1 00:00:05,539 --> 00:00:08,240 Narrator: A terrifying nazi plan. 2 00:00:08,309 --> 00:00:13,345 An armada of super-ships sent out to conquer the world. 3 00:00:13,447 --> 00:00:14,680 Tony: When these ships were being built, 4 00:00:14,782 --> 00:00:15,981 They seemed revolutionary. 5 00:00:16,083 --> 00:00:17,933 They were capable of almost anything. 6 00:00:18,035 --> 00:00:21,003 Narrator: They are fast and lethal. 7 00:00:21,105 --> 00:00:23,706 James: When it punched it punched hard. 8 00:00:25,676 --> 00:00:27,810 Narrator: But in a series of epic battles, 9 00:00:27,912 --> 00:00:31,013 Hitler's mighty killer warships are sent plunging 10 00:00:31,115 --> 00:00:33,381 To the bottom of the seas. 11 00:00:33,467 --> 00:00:35,067 Fredrik: That's a big hole. 12 00:00:38,339 --> 00:00:41,240 Narrator: Imagine if we could empty the oceans, 13 00:00:41,342 --> 00:00:46,111 Letting the water drain away to reveal the secrets 14 00:00:46,213 --> 00:00:48,514 Of the sea floor? 15 00:00:49,316 --> 00:00:55,671 Now we can, using accurate data and astonishing technology, 16 00:00:57,975 --> 00:01:02,077 To bring light once again to a lost world. 17 00:01:05,583 --> 00:01:08,467 What can shattered remains in a norwegian fjord 18 00:01:08,569 --> 00:01:12,604 Tell us about the nazi navy's fatal weakness? 19 00:01:12,706 --> 00:01:14,873 Eric: The norwegians decided they ought to open fire, 20 00:01:14,975 --> 00:01:17,109 Which they did, with very great effect. 21 00:01:17,745 --> 00:01:20,746 Narrator: Can a tangled wreck in south america reveal the 22 00:01:20,848 --> 00:01:24,366 Truth behind a shocking sacrifice? 23 00:01:24,468 --> 00:01:27,369 James: Hitler would have preferred a blazing battle out 24 00:01:27,471 --> 00:01:29,104 Of a wagner opera. 25 00:01:30,708 --> 00:01:33,175 Narrator: And can the remains of hitler's largest ever 26 00:01:33,277 --> 00:01:39,248 Battleship reveal evidence of a secret allied wonder weapon? 27 00:01:41,836 --> 00:01:47,306 (theme music plays). 28 00:01:52,179 --> 00:01:56,415 In the 1930s, britannia still rules the waves, 29 00:01:56,517 --> 00:02:01,203 With the world's largest and most powerful navy. 30 00:02:03,307 --> 00:02:06,842 But as soon as hitler seizes power in 1933, 31 00:02:06,911 --> 00:02:09,711 He sets out to challenge it. 32 00:02:10,147 --> 00:02:12,748 Eric: Hitler had introduced this plan to build this huge 33 00:02:12,850 --> 00:02:16,568 Fleet, ten battleships, four aircraft carriers, 34 00:02:16,670 --> 00:02:20,072 160 destroyers, tens of cruisers. 35 00:02:22,510 --> 00:02:25,010 Narrator: When the war begins in 1939, 36 00:02:25,112 --> 00:02:29,114 Much of this gigantic fleet is still on the drawing board, 37 00:02:29,216 --> 00:02:33,035 But hitler does have something special. 38 00:02:34,872 --> 00:02:38,407 Powerful ocean raiders, capable of matching anything 39 00:02:38,509 --> 00:02:44,446 In the royal navy, immediately deployed, with deadly effect. 40 00:02:50,070 --> 00:02:53,972 In the south atlantic, nazi raider, graf spee, 41 00:02:54,074 --> 00:02:57,075 Is hunting down merchant convoys carrying vital 42 00:02:57,178 --> 00:02:59,678 Supplies to europe. 43 00:03:04,368 --> 00:03:09,271 In just three months, she sinks nine ships. 