The story of the very first warships from Ancient Greece, through the rise of Carthage, to the mighty Roman Navy. Includes footage of the Viking long ships which carried their fierce warriors from Scandinavia to the British Isles and beyond.

The story of Naval power in the sixteenth century, including the story of Henry VIII's flagship the Mary Rose, recovered from the seabed after four hundred years, and the saga of the Spanish Armada. Features a full-scale replica of Drake's ship "The Golden Hinde".

The age of sail, when mighty oak warships met in thunderous battle, most notably at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, The programme includes extensive footage of HMS Victory, the last survivor of that battle.