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00:00:08,943 --> 00:00:12,878
Narrator: The mighty
spanish armada.
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00:00:12,913 --> 00:00:17,766
Fights the navy of queen
elizabeth during a
bloody campaign
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00:00:17,802 --> 00:00:20,552
That will echo
through history.
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00:00:20,571 --> 00:00:23,072
Dr. Delgado: It's a sea battle
that changed the balance
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Of world power for
three hundred years.
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Narrator: For many centuries
evidence of the armada
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And its shocking fate has
been lying undiscovered
on the sea floor.
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00:00:37,238 --> 00:00:41,840
Imagine if we could
empty the oceans.
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00:00:41,876 --> 00:00:44,777
Letting the water drain away.
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00:00:44,812 --> 00:00:47,646
To reveal the secrets
of the sea floor.
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00:00:48,649 --> 00:00:51,366
Now we can.
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00:00:51,402 --> 00:00:54,169
Using accurate data.
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And astonishing technology.
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00:00:57,808 --> 00:01:02,077
To bring light once
again to a lost world.
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Can these twisted timbers
reveal why two kingdoms
went to war?
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Prof. Grove: These ships
provided the vital sea
lines of communication
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For the first great
maritime empire.
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Narrator: Can evidence
from an iconic ship wreck
explain a naval revolution?
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00:01:24,668 --> 00:01:28,837
And does a mysterious
discovery off the
coast of ireland.
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Explain the armada's
grizzly fate?
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Dr. Martin: It is treasure.
All of it.
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Because it tells us so much.
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Narrator: Fiery beacons
spread the warning.
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The day of reckoning
has dawned.
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The spanish and
english battle for
command of the seas.
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For nine tumultuous days.
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When the smoke clears
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A proud empire is humbled and
a new super power is born.
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Rivalry between England and
Spain began many years before.
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And is shrouded in mystery.
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For centuries archaeologists
struggled to find evidence
from this time.
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00:02:44,882 --> 00:02:46,965
That changes with
a discovery,
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Not in europe but two
and a half thousand
miles away in red bay.
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A remote harbor in the far,
frozen north of canada.
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That opens onto
the wild atlantic.
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Led by clues found in
sixteenth century documents,
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Maritime archaeologist
robert grenier
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00:03:19,950 --> 00:03:23,769
Comes here looking for
evidence of a spanish ship.
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00:03:27,541 --> 00:03:29,975
Robert: I got in the water.
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I could see that there
was something there.
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I went down and started
to fan with my hands,
moving the water.
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That clears the mud
over what was there.
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00:03:46,911 --> 00:03:51,914
I could see some faint lines
about a quarter inch thick
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But couldn't figure
out what they were.
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Narrator: If these icy waters
do conceal a spanish ship
wreck, why would it be here?
46
00:04:02,810 --> 00:04:06,011
Two and a half thousand
miles from home?
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00:04:08,782 --> 00:04:11,667
Robert assembles a
team to investigate.
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00:04:15,039 --> 00:04:20,242
They meticulously record
the size and shape of
every piece of wreckage.
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00:04:22,079 --> 00:04:25,781
And realize that they've found
something extraordinary.
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Robert: We knew we had
something of great interest,
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Finding a wreck of that
importance as remote as here.
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As far as here.
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Narrator: Using all the data
gathered by the dive team
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It's now possible to
drain red bay dry.
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To expose the nearly complete
remains of a sailing ship.
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Her decks have collapsed but
her hull is almost intact.
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Robert's first
task is to date it.
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Deep inside the drained
wreck a single clue.
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Nestled among the timbers.
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The delicate fragments
of an hour glass.
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00:05:42,910 --> 00:05:45,143
It's an incredibly
rare discovery.
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00:05:46,046 --> 00:05:49,781
Used from medieval times
to measure time on ships.
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And there's more treasure.
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A compass.
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And an astrolabe, a device
for measuring latitude.
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00:06:02,513 --> 00:06:07,099
Instruments that helped
sailors to use the
stars to navigate.
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All commonly found on
sixteenth century
european ships.
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00:06:11,905 --> 00:06:14,940
Robert: We have quite a
complete navigation system.
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It was the oldest ever found
on a ship wreck at the time.
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Narrator: The discoveries
confirm that the wreck is
over four hundred years old.
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00:06:29,406 --> 00:06:40,215
And a closer look at the
ships remains uncovers a
new and remarkable detail.
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Removing the collapsed decks
reveals that the entire
length of the hull
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Is made up of v
shaped timbers.
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00:06:49,643 --> 00:06:52,711
But these timbers have
not been joined together.
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00:06:52,746 --> 00:06:56,181
They have been carefully
grown into the perfect shape.
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Discovering such a usual
ship building style
gives the team a lead.
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00:07:04,074 --> 00:07:07,442
And takes them two and a
half thousand miles east,
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00:07:07,478 --> 00:07:12,948
Across the atlantic ocean to
Spain and the port of pasaia.
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This bustling town in the
basque region of Spain
carries on a tradition
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00:07:25,612 --> 00:07:29,614
Of ship building that began
over five hundred years ago.
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00:07:29,650 --> 00:07:34,669
It's here they make
the first vessels that
circumnavigate the globe.
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00:07:36,039 --> 00:07:38,940
And secure the america's
for their king.
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00:07:43,981 --> 00:07:49,367
Today master builder
xabier agote is keeping
the tradition alive.
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00:07:49,403 --> 00:07:54,906
He and his team are
building a sixteenth
century basque galleon.
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00:07:54,942 --> 00:07:57,943
Using the materials and
methods of the time.
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Xabier: Our oak forests were
especially managed to provide
the right timbers
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00:08:06,270 --> 00:08:09,838
With the exact shape
for ship building.
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As a result they would
obtain timbers like this
one with a very nice grain
89
00:08:15,412 --> 00:08:20,482
And that was very
necessary to sail across
the atlantic ocean
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00:08:20,517 --> 00:08:23,502
And to reach north america.
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Narrator: The timbers still
grown and worked in pasaia
are the exact same design
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00:08:32,012 --> 00:08:35,780
And shape as those on the
wreck in red bay.
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Historical records held nearby
at the ancient university of
oƱati complete the story.
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00:08:50,847 --> 00:08:56,701
A sixteenth century document
with details of a ship that
sailed to northern canada.