44 00:03:12,309 --> 00:03:15,244 Allied warships race to hunt her down. 45 00:03:15,346 --> 00:03:20,465 Three british cruisers, exeter, ajax and achilles, 46 00:03:20,534 --> 00:03:23,302 Spot their enemy off the coast of uruguay. 47 00:03:24,805 --> 00:03:27,272 The british open fire. 48 00:03:27,374 --> 00:03:32,110 It's the first major sea battle of world war ii. 49 00:03:34,148 --> 00:03:38,333 For the graf spee, it's also her last. 50 00:03:44,608 --> 00:03:49,011 But at the battle site itself, there's no sign of her. 51 00:03:50,948 --> 00:03:52,915 (radio chatter) 52 00:03:55,869 --> 00:03:59,805 Jim delgado, maritime archaeologist from search, inc., 53 00:03:59,907 --> 00:04:02,741 Is heading into the treacherous river plate, 54 00:04:02,843 --> 00:04:04,810 Searching for the wreck. 55 00:04:08,515 --> 00:04:11,199 The waters here are turbulent and murky, 56 00:04:11,835 --> 00:04:17,239 So jim is using high-tech multi-beam sonar to scan the estuary. 57 00:04:18,275 --> 00:04:19,708 James: We're in shallow water. 58 00:04:19,810 --> 00:04:22,878 Alfredo: Very shallow waters between eight to ten meters. 59 00:04:23,514 --> 00:04:25,380 Narrator: With him is experienced graf spee 60 00:04:25,482 --> 00:04:28,066 Researcher, alfredo etchegaray. 61 00:04:29,737 --> 00:04:32,704 If they find it, he'll recognize it. 62 00:04:33,073 --> 00:04:35,874 Alfredo: The total length was about 188 meters. 63 00:04:35,976 --> 00:04:37,276 James: Right. 64 00:04:37,378 --> 00:04:40,545 Narrator: The graf spee is a small battleship, 65 00:04:40,648 --> 00:04:42,748 For good reason. 66 00:04:46,603 --> 00:04:49,571 After world war I, german naval construction 67 00:04:49,673 --> 00:04:52,174 Is tightly regulated. 68 00:04:52,276 --> 00:04:56,411 Her warships must be small in number and size. 69 00:04:57,748 --> 00:05:00,148 (speaking german) 70 00:05:02,369 --> 00:05:05,137 But hitler works around the rules, 71 00:05:05,239 --> 00:05:09,374 Creating a class of warship that's compact, 72 00:05:09,476 --> 00:05:13,211 But also very powerful, like the graf spee. 73 00:05:16,383 --> 00:05:18,700 James: Graf spee is designed to be a fast, 74 00:05:18,802 --> 00:05:20,702 Hit and run raider. 75 00:05:20,804 --> 00:05:24,106 It's "panzerschiff," it's a panther on the seas. 76 00:05:27,144 --> 00:05:29,044 Narrator: With her thin armor plating, 77 00:05:29,146 --> 00:05:33,348 The graf spee is light, fast and maneuverable, 78 00:05:33,450 --> 00:05:36,668 And armed to the teeth. 79 00:05:39,173 --> 00:05:42,974 Six 11 inch guns and eight torpedo tubes. 80 00:05:50,601 --> 00:05:52,334 James: Wow! 81 00:05:52,436 --> 00:05:54,736 Narrator: There's a wreck. 82 00:05:54,838 --> 00:05:56,671 James: Ok, wow! 83 00:05:56,774 --> 00:05:59,174 So, it's still pretty intact. 84 00:05:59,276 --> 00:06:02,878 You've got your bow here, decking is missing there, 85 00:06:02,980 --> 00:06:04,913 But there's forward gun turret. 86 00:06:05,015 --> 00:06:06,481 Alfredo: Yes. 87 00:06:06,583 --> 00:06:08,834 James: Right here, yes? Alfredo: That's right. 88 00:06:08,936 --> 00:06:13,171 Narrator: The sonar images match alfredo's plans. 