BBC - Gladiators of World War II (2002) Part 10 The Royal Navy

The ultimate success or failure of many of the battles of World War II boiled down to men and machines locked in a fight to the death. But behind the scenes of these epic struggles were highly organised and highly disciplined servicemen and women who have now passed into the annals of military history. Special regiments, squadrons and naval services, together with clandestine forces and formations, gave the vast, overall fighting forces of World War II an extra edge in the most pivotal battles. Gladiators of World War II examines the establishment and background of the greatest fighting forces of the Second World War. Each program examines a different unit, dissecting its command structure, military objectives, battle formations and its success or failure in applying its tactics and strategy to each of the major theatres in which it fought. This series also examines, in the light of newly released information and recently discovered rare archive film, some of the individual stories of the men and women who were members of these fighting bodies. The stories of these warriors have seldom beer told before. These are the stories of the Gladiators of World War II.

Part 10: The Royal Navy

Never before nor since has the Royal Navy been so challenged as it was during 1939-45. In the Atlantic it fought the longest campaign of the war against the German U-boats and surface ships, experiencing tragedy and triumph before the battle was finally won. The Mediterranean witnessed its one major fleet action of the war, and the grim struggle to prevent the crucial island of Malta from falling to the Axis. In the war against Japan the Royal Navy had to overcome early setbacks, but its Pacific Fleet played its part in bringing about ultimate victory.

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