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Her name was san juan.
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00:09:02,709 --> 00:09:07,345
She left pasaia in 1565.
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00:09:07,381 --> 00:09:09,214
And never returned.
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00:09:10,934 --> 00:09:13,602
Dr. Delgado: Finding
archaeological evidence of
Spain's maritime activities,
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00:09:13,637 --> 00:09:18,807
Particularly as it entered
the world stage, is rare.
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When we do find those traces
they can be very revealing.
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Narrator: Discovering the name
of the ship leads to the most
important question of all.
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Why would she
cross the atlantic.
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To the frozen wastes
of north america?
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More clues lie inside
the drained wreck.
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00:09:47,671 --> 00:09:52,774
The hull is covered in small
thin pieces of timber.
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And scattered
around metal hoops.
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The broken remains
of barrels.
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00:10:01,301 --> 00:10:08,373
Robert: I passed my hand
over the little planks and
it was a greasy deposit.
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00:10:08,408 --> 00:10:09,741
And I was puzzled by this.
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00:10:13,347 --> 00:10:19,734
Narrator: The san juan seems
to be a cargo ship packed
with barrels full of grease,
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00:10:19,770 --> 00:10:22,971
Something nearby helps
explain what it is.
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00:10:26,777 --> 00:10:30,078
Removing the collapsed
decks of the ship,
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00:10:30,113 --> 00:10:33,648
Exposes the fragments of
four smaller crafts.
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00:10:35,969 --> 00:10:40,438
One of them, a specialized
hunting boat called a chalupa.
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00:10:41,475 --> 00:10:44,776
Robert: Never expected to
find a complete chalupa
because normally
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They are very quickly
eaten away by the worms.
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They vanish.
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So to finding, to find
a complete chalupa
like this was amazing.
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00:10:54,738 --> 00:10:57,372
Narrator: Chalupas are
fast and maneuverable.
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Specially designed to carry
men wielding harpoons.
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Evidence of their prey
is scattered across
the drained sea bed.
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Whale bones.
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These chalupas are
used to catch whales.
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Their blubber is then
processed into oil.
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Loaded into barrels
and shipped to europe.
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00:11:28,138 --> 00:11:31,873
The full astonishing
story is now clear.
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00:11:31,908 --> 00:11:36,277
In the sixteenth century red
bay is no quiet back water.
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She's a global center
for whale oil production.
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00:11:40,049 --> 00:11:43,234
Robert grenier hasn't
just found a ship wreck.
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He's discovered evidence of
one of the first industrial
sites in north america.
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Robert: It was an
important trade.
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Provision of whale oil
which was very important for
lighting the houses, soap.
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00:12:00,404 --> 00:12:04,472
This was the equivalent of
saudi arabia of the time.
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00:12:08,311 --> 00:12:11,646
Narrator: The san juan
carries the whale oil
back to europe.
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00:12:11,681 --> 00:12:15,934
Her crew call it liquid gold.
And with good reason.
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00:12:15,969 --> 00:12:20,705
Each successful trip
nets over eight million
dollars in today's money.
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00:12:20,741 --> 00:12:26,177
And fifteen ships just
like the san juan make
this trip each year.
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00:12:26,213 --> 00:12:31,466
But this is just one tiny
fortune on a continent
packed with treasure.
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00:12:32,869 --> 00:12:37,772
After columbus discovers
the america's in 1492,
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00:12:37,807 --> 00:12:42,877
The spanish develop a huge
network of trade routes.
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00:12:42,913 --> 00:12:48,233
With tobacco plantations in
cuba, sugar from brazil.
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00:12:48,268 --> 00:12:54,639
And vast quantities of silver
and gold looted and mined
from mexico and peru.
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00:12:54,674 --> 00:12:58,276
Made possible by forcing
the locals into slavery.
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00:12:58,311 --> 00:13:02,781
And shipping over more
enslaved men and women
from west africa.
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00:13:08,004 --> 00:13:11,272
Prof. Grove: Spain was
the great super power of
the sixteenth century.
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00:13:11,308 --> 00:13:14,809
It was kept going by a
very large fleet of ships.
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00:13:14,845 --> 00:13:18,379
These ships are the sinews
of the spanish empire.
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00:13:19,749 --> 00:13:25,336
Narrator: The trade in gold
and silver alone is worth
ten trillion dollars
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00:13:25,372 --> 00:13:27,438
In today's money.
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00:13:27,474 --> 00:13:32,911
Making Spain one of the
wealthiest and most powerful
countries in europe.
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00:13:32,946 --> 00:13:38,766
So rich she guilds her
churches in silver and gold.
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All made possible by
ships like the san juan.
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00:13:48,445 --> 00:13:51,379
Prof. Grove: Without these
ships Spain would not be rich
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00:13:51,414 --> 00:13:56,868
And making money was what the
spanish empire was all about.
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00:13:56,903 --> 00:14:01,539
Narrator: But Spain's
fabulous wealth attracts
greedy rivals.
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00:14:01,575 --> 00:14:03,875
Ready to muscle in.
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00:14:08,782 --> 00:14:15,169
Including one with plans
to break Spain's monopoly
on atlantic trade.
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00:14:15,205 --> 00:14:16,504
England.
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00:14:17,507 --> 00:14:20,475
Ruled by elizabeth the first.
160
00:14:20,510 --> 00:14:24,812
She bans spanish imports
including whale oil.
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00:14:24,848 --> 00:14:29,767
And raises the stakes even
higher risking everything
in a showdown
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00:14:29,803 --> 00:14:32,770
With the world's most
powerful empire.
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00:14:42,315 --> 00:14:45,767
Queen elizabeth is
making England rich.
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00:14:45,802 --> 00:14:47,769
With a new policy.
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00:14:47,804 --> 00:14:54,242
She gives sea captains
a license to attack
spanish merchant ships.
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00:14:54,277 --> 00:14:56,110
(explosion)
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00:14:56,146 --> 00:14:58,646
And steal their cargo's.
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00:14:58,682 --> 00:15:03,434
Then she takes a healthy
cut of the profits.
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00:15:03,470 --> 00:15:09,807
One expedition alone makes
her enough money to pay off
the entire national debt.
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00:15:09,843 --> 00:15:12,610
It's state piracy.