89 00:06:15,008 --> 00:06:17,409 It's definitely the graf spee. 90 00:06:23,317 --> 00:06:26,868 So, why is it lying on the ocean floor here, 91 00:06:26,970 --> 00:06:29,504 Far from the scene of the battle? 92 00:06:31,842 --> 00:06:33,875 James: There's something more that goes on here. 93 00:06:36,547 --> 00:06:38,814 Narrator: Diving the wreck is difficult. 94 00:06:38,916 --> 00:06:44,369 The waters here are dangerous, with almost zero visibility, 95 00:06:46,707 --> 00:06:52,644 But by using the scan data, we can make the south atlantic disappear, 96 00:06:52,746 --> 00:06:56,681 To let light fall once again 97 00:06:56,784 --> 00:07:01,169 On one of hitler's favorite warships, 98 00:07:04,575 --> 00:07:10,579 Seeing the graf spee for the first time in 80 years. 99 00:07:14,902 --> 00:07:17,536 Much of her is intact. 100 00:07:20,908 --> 00:07:23,975 But the hull has suffered badly. 101 00:07:27,915 --> 00:07:31,600 And at the stern, the whole rear section is blown off, 102 00:07:31,702 --> 00:07:34,703 Completely separated from the hull. 103 00:07:39,643 --> 00:07:42,811 Can the battle explain this damage? 104 00:07:42,896 --> 00:07:45,814 James: Three small british vessels were outgunned and 105 00:07:45,916 --> 00:07:47,699 Outmatched by graf spee. 106 00:07:49,002 --> 00:07:51,119 Narrator: The encounter is intense. 107 00:07:51,205 --> 00:07:54,539 The graf spee pounds the british cruisers, 108 00:07:54,641 --> 00:07:57,309 Causing immense damage. 109 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,715 But then the german captain makes a tactical error. 110 00:08:05,235 --> 00:08:08,537 He moves in too close, 111 00:08:12,743 --> 00:08:16,178 Allowing the british to surround their prey. 112 00:08:19,116 --> 00:08:21,500 Eric: The three british cruisers peppered graf spee 113 00:08:21,602 --> 00:08:23,535 With eight inch and six inch shells. 114 00:08:23,637 --> 00:08:25,604 They scored some quite significant hits. 115 00:08:25,706 --> 00:08:27,806 They put a big hole through the bow. 116 00:08:33,981 --> 00:08:37,182 Narrator: But the shell damage alone could not have been 117 00:08:37,267 --> 00:08:41,236 Enough to sink her, because the wreck is here, 118 00:08:41,338 --> 00:08:44,472 Hundreds of miles from the battle site. 119 00:08:47,277 --> 00:08:50,145 Local archives show that on December 14th, 120 00:08:50,247 --> 00:08:53,281 The graf spee sails into the uruguayan capital of 121 00:08:53,383 --> 00:08:56,301 Montevideo for essential repairs. 122 00:08:57,905 --> 00:09:01,773 Her captain, hans langsdorff, thinks his ship will be safe 123 00:09:01,875 --> 00:09:04,175 In this neutral country. 124 00:09:05,979 --> 00:09:08,813 James: When he came in here, he was low on ammunition, 125 00:09:08,899 --> 00:09:10,899 He had a ship that was shot full of holes, 126 00:09:11,001 --> 00:09:13,535 Had some critical systems down. 127 00:09:13,637 --> 00:09:18,673 And he also had 1,000 crew, many of 'em young boys. 128 00:09:18,775 --> 00:09:22,043 Narrator: Meanwhile, the royal navy is gathering 129 00:09:22,145 --> 00:09:24,679 Strength offshore. 