with stars got a lot more channels but nothing worth watching Reamber Best of Britton shows top gear programs about steam power stuff a lot off guys love to watch
I did 10 years in the British Army and had a great time. I know I shouldn't say this but I would have loved to have been in the Navy. Everything about it appeals to me.
ex army, but I hankered after the RAF. You can actually change over whilst in service. But depends on trade & suitability if needed. Some swap over in the Commonwealth ie Aussie to GB.
Don't be ashamed Sam l know a number ex army who transferred to the RN. Some said that they had more opportunities to gain a commission then in the army.
Very interesting, but inevitable that we would only see the "orange team" perspective, i.e. not seeing the anti-submarine role. For good reason, and in a very tense year 1983.
@@Biggles2498 Yes, Numerous individuals who had to do their NS, were selected for officer development just on how they "carry themselves" and speak with a "clear articulated manner". I could picture the Commission selection board in the Admiralty would be impressed with this chap.
I am suprised that they us the wording "fire" for launch. In the german Uboot service they always used the word "los" so it can never be confused with an actual fire in the boat.
I’ve mostly lost my public school accent nowadays. But it rears its head from time to time. ‘Fire’ is a word I shall go to my grave pronouncing as one syllable ‘faaar’. Try this as an exercise..... both must be pronounced as one syllable, rather than two: the first word is ‘shower’, pronounced “shaar” and the next is ‘towel’, pronounced “taaahl”. Hence.... “Paaas me my taaahl, I’m orf for a shaar”. To hear my grandmother pronounce “February in Australia” was a hoot! (Fe-broo-erry een Au-stray-Le-yaah)
WoW! They cand go uped from at 600 feet with thosed plastic/ vinyl hooder suits? THAT is pretty very impressived!! That is being as liked about of a FIFTY STORIES skys scraper!!
13:32 What is CEP that the Captain tells the guy to get a grip of? Also, why is the guy (the one being told) the only person wearing his white crew-neck wooly jumper?
Once the rattle is found the Jimmy announces "we will lash it", if there had been no camera filming the comment would have been " get an onk to fix this' . Public school Ruperts everywhere.
@18:35: So unthinkable to say to day, and no Im not offended by those remarks about gays. That's one of the things that makes old tv-programs interesting because people's language and values were different from today. I wonder what the crew in this documentary are doing today.
Interesting that someone raises the matter of offence concerning something only a fool (or a trouble maker) would think offensive. _That_ is the political training people are subject to today, and far too few have the guts to reject that training.
He was on his Rounds so there in an official capacity rather than social. Doubt that Jimmy would buy a round for the junior rates mess in those conditions!
There’s a hiss/static, yes but you can turn treble down and it mostly goes away. Doesn’t work on headphones but it’s a really good documentary and worth dealing with the hiss.
Madman, madman, madman .... You've just killed your crew Commander well done ... Red Storm Rising expert here ... Oh and far 2 many hours on Aces of the Deep and Harpoon :D
@@philagethechef I was Adrian Brittain's Prefect in the Sixth Form but he didn't last long on television and was said to be gay but I never knew that. There was also a Sixth Former in my Class (6th form) who became a Captain(not a high rank I might add) through Sandhurst but I was informed he was kicked out when they found out he had been messing around with young boys at The Boarding Department at school that covered up where all the bullying went on as well as sexual gross misconduct. I was a Boarder too and I explained all this on another site on RU-vid where young Boarders still suffer today and never married due to sexual misconduct.
@@philagethechef Look up Alex Renton Sexual Abuse in Boarding Schools but there are many videos similar on RU-vid but it was the "norm" in the 70's. Even our own Parents wouldn't listen to it !
Don't know about the Brits, but the latest American attack sub type, the Virginia class, does use electronic masts with digital cameras at the top instead of having an optical tube. In addition to the typical benefits of digital cameras, this also allows the masts to be smaller and less likely to be spotted. The Virginias are also the first American subs to use digital controls for basic operations such as steering the sub.
I'm ex Army but to you old sea dogs I am against having females in a Sub & even on ships come to that, but I think it's a different environment to a ship as a ship to an army base.
I was just thinking the same. The Officers sound so posh ... so upper class. Seems to be a real English 'thing'. I'm glad I'm Australian. We don't have a class system. Nobody could care less about a person's background here. Positions based on merit - not on where you grew up; where you went to school, or how wealthy and well-connected your family is.
In the (British) Royal Navy, the 1st Lt / XO ( a Lt Cdr) has already passed the “Perisher” (Submarine Command Course), those who fail this course can never serve afloat in submarines again. They either serve in a shore based role or transfer to General Service (ie the surface fleet)
WHY NOT INVENT A DRONE TORPEDO WHICH ACTS A ND SOUNDS LIKE THE SPECIFIC SUB AND USE IT AS DECOY TO FOOL THE ENEMY ! BUT CONTROLLED BY TH MOTHER SUB PATENT PENDING
Those sonars they use for depth or target acquisition... human divers dozens of miles away from warships complain of the noise so sea mammals... whales and the like, must be deafened! I don't think that is right.
The reactor core and all parts exposed to radiation are removed All reusable equipment is re-purposed The strategic metals used to construct the pressure hull are then recycled They don’t throw away titanium alloys Its the Russians who leave them to rot and contaminate the obsolete arctic bases
@@krashd Waiting to be disposed of, one would assume. All of our (the US) decommissioned nuclear vessels are scrapped with their reactor vessels stored at the Hanford Site.
I was in Bombers for 17 years, at sea underwater for 3 to 4months at the end of my career. You aren't going to see any one so haircuts aren't needed. Plus the hair could get in to the filters of electronic equipment and cause over heating.
Interesting "me" or, "us"? Even though more relaxed that the surface fleet, there is still an arrogance that gives away the horrid attitude of the RN which, is still preferent today. There is a place for it, less as time paces
You gots to be white and middle class to be a submariner or sommat? I presume they have a smoking room now? I would never be in the mess with folk smoking like that in a confined area
Hey, mate, they are all my mates and what it was like in those days. The Skipper Johnny is a great guy. Hard to think, a lot of those guys are no longer with US Happy days
I wish they wouldn't say "it" when referring to a submarine (or a ship for that matter) the correct word to use is "she". And why is a ship called "she"? A ship is called a she because there is always a great deal of bustle around her; there is usually a gang of men about; she has a waist and stays; it takes a lot of paint to keep her good-looking; it is not the initial expense that breaks you, it is the upkeep; she can be all decked out; it takes an experienced man to handle her correctly; and without a man at the helm, she is absolutely uncontrollable. She shows her topsides, hides her bottom and, when coming into port, always heads for the buoys!