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00:15:12,646 --> 00:15:16,214
(explosion)
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00:15:16,249 --> 00:15:18,048
Prof. Grove: English maritime
affairs was dominated
173
00:15:18,068 --> 00:15:20,668
By what I sometimes
call the pirate mafia.
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00:15:20,704 --> 00:15:22,437
Which began with the queen.
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00:15:22,472 --> 00:15:25,740
The only way the english
could expand their
maritime activities
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00:15:25,775 --> 00:15:29,344
Was to engage in this kind
of armed robbery at sea.
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00:15:31,014 --> 00:15:36,968
Narrator: The english defend
the policy in the name of
their protestant religion.
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00:15:37,003 --> 00:15:40,171
Meaning philip the
second of Spain,
179
00:15:40,206 --> 00:15:46,477
Protector of the catholic
faith in europe now has two
reasons to settle the score.
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00:15:46,513 --> 00:15:49,380
Money and god.
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00:15:49,416 --> 00:15:52,166
His admirals prepare
a massive fleet.
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00:15:52,202 --> 00:15:54,969
"la grande y
felicisima armada".
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00:15:55,005 --> 00:15:57,955
The great and
fortunate armada".
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00:15:57,990 --> 00:16:02,977
Brimming with confidence and
carried out with the blessing
of the catholic church,
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00:16:03,013 --> 00:16:06,214
One hundred and
thirty ships set sail.
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00:16:06,249 --> 00:16:11,569
Among them a flotilla of
the empires best galleons.
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00:16:11,604 --> 00:16:15,039
On board, one hundred
and eighty priests.
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00:16:15,075 --> 00:16:21,980
And nineteen thousand
soldiers, armed with
over two thousand guns.
189
00:16:22,015 --> 00:16:26,401
For centuries historians
puzzled over king
phillips plans.
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00:16:26,436 --> 00:16:31,506
Is he simply out to crush
England's pirates or does
he have something far more
191
00:16:31,541 --> 00:16:34,375
Devastating in mind?
192
00:16:38,314 --> 00:16:40,515
Eight hundred miles to
the north of Spain.
193
00:16:43,370 --> 00:16:47,538
At kinnagoe bay,
194
00:16:47,574 --> 00:16:50,174
Along the wild northern
coast of ireland.
195
00:16:54,848 --> 00:17:00,568
Can a remarkable discovery
cast light on the real
story of the armada?
196
00:17:00,603 --> 00:17:05,673
When local divers find what
looks like ships timbers.
197
00:17:05,709 --> 00:17:10,478
They call in expert marine
archaeologist colin martin.
198
00:17:10,513 --> 00:17:14,348
And he immediately
understands their excitement.
199
00:17:14,383 --> 00:17:18,202
Dr. Martin: What I saw as my
head went under the water
200
00:17:18,238 --> 00:17:22,073
Was this enormous bronze gun.
201
00:17:22,108 --> 00:17:26,444
With the full alms of
philip the second of Spain.
202
00:17:26,479 --> 00:17:31,199
And it was almost as though
I'd been transported back
in time four hundred years.
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00:17:35,138 --> 00:17:40,675
Narrator: Colin and the
dive team search for more
clues beneath the water.
204
00:17:40,710 --> 00:17:45,213
Carefully logging
every detail.
205
00:17:45,248 --> 00:17:49,801
Archaeologists have
had little chance to
study armada wrecks.
206
00:17:49,836 --> 00:17:51,469
Could this be one?
207
00:17:53,573 --> 00:17:58,276
By using the dive team's data,
it's possible to see clearly
208
00:17:58,311 --> 00:18:02,747
What lies beneath kinnagoe
bay for the first time.
209
00:18:06,736 --> 00:18:09,203
The wild atlantic
drains away.
210
00:18:10,740 --> 00:18:13,007
Exposing a mass of wreckage.
211
00:18:16,780 --> 00:18:20,548
Ships timbers spread
along the sea floor.
212
00:18:20,583 --> 00:18:24,836
And lost for hundreds
of years, more guns.
213
00:18:27,373 --> 00:18:31,375
Dr. Martin: Among the finds
were three magnificent
bronze cannons.
214
00:18:31,411 --> 00:18:32,910
All slightly different.
215
00:18:32,946 --> 00:18:37,782
Still lying on the
sea bed very visibly.
216
00:18:37,817 --> 00:18:43,104
Narrator: Every canon is
stamped with a unique mark
that records its weight.
217
00:18:43,139 --> 00:18:46,040
Dr. Martin: These guns were
listed in spanish documents.
218
00:18:46,075 --> 00:18:50,812
And each one of them
was identified by
its exact weight.
219
00:18:52,182 --> 00:18:56,400
Narrator: Comparing the weight
of the recovered guns with
details in the spanish naval
220
00:18:56,436 --> 00:19:01,606
Inventory, reveals the name
of this mystery vessel.
221
00:19:03,910 --> 00:19:05,710
La trinidad valencera.
222
00:19:11,317 --> 00:19:17,371
A large mediterranean
merchant vessel pressed
into service by king philip.
223
00:19:18,174 --> 00:19:22,343
She's one of the most
important ships in
the armada.
224
00:19:22,378 --> 00:19:25,213
Armed with forty-two guns.
225
00:19:26,349 --> 00:19:31,035
Carrying two hundred
and eighty-one soldiers
and seventy-nine crew,
226
00:19:31,070 --> 00:19:33,571
Weighting eleven
hundred tons.
227
00:19:33,606 --> 00:19:36,340
One of the biggest
ships in the fleet.
228
00:19:36,376 --> 00:19:38,576
It's an amazing discovery.
229
00:19:38,611 --> 00:19:43,714
And it gives historians
a unique insight into
philips plans.
230
00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:55,042
At the drained wreck site,
something surprising.
231
00:19:55,078 --> 00:19:59,747
Next to the bronze
canons lie the wheels
of their gun carriages.
232
00:19:59,782 --> 00:20:01,732
They are heavy and unwieldy.
233
00:20:01,768 --> 00:20:05,970
Clearly not designed
for use at sea.
234
00:20:06,005 --> 00:20:08,606
Dr. Martin: The main
reason we knew that the
guns weren't to be used
235
00:20:08,641 --> 00:20:14,178
In the naval battle was that
they were stowed complete
with their carriages.