130 00:09:25,582 --> 00:09:27,632 Eric: And all the time they keep watch in international 131 00:09:27,734 --> 00:09:29,901 Waters, waiting to see what he'll do. 132 00:09:31,438 --> 00:09:33,672 Narrator: Langsdorff requests 15 days to make 133 00:09:33,774 --> 00:09:35,774 Essential repairs. 134 00:09:35,876 --> 00:09:40,445 Uruguay may be neutral, but the allies are important trade 135 00:09:40,547 --> 00:09:44,699 Partners, so the government gives him just three days. 136 00:09:46,870 --> 00:09:52,140 The captain has two choices, remain in uruguay and have his 137 00:09:52,242 --> 00:09:57,779 Ship impounded, or leave port and face the british fleet. 138 00:09:59,349 --> 00:10:02,067 James: The difficult choice he now has to make is does he go 139 00:10:02,152 --> 00:10:05,103 Back out and fight, or does he do something else? 140 00:10:10,744 --> 00:10:14,112 Narrator: With a battle-scarred ship and low on ammunition, 141 00:10:14,214 --> 00:10:17,932 Langsdorff leaves port with just a skeleton crew. 142 00:10:18,435 --> 00:10:20,769 It looks like a suicide mission, 143 00:10:20,871 --> 00:10:23,705 But the captain has another plan. 144 00:10:24,374 --> 00:10:26,074 James: He decides to do something else, 145 00:10:26,176 --> 00:10:27,676 And that's to scuttle his ship. 146 00:10:29,413 --> 00:10:31,713 Narrator: At 7:55 pm, 147 00:10:34,468 --> 00:10:36,167 On December 17th, 148 00:10:36,269 --> 00:10:40,472 Massive charges on the ship explode, 149 00:10:40,574 --> 00:10:45,310 Bombs carefully placed by the graf spee's own crew. 150 00:10:48,615 --> 00:10:54,202 One is so powerful, the stern is blown clean off. 151 00:11:01,945 --> 00:11:04,446 The graf spee starts to sink into the mud of 152 00:11:04,548 --> 00:11:06,548 The river plate. 153 00:11:19,346 --> 00:11:22,180 The führer is enraged. 154 00:11:23,650 --> 00:11:25,567 James: What hitler would have preferred was something out of 155 00:11:25,669 --> 00:11:28,370 A wagner opera, with langsdorff and his crew dying 156 00:11:28,472 --> 00:11:32,307 Heroically in a blazing battle that saw graf spee 157 00:11:32,409 --> 00:11:34,175 Explode and sink. 158 00:11:35,078 --> 00:11:37,879 Narrator: Langsdorff is labeled a coward. 159 00:11:41,568 --> 00:11:45,837 In his hotel room, he commits suicide. 160 00:11:58,702 --> 00:12:02,537 Hitler has lost one of his deadliest battleships, 161 00:12:02,639 --> 00:12:06,174 But how does a wreck in scandinavia reveal his 162 00:12:06,276 --> 00:12:10,512 Determination to build still more of them? 163 00:12:24,277 --> 00:12:26,644 Narrator: Oslofjord, norway. 164 00:12:29,683 --> 00:12:33,568 Nearly 500 feet of deep, dark water. 165 00:12:36,907 --> 00:12:39,474 The research vessel, simrad echo, 166 00:12:39,593 --> 00:12:43,144 Is out hunting for a lost nazi raider, 167 00:12:43,246 --> 00:12:46,648 A key part of hitler's plans for an armada of 168 00:12:46,750 --> 00:12:48,800 Super-warships. 169 00:12:50,137 --> 00:12:53,138 Maritime archaeologist, fredrik søreide, 170 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:54,973 Is fascinated by them. 171 00:12:55,075 --> 00:12:56,541 Man: Oh, there it is! Man: This is it, right there. 172 00:12:56,643 --> 00:12:57,942 Man: Oh, yeah, it's coming. 