236
00:20:15,682 --> 00:20:17,815
These were not ship guns.
237
00:20:17,850 --> 00:20:23,437
They were guns for land
campaigning, siege artillery.
238
00:20:25,141 --> 00:20:29,010
Narrator: La trinidad
valencera hasn't just
come to shoot it out
239
00:20:29,045 --> 00:20:30,711
In the english channel.
240
00:20:30,747 --> 00:20:35,800
The canons in her hold point
to a much more ambitious plan.
241
00:20:40,006 --> 00:20:44,375
And the drained sands
of kinnagoe bay offer
up another clue.
242
00:20:46,746 --> 00:20:50,448
Half embedded in
the sandy seabed.
243
00:20:56,639 --> 00:21:00,508
Dr. Martin: This to me
is the most remarkable
and precious thing
244
00:21:00,543 --> 00:21:02,677
That was found on the wreck.
245
00:21:02,712 --> 00:21:06,814
It's a chinese porcelain
bowl of the ming dynasty.
246
00:21:06,849 --> 00:21:12,770
Shipped all the way to
seville and from there into
the hands of a spanish
247
00:21:12,805 --> 00:21:20,344
Nobleman, who would be taking
it as part of his household
effects to England.
248
00:21:20,380 --> 00:21:23,648
Narrator: A status symbol
to grace an elegant home.
249
00:21:23,683 --> 00:21:27,868
Whoever owns it clearly
plans to stay in England.
250
00:21:30,340 --> 00:21:36,477
Along with the siege canons
it's clear evidence that the
armada has come to invade,
251
00:21:36,512 --> 00:21:39,180
Conquer and occupy.
252
00:21:42,018 --> 00:21:46,537
Prof. Grove: Only regime
change would stop the
english engaging
253
00:21:46,572 --> 00:21:48,372
In their piratical raids.
254
00:21:48,408 --> 00:21:49,940
And that was the aim.
255
00:21:51,577 --> 00:21:55,780
Narrator: After over
two years of preparation
and eight days at sea,
256
00:21:55,815 --> 00:21:58,299
The armada nears
the english channel.
257
00:21:59,035 --> 00:22:06,707
One hundred and thirty
spanish ships including the
mighty trinidad valencera.
258
00:22:06,743 --> 00:22:11,145
Their objective is to
storm the beaches of
southern England.
259
00:22:11,180 --> 00:22:16,901
But first they must join
forces with twenty-seven
thousand invasion troops,
260
00:22:16,936 --> 00:22:18,936
Waiting in northern France.
261
00:22:20,807 --> 00:22:26,610
The english commanders know
that if the all-powerful
spanish army gets ashore.
262
00:22:26,646 --> 00:22:29,413
King philip will be
halfway to victory.
263
00:22:30,817 --> 00:22:35,770
To stop him they have
just sixty fighting ships.
264
00:22:35,805 --> 00:22:39,974
A life or death battle
for queen and country
is about to begin.
265
00:22:43,046 --> 00:22:45,846
How will elizabeth's
captains fight back?
266
00:22:45,882 --> 00:22:51,369
The answer lies inside
one of the most famous
ship wrecks of all time.
267
00:23:01,714 --> 00:23:07,334
Narrator: England's
land army is no match
for the spanish.
268
00:23:07,370 --> 00:23:09,770
And her fleet is outnumbered.
269
00:23:13,743 --> 00:23:17,311
But her sea captains do have
two things in their favor.
270
00:23:17,346 --> 00:23:20,781
New weapons and
radical new tactics.
271
00:23:24,871 --> 00:23:30,708
Just how radical can be
seen one hundred and forty
miles away near portsmouth.
272
00:23:30,743 --> 00:23:34,845
On board one of the
most famous ship wrecks
ever discovered.
273
00:23:36,516 --> 00:23:40,101
The mary rose.
274
00:23:40,136 --> 00:23:46,373
The favorite war
ship of queen elizabeth's
father, henry the eighth.
275
00:23:46,409 --> 00:23:49,610
She is lost in battle in 1545.
276
00:23:49,645 --> 00:23:53,247
The cause a mystery
for many centuries.
277
00:23:55,601 --> 00:24:00,704
When she's found
archaeologists uncover a
treasure trove of information
278
00:24:00,740 --> 00:24:02,606
About the english navy.
279
00:24:02,642 --> 00:24:08,779
From more than forty
years before the
armada even set sail.
280
00:24:08,815 --> 00:24:14,335
Now the dive teams research
and the underwater scan data
is combined with ongoing
281
00:24:14,370 --> 00:24:19,173
Archaeological work after
she is famously raised
from the depths.
282
00:24:19,208 --> 00:24:25,446
Making it possible to
reveal the mary rose exactly
as she was first discovered.
283
00:24:28,568 --> 00:24:35,439
As the sea flows away,
it opens a remarkable
window into the past.
284
00:24:39,145 --> 00:24:41,712
The mary rose.
285
00:24:41,747 --> 00:24:44,148
Extraordinarily
well preserved.
286
00:24:46,903 --> 00:24:51,672
And buried within her
clues that reveal how the
english are changing
287
00:24:51,707 --> 00:24:54,375
The way they fight
sea battles.
288
00:24:55,178 --> 00:24:59,780
Her exposed port side is worn
away to reveal the decks.
289
00:24:59,815 --> 00:25:04,835
Scattered around
long thin chests.
290
00:25:04,871 --> 00:25:10,307
When the dive team opened
them, they make a near
miraculous discovery.
291
00:25:10,343 --> 00:25:14,979
English long bows, one of
the most feared weapons
of the medieval age.
292
00:25:19,168 --> 00:25:20,801
In perfect condition.
293
00:25:29,695 --> 00:25:32,580
Dr. Hildred: So
here they are.
294
00:25:32,615 --> 00:25:34,682
Beautifully preserved.
You can see the condition.
295
00:25:34,717 --> 00:25:37,935
I mean they look new.
They honestly look new.
296
00:25:37,970 --> 00:25:42,907
The only collection of
archery equipment we have
from the medieval period
297
00:25:42,942 --> 00:25:45,309
Is here on the mary rose.
298
00:25:45,344 --> 00:25:49,079
Narrator: The long bows
show that the mary rose was
equipped for a traditional
299
00:25:49,115 --> 00:25:52,900
Sea battle.
300
00:25:52,935 --> 00:25:55,703
Prof. Grove: In the medieval
period in northern waters,
301
00:25:55,738 --> 00:25:57,571
The classic form
of naval warfare
302
00:25:57,607 --> 00:26:00,808
Was to put castles on
basically merchant ships.
303
00:26:00,843 --> 00:26:06,847
These became fortresses
and you put archers
in the, on the castles.
304
00:26:06,882 --> 00:26:09,867
And it was very much
a land battle at sea.
305
00:26:12,204 --> 00:26:18,542
Narrator: Each archer can
fire up to twelve armor
piercing arrows a minute.
306
00:26:18,578 --> 00:26:25,299
Clearing the way for
soldiers to grapple
and board enemy ships.
307
00:26:25,334 --> 00:26:33,607
For over a thousand years
this has been the standard
form of naval warfare.
308
00:26:33,643 --> 00:26:39,013
And it's exactly how the
admirals of the spanish armada
planned to attack the english.
309
00:26:43,502 --> 00:26:48,639
Their nineteen thousand
elite troops stand ready
to grapple and board.
310
00:26:54,447 --> 00:27:00,234
But the mary rose contains
key evidence that the
english navy is changing.
311
00:27:01,437 --> 00:27:03,771
And embracing new technology.
312
00:27:04,573 --> 00:27:08,075
Specifically, these.
313
00:27:08,110 --> 00:27:12,379
The mary rose is carrying
ninety-one canons.
314
00:27:12,415 --> 00:27:15,399
Fifteen made of bronze.
315
00:27:15,434 --> 00:27:17,868
Dr. Hildred: We have these
finest cast bronze guns.
316
00:27:17,903 --> 00:27:20,838
This has a bore of about a
hundred millimetres or so.
317
00:27:20,873 --> 00:27:24,742
So, it would have taken
a shot that would have
weighed up to ten pounds.
318
00:27:24,777 --> 00:27:28,512
This probably weighs
just over a ton.
319
00:27:28,547 --> 00:27:31,932
Narrator: Bronze guns are
powerful but a shortage
of the right metal
320
00:27:31,967 --> 00:27:34,802
Forces king henry to adapt.
321
00:27:34,837 --> 00:27:40,007
And it's these other weapons
found on the mary rose
that are more significant.
322
00:27:40,843 --> 00:27:46,547
A range of firearms from
canons to hand guns.
323
00:27:46,582 --> 00:27:50,968
All made in a new way.
324
00:27:51,003 --> 00:27:55,172
Dr. Hildred: Here we have
the first attempts to mass
produce a gun in cast iron.
325
00:27:55,207 --> 00:27:57,808
You can see there's
a cast line round it.
326
00:27:57,843 --> 00:27:59,309
But what this is
saying is henry was
327
00:27:59,345 --> 00:28:02,746
A, trying to come up with
cheaper guns in cast iron.
328
00:28:02,782 --> 00:28:06,900
And b, just attempt to
harness the technology.
329
00:28:06,936 --> 00:28:12,072
Narrator: As well as cast
iron hand guns, the tudors
developed wrought iron canons.
330
00:28:15,611 --> 00:28:19,146
Prof. Grove: They
discovered ways of making
iron that was strong enough
331
00:28:19,181 --> 00:28:21,648
To stand the stresses
of a gun being fired.
332
00:28:21,701 --> 00:28:26,704
And this was a huge
improvement in that
it made powerful guns
333
00:28:26,739 --> 00:28:28,839
A good deal cheaper.
334
00:28:32,545 --> 00:28:38,015
Narrator: Each wrought iron
gun is less than a tenth of
the cost of a bronze gun.
335
00:28:43,372 --> 00:28:48,175
Meaning henry's favorite war
ship can pack a bigger punch.
336
00:28:49,645 --> 00:28:54,882
The tudor navy calls their
new iron guns port pieces.
337
00:28:54,917 --> 00:28:58,618
The mary rose has
twelve of them.
338
00:28:58,637 --> 00:29:05,242
Each one mounted on a small
low-profile carriage.
339
00:29:05,277 --> 00:29:07,478
Easy to reload.
340
00:29:07,513 --> 00:29:10,147
All made to the same
standard.
341
00:29:10,182 --> 00:29:13,534
They require a change
in ship design.
342
00:29:13,569 --> 00:29:17,237
With decks specifically
strengthened to hold
weighty canons.
343
00:29:26,782 --> 00:29:32,636
When the mary rose is built
in 1511, records show she
hasn't got a single
344
00:29:32,671 --> 00:29:36,006
Port piece on board.
345
00:29:36,041 --> 00:29:41,779
But in the drained wreck there
are port pieces scattered
across two of her decks.
346
00:29:41,814 --> 00:29:45,732
Evidence that henry was so
serious about naval gunnery,
347
00:29:45,768 --> 00:29:48,368
He made his ship builders
increase the fire
348
00:29:48,404 --> 00:29:52,172
Power and strength of one
of his best warships.
349
00:29:55,277 --> 00:30:00,247
Dr. Hildred: It's on that
brink of change of ships
from being troop carriers
350
00:30:00,282 --> 00:30:02,232
To gun platforms.
351
00:30:02,268 --> 00:30:07,404
It has certainly some
of the most sophisticated
modern weapons of its time.
352
00:30:07,439 --> 00:30:10,307
Dr. Delgado: The gun
changes war at sea.
353
00:30:10,342 --> 00:30:13,610
Ships go from being floating
castles to being vessels
354
00:30:13,646 --> 00:30:16,079
Capable of destroying
another ship.
355
00:30:20,836 --> 00:30:25,372
Narrator: But embracing
new ideas too quickly
can be dangerous.
356
00:30:25,407 --> 00:30:32,312
When the french attack the
english coast in 1545, the
mary rose sails into battle.
357
00:30:32,348 --> 00:30:35,232
She fires one salvo.
358
00:30:35,267 --> 00:30:37,868
Turns and immediately sinks.
359
00:30:39,138 --> 00:30:42,873
Dr. Hildred: You do get a
number of reports that say
suddenly a wind came up.
360
00:30:42,908 --> 00:30:48,645
She then turned and in
turning was, you know, gust
of wind heeled her over.
361
00:30:48,681 --> 00:30:53,600
Narrator: When a ship
heels its side tips
towards the waterline.