173 00:12:58,044 --> 00:12:59,444 Man: Yeah. Man: Ok. 174 00:12:59,546 --> 00:13:01,112 Fredrik: So, we're doing a multi-beam scan of the sea 175 00:13:01,281 --> 00:13:05,433 Floor and we have just come over the wreck of the blücher, 176 00:13:05,535 --> 00:13:07,635 So it's a big structure. 177 00:13:10,707 --> 00:13:15,410 Narrator: Today, the blücher lies over 300 feet down. 178 00:13:17,481 --> 00:13:20,114 The team deploys a remotely operated vehicle 179 00:13:20,217 --> 00:13:22,467 With video cameras. 180 00:13:26,106 --> 00:13:31,509 Fredrik knows the blücher was lost in April 1940, 181 00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:38,566 So what was a huge nazi warship doing in these neutral waters? 182 00:13:40,370 --> 00:13:43,705 To unravel the mystery means understanding hitler's naval 183 00:13:43,807 --> 00:13:46,641 Master plan in more detail. 184 00:13:52,148 --> 00:13:55,166 Six months into the conflict, the german navy is still 185 00:13:55,268 --> 00:13:57,669 Heavily outnumbered. 186 00:13:59,105 --> 00:14:03,608 The nazis need to build, fast, but germany is running out of 187 00:14:03,710 --> 00:14:06,177 Raw materials. 188 00:14:09,349 --> 00:14:11,900 Tony: Hitler needs as much iron as he can get. 189 00:14:13,336 --> 00:14:15,970 Narrator: Starved of steel and the iron ore to make it, 190 00:14:16,573 --> 00:14:22,877 Hitler has only one option, to crush his northern neighbor, norway. 191 00:14:26,182 --> 00:14:28,233 The port of narvik is key. 192 00:14:29,603 --> 00:14:32,337 It's the route out for shipping iron ore to germany 193 00:14:32,439 --> 00:14:34,839 From the mines in northern scandinavia. 194 00:14:36,643 --> 00:14:40,078 Hitler also knows that norway's long coastline gives 195 00:14:40,180 --> 00:14:42,647 Easy access to the north atlantic, 196 00:14:42,749 --> 00:14:46,467 Where his raiders can strike at a moment's notice. 197 00:14:47,337 --> 00:14:51,339 Tony: The double whammy of needing this iron ore, 198 00:14:51,441 --> 00:14:55,543 Plus the ability of norway to protect his ships, 199 00:14:55,645 --> 00:14:58,513 Many of which will have been built out of that iron ore, 200 00:14:58,615 --> 00:15:00,148 Makes norway vital. 201 00:15:01,401 --> 00:15:04,002 Narrator: The nazis need to move fast, 202 00:15:04,104 --> 00:15:07,672 So they assemble the most powerful naval force they 203 00:15:07,774 --> 00:15:13,177 Have, led by a brand-new fighting ship, the blücher. 204 00:15:17,083 --> 00:15:20,335 Weighing in at over 14,000 tons, 205 00:15:20,437 --> 00:15:23,271 This warship breaks all the limits imposed on germany 206 00:15:23,373 --> 00:15:26,274 After world war I. 207 00:15:28,345 --> 00:15:32,146 Fore and aft, pairs of innovative stacked guns for 208 00:15:32,248 --> 00:15:36,801 Rapid firing, and a powerful anti-aircraft battery, 209 00:15:36,903 --> 00:15:40,905 All making the blücher hitler's number one choice to 210 00:15:41,007 --> 00:15:43,107 Lead this critical attack. 