362
00:30:53,636 --> 00:30:58,305
That's only a problem if sea
water can enter the ship.
363
00:30:58,340 --> 00:31:04,044
And on board the mary rose
there's one very obvious
way that can happen.
364
00:31:07,550 --> 00:31:11,401
Prof. Grove: To put big
guns into ships you had
to put them in the hull.
365
00:31:11,437 --> 00:31:13,403
And so the gun port was born.
366
00:31:17,276 --> 00:31:24,281
The problem with gun ports
was how low down in the
ship could you put them?
367
00:31:24,316 --> 00:31:29,069
If the gun ports are too close
to the water line and the ship
heels and sailing ships heel,
368
00:31:29,104 --> 00:31:32,072
Because of their sails,
then there's the danger
369
00:31:32,107 --> 00:31:34,975
That water can come in
through the gun ports.
370
00:31:35,811 --> 00:31:39,212
Narrator: And at the
drained wreck site a clue.
371
00:31:39,248 --> 00:31:42,733
The gun ports are
clearly visible.
372
00:31:42,768 --> 00:31:45,335
And they are all open.
373
00:31:49,608 --> 00:31:53,710
Piecing together the evidence
what happens is now clear.
374
00:31:54,747 --> 00:31:58,081
The mary rose heads into
battle against the french.
375
00:31:58,117 --> 00:32:00,500
Her high castles
packed with archers.
376
00:32:05,307 --> 00:32:07,574
She fires her starboard guns.
377
00:32:13,849 --> 00:32:17,000
She turns to fire from
her port side guns.
378
00:32:18,237 --> 00:32:21,471
A gust of wind
makes her heel over.
379
00:32:22,341 --> 00:32:28,679
Unstable from
so many soldiers, guns and
ammunition, she heels too far.
380
00:32:28,714 --> 00:32:31,848
Water pours into
the open gun ports.
381
00:32:33,035 --> 00:32:35,736
In minutes she capsizes.
382
00:32:37,072 --> 00:32:42,409
Taking all but thirty of
her four hundred and fifteen
crew to their deaths.
383
00:32:46,048 --> 00:32:52,135
Forty-three years later
as the spanish armada
approaches plymouth,
384
00:32:52,171 --> 00:32:58,075
The english fleet is about to
show that they have built on
the legacy of the mary rose.
385
00:32:58,110 --> 00:33:00,610
They ditch hand to
hand combat.
386
00:33:00,646 --> 00:33:05,182
And focus purely on the
firepower of their guns.
387
00:33:05,217 --> 00:33:09,202
Will it be enough to save
England from invasion?
388
00:33:19,648 --> 00:33:25,969
One hundred and thirty ships of
the armada come face to face
with England's one hundred.
389
00:33:26,005 --> 00:33:29,606
As the battle begins the
spanish try to get close,
390
00:33:29,641 --> 00:33:32,876
Looking to board and capture
the english warships.
391
00:33:32,911 --> 00:33:35,712
But elizabeth's captains
have other ideas.
392
00:33:40,335 --> 00:33:46,139
Prof. Grove: In that piratical
operation the english develop
standoff gunnery warfare.
393
00:33:46,175 --> 00:33:48,809
Concentrating much
more on gunnery.
394
00:33:48,877 --> 00:33:50,310
And locking the
enemy to pieces.
395
00:33:57,269 --> 00:34:02,205
Narrator: It's a test
of english tactics.
396
00:34:02,241 --> 00:34:05,776
If they get too close they
risk hand to hand combat
397
00:34:05,811 --> 00:34:09,246
With an overwhelming force
of spanish soldiers.
398
00:34:09,281 --> 00:34:14,134
If they stay too far, the
guns will do little damage.
399
00:34:14,169 --> 00:34:16,536
But they have the perfect
ships for the job.
400
00:34:19,475 --> 00:34:26,213
Transformed since the mary
rose the castles have gone.
401
00:34:26,248 --> 00:34:29,966
Instead they're
packed with guns.
402
00:34:30,002 --> 00:34:32,869
Sleek and maneuverable.
403
00:34:32,905 --> 00:34:35,305
The fastest war
ships in the world.
404
00:34:42,581 --> 00:34:47,033
Dr. Delgado: The tactics
the english developed as
pirates to come in shooting,
405
00:34:47,069 --> 00:34:49,903
Prove effective against
the spanish armada.
406
00:34:55,344 --> 00:34:56,910
Prof. Grove: Ships would
charge at each other.
407
00:34:56,945 --> 00:34:58,311
A bit like cavalry.
408
00:34:58,347 --> 00:35:01,515
And then they would fire,
turn, fire again,
409
00:35:01,550 --> 00:35:05,836
Move away, reload and
come back.
410
00:35:05,871 --> 00:35:13,543
Narrator: Making
elizabeth's navy fast
enough to hit. And run.
411
00:35:17,716 --> 00:35:23,370
They fire over two
thousand shots to Spain's
seven hundred and fifty.
412
00:35:29,545 --> 00:35:34,247
Shattering masts and
tearing holes through
splintered wooden hulls.
413
00:35:34,283 --> 00:35:38,401
Driving the armada
along the coast.
414
00:35:38,437 --> 00:35:42,672
Two days later there's
a second battle.
415
00:35:42,708 --> 00:35:45,542
Seventy-five miles
away at portland bill.
416
00:35:47,379 --> 00:35:48,712
It's a critical moment.
417
00:35:53,402 --> 00:35:57,971
And the english take more
risks they come in closer,
418
00:35:58,006 --> 00:36:01,208
Putting themselves at
risk of being boarded.
419
00:36:03,412 --> 00:36:04,845
But this time when they fire.
420
00:36:09,401 --> 00:36:11,268
They cause more damage.
421
00:36:13,372 --> 00:36:15,505
The spanish have
naval guns too.
422
00:36:16,041 --> 00:36:18,141
Plenty of them.
423
00:36:18,177 --> 00:36:22,112
And one of the biggest
mysteries of the armada is
why they're not as effective
424
00:36:22,147 --> 00:36:25,415
As the english guns.
425
00:36:25,450 --> 00:36:30,737
Nearly four hundred miles
away in ireland's kinnagoe
bay can the drained wreck
426
00:36:30,772 --> 00:36:34,207
Of la trinidad valencera
reveal the answer?
427
00:36:37,246 --> 00:36:41,581
Spread across the site
guns for a sea battle
and lots of ammunition.
428
00:36:44,736 --> 00:36:46,069
But how well was it used?
429
00:36:50,642 --> 00:36:55,478
Like many of the ships of
the armada the trinidad
valencera is requisitioned
430
00:36:55,514 --> 00:36:57,714
For war by king philip.
431
00:36:57,749 --> 00:37:03,603
Such a disparate fleet carries
a huge range of weapons.
432
00:37:03,639 --> 00:37:08,174
Dr. Martin: When we
started to find quite large
quantities of canon balls,
433
00:37:08,210 --> 00:37:13,246
We were struck by the
wide range of calibres,
of diameters of the balls.
434
00:37:15,667 --> 00:37:20,637
Unlike their enemy
the spanish have no
standardized guns.
435
00:37:20,672 --> 00:37:27,043
It means in the heat of battle
it can be hard to find the
right shot for the right gun.
436
00:37:27,079 --> 00:37:30,313
So they rely on a
measuring gauge.
437
00:37:30,349 --> 00:37:34,334
Dr. Martin: You check against
a ball.
438
00:37:34,369 --> 00:37:37,938
And if it goes through just
nicely as this one does,
439
00:37:37,973 --> 00:37:41,474
Then you've got the right
shot for this particular gun.
440
00:37:41,510 --> 00:37:44,144
And at the level of the poor
gunners on board the ships,
441
00:37:44,179 --> 00:37:50,400
They were frequently
finding not this, where
they were the right size.
442
00:37:50,435 --> 00:37:54,204
But this where they weren't.
443
00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:59,676
Narrator: And the spanish
captains face other problems.
444
00:37:59,711 --> 00:38:03,913
Dr. Martin: We then started
to look at the way the
spaniards used their guns,
445
00:38:03,949 --> 00:38:05,548
Operated their guns.
446
00:38:05,584 --> 00:38:11,204
We were helped by the
discovery of the
carriages that the ships
447
00:38:11,239 --> 00:38:17,010
Had been using to mount
their guns for sea warfare.
448
00:38:18,113 --> 00:38:22,666
Narrator: The gun and carriage
can span nineteen feet
449
00:38:22,701 --> 00:38:26,236
Over half the width
of a ships deck.
450
00:38:26,271 --> 00:38:30,040
Dr. Martin: Spaniards seem
to have had cumbersome two
wheeled carriages
451
00:38:30,075 --> 00:38:36,246
With long trails, which
were quite difficult to
bring in to reload.
452
00:38:36,281 --> 00:38:42,002
Narrator: All of this
means that the two sides
fight very differently.
453
00:38:42,037 --> 00:38:44,771
Prof. Grove: The spanish
tend it would appear,
454
00:38:44,806 --> 00:38:49,943
Not to see the gun as
a powerful weapon for
sea born combat.
455
00:38:49,978 --> 00:38:54,614
Although they do have
guns at sea they don't
fire them very often.
456
00:38:56,435 --> 00:39:02,806
Dr. Martin: They, the
english were firing twice
as quickly as the spaniards.
457
00:39:09,781 --> 00:39:14,067
Like having twice as
many guns if you can fire
them in half the time.
458
00:39:18,240 --> 00:39:22,742
Narrator: The second battle
lasts over two hours.
459
00:39:22,778 --> 00:39:25,678
The english inflict
the most damage.
460
00:39:25,714 --> 00:39:28,581
But the armada remains
largely intact.
461
00:39:28,617 --> 00:39:31,835
And its large galleons are
still a powerful threat.
462
00:39:32,771 --> 00:39:38,775
Dr. Martin: It's extremely
difficult to sink a wooden
ship with canon fire.
463
00:39:38,810 --> 00:39:41,611
You need to batter
away at it.
464
00:39:43,415 --> 00:39:49,069
Insofar as breaking up the
actual fleet which held
together, protecting itself,
465
00:39:49,104 --> 00:39:54,107
The english effectively
were powerless.
466
00:39:54,142 --> 00:39:56,543
Narrator: The armada
heads to northern France.
467
00:39:56,578 --> 00:40:03,366
Where twenty seven thousand
fresh and well trained
spanish soldiers await.
468
00:40:03,402 --> 00:40:07,337
Ready to join the fleet
and try to land in England.
469
00:40:12,110 --> 00:40:16,279
Back in kinnagoe bay
can the wreck of la
trinidad valencera
470
00:40:16,314 --> 00:40:19,899
Explain why that
invasion never happened?
471
00:40:32,614 --> 00:40:34,848
But the troops aren't
ready to board.
472
00:40:37,135 --> 00:40:39,936
So the spanish are
forced to wait.
473
00:40:39,971 --> 00:40:44,974
Close together in the
face of a gathering storm.
474
00:40:45,010 --> 00:40:48,778
This gives the english an
unexpected opportunity
475
00:40:48,814 --> 00:40:53,099
And they use it to unleash a
terrifying new weapon.
476
00:40:53,135 --> 00:40:53,933
Hell burners.
477
00:40:59,107 --> 00:41:01,975
Eight of their own ships
packed with explosives,
478
00:41:02,010 --> 00:41:06,079
Set on fire and aimed right
at the heart of the armada.
479
00:41:10,001 --> 00:41:11,668
Prof. Grove: The english
took their opportunity,
480
00:41:11,703 --> 00:41:14,070
Sent in fire ships,
481
00:41:14,105 --> 00:41:17,440
Caused the armada
to break formation.
482
00:41:17,476 --> 00:41:20,810
Narrator: Now the english
captains can pick their
enemies off
483
00:41:20,846 --> 00:41:22,879
One ship at a time.
484
00:41:22,914 --> 00:41:25,114
At daybreak they pounce.
485
00:41:30,205 --> 00:41:34,908
After the first two clashes
the english know they can
fire at a hundred feet
486
00:41:34,943 --> 00:41:36,676
Without being boarded.
487
00:41:36,711 --> 00:41:39,913
An advantage they now
exploit to the fore.
488
00:41:43,869 --> 00:41:47,170
Disabling four of
Spain's best galleons.
489
00:41:47,205 --> 00:41:49,305
And damaging many more.
490
00:41:52,911 --> 00:41:54,844
The battle rages for
nine hours.
491
00:41:58,316 --> 00:42:03,836
Nearly two thousand spanish
soldiers and sailors
are left dead or injured.
492
00:42:07,042 --> 00:42:09,576
Their invasion
attempt is over.
493
00:42:16,801 --> 00:42:22,238
Damaged by enemy fire, packed
with injured and dying men.
494
00:42:22,274 --> 00:42:27,076
The surviving ships of the
armada. Run for home.
495
00:42:27,112 --> 00:42:31,915
But only sixty ships
will ever make it back.
496
00:42:37,973 --> 00:42:42,709
In ireland the drained
wreck site of la trinidad
valencera reveals
497
00:42:42,744 --> 00:42:48,248
How one of the mightiest
ships of the armada
ended her days.
498
00:42:48,283 --> 00:42:53,036
The surviving timbers
are scattered and spread
across a rocky reef.
499
00:42:53,071 --> 00:42:57,473
It's a clue that helps to
explain what happened
after the epic battle
500
00:42:57,509 --> 00:42:58,408
Against the english.
501
00:43:02,914 --> 00:43:04,480
Dr. Martin: Well the
spanish armada
502
00:43:04,516 --> 00:43:07,667
When it failed in it's
objective,
503
00:43:07,702 --> 00:43:10,670
Decided to return home
by sailing right round
504
00:43:10,705 --> 00:43:13,306
The top of the british isles.
505
00:43:13,341 --> 00:43:15,341
Narrator: Thrusting the
spanish into the path
506
00:43:15,377 --> 00:43:18,278
Of a new and even more
formidable enemy.
507
00:43:25,704 --> 00:43:27,403
The weather.
508
00:43:30,675 --> 00:43:33,643
Summer storms roar
up the north sea.
509
00:43:35,113 --> 00:43:37,680
Battering the already
damaged galleons.
510
00:43:39,150 --> 00:43:44,704
To such religious men it
must feel like god himself
has turned against Spain.
511
00:43:51,246 --> 00:43:56,265
But what happened next to
the la trinidad valencera
is even more hellish.
512
00:43:59,037 --> 00:44:02,105
Dr. Martin: She found herself
in a sinking condition.
513
00:44:02,140 --> 00:44:05,808
A decision was made
to run for the shore.
514
00:44:05,844 --> 00:44:09,345
Narrator: La trinidad
valencera heads for the
irish coast
515
00:44:09,381 --> 00:44:11,180
Looking for a safe place to
land.
516
00:44:15,403 --> 00:44:18,971
Dr. Martin: She grounded
some distance from the
shore on a sandy bottom.
517
00:44:19,007 --> 00:44:22,842
But with her bow
sitting on a reef.
518
00:44:22,877 --> 00:44:26,546
Narrator: Almost all
the crew scramble
ashore unharmed.
519
00:44:26,581 --> 00:44:31,601
Dr. Martin: They marched off
heading for the west coast
of ireland where they hoped
520
00:44:31,636 --> 00:44:36,673
They might make contact
with other armada ships
that would bring them home.
521
00:44:36,708 --> 00:44:44,447
Unfortunately for them
they were intercepted by a
force of english soldiers.
522
00:44:44,482 --> 00:44:47,150
Narrator: What happens
next is savage.
523
00:44:48,069 --> 00:44:50,603
The english start to
execute their prisoners.
524
00:44:58,980 --> 00:45:02,932
Only a lucky few manage
to run to the hills.
525
00:45:07,539 --> 00:45:14,844
Through drowning or
execution over six thousand
men die along these shores.
526
00:45:14,879 --> 00:45:19,282
La trinidad valencera is one
of just six armada wrecks
527
00:45:19,317 --> 00:45:22,402
Found off the coast
of ireland.
528
00:45:22,437 --> 00:45:27,340
The rest, probably up
to twenty, have never
been discovered.
529
00:45:27,375 --> 00:45:31,744
What began as a battle
to crush the upstart
english has changed
530
00:45:31,780 --> 00:45:34,580
The global balance of power.
531
00:45:34,616 --> 00:45:40,536
Prof. Grove: The weakness of
the spanish empire was its
actual dependence on wealth.
532
00:45:40,572 --> 00:45:47,877
And when other powers began
to rise like the dutch, like
the english, like the french,
533
00:45:47,912 --> 00:45:51,347
Then these powers had much
greater economic depth.
534
00:45:51,382 --> 00:45:56,235
Spain loses its sources
of wealth and it's got
nothing to fall back on.
535
00:45:56,271 --> 00:46:00,573
Narrator: Within ten
years Spain is bankrupt.
536
00:46:01,476 --> 00:46:07,447
In red bay and beyond cargo
ships like the san juan no
longer hold the monopoly
537
00:46:07,482 --> 00:46:09,665
On new world trade routes.
538
00:46:13,972 --> 00:46:18,107
England with its mastery of
naval gunnery and its fast,
539
00:46:18,143 --> 00:46:21,978
Mobile warships is now
the rising force.
540
00:46:22,013 --> 00:46:24,347
Dr. Delgado: In the aftermath
of the armada these new types
541
00:46:24,382 --> 00:46:29,502
Of ships and tactics will
dominate naval warfare for
the next two centuries.
542
00:46:35,610 --> 00:46:40,213
Narrator: Within twenty
years England establishes
its first successful colony
543
00:46:40,248 --> 00:46:41,981
In the americas.
544
00:46:42,016 --> 00:46:45,234
English will become
the dominant language
in north america
545
00:46:45,270 --> 00:46:48,437
And much of the world beyond.
546
00:46:48,473 --> 00:46:52,041
And as England becomes great
britain, ships controlled
547
00:46:52,076 --> 00:46:56,746
In london will dominate
global trading routes.
548
00:46:56,781 --> 00:47:03,102
Britain will become the
undisputed ruler of the waves.
549
00:47:03,137 --> 00:47:10,743
Until she is finally eclipsed
by her own colonies, the
united states.
550
00:47:10,778 --> 00:47:16,399
A process all triggered
by the fight for the
riches of the americas.
551
00:47:16,434 --> 00:47:19,836
And the defeat of
the spanish armada.
552
00:47:21,573 --> 00:47:22,438
Captioned by subtitlepro llc