211 00:15:45,378 --> 00:15:48,813 It's secret mission, sail up oslofjord, 212 00:15:48,915 --> 00:15:52,500 Train it's terrifying guns on the royal palace, 213 00:15:52,602 --> 00:15:57,205 And force norway to surrender without firing a shot. 214 00:15:58,775 --> 00:16:01,509 Hitler is not expecting a lot of resistance from this 215 00:16:01,611 --> 00:16:05,546 Neutral country, but the blücher never makes 216 00:16:05,649 --> 00:16:07,699 It to oslo. 217 00:16:10,103 --> 00:16:12,770 Back on the simrad echo, fredrik is trying to 218 00:16:12,872 --> 00:16:15,039 Find out why. 219 00:16:15,275 --> 00:16:17,909 Fredrik: So we think we're looking at one of the gun 220 00:16:18,011 --> 00:16:19,978 Turrets that's fallen off, probably. 221 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:23,648 Narrator: These cameras can only show a limited view 222 00:16:23,750 --> 00:16:25,600 Of the wreck. 223 00:16:27,404 --> 00:16:28,986 Fredrik: That's a big hole. 224 00:16:30,940 --> 00:16:34,208 Narrator: But using the high-resolution scan data, we can now do better, 225 00:16:37,380 --> 00:16:39,347 Draining back the icy waters 226 00:16:39,449 --> 00:16:44,502 To see the blücher clearly for the first time since she set out to 227 00:16:44,604 --> 00:16:47,739 Bully a nation into surrender. 228 00:16:48,842 --> 00:16:55,246 A massive hull, over 670 feet long, face down in the mud. 229 00:17:03,973 --> 00:17:08,276 Amid ships, a gaping wound clearly visible in the hull. 230 00:17:11,614 --> 00:17:14,315 The blücher lies tilted on her left side, 231 00:17:14,401 --> 00:17:17,935 Part of the keel lying hidden from view beneath the mud, 232 00:17:18,038 --> 00:17:22,640 But penetrating under the mud itself, 233 00:17:22,742 --> 00:17:27,912 It's possible to reveal something never seen before. 234 00:17:29,716 --> 00:17:33,968 Two gigantic holes below the water line, 235 00:17:36,039 --> 00:17:38,623 Both of them fatal. 236 00:17:41,578 --> 00:17:43,878 Fredrik: There is no doubt that the ship would sink as a 237 00:17:43,980 --> 00:17:46,981 Result of getting such a hard impact. 238 00:17:48,435 --> 00:17:50,668 Narrator: And the mystery deepens. 239 00:17:52,305 --> 00:17:56,307 The allies have no surface warships near oslo. 240 00:17:59,112 --> 00:18:03,164 And the norwegians have no active submarines in the area. 241 00:18:05,401 --> 00:18:08,069 What could have caused the holes? 242 00:18:18,948 --> 00:18:21,766 Investigation reveals something extraordinary below 243 00:18:21,868 --> 00:18:26,437 The surface, a mysterious cave. 244 00:18:28,508 --> 00:18:33,010 In 1940, the germans know nothing about it. 245 00:18:36,683 --> 00:18:39,734 Eric: The norwegians were, and still are, to some extent, 246 00:18:39,836 --> 00:18:42,637 Very good at keeping secrets about their coast defenses. 247 00:18:42,739 --> 00:18:46,808 Narrator: Cut into the rock face, a hidden entrance. 248 00:18:49,212 --> 00:18:52,446 Historian, tony pollard, is investigating. 249 00:19:00,373 --> 00:19:03,274 It's a secret torpedo launch chamber. 250 00:19:05,378 --> 00:19:07,111 Tony: These are incredible! 251 00:19:07,213 --> 00:19:12,333 The shaft just sinks down and the torpedoes presumably load 252 00:19:12,435 --> 00:19:14,001 From the back. 253 00:19:16,139 --> 00:19:18,873 Narrator: A double cradle hangs over the shaft. 254 00:19:18,975 --> 00:19:23,744 Torpedoes are slid into the frame, 255 00:19:23,847 --> 00:19:29,217 Winched down into the water and fired. 256 00:19:32,305 --> 00:19:34,438 Tony: There's no indication whatsoever to the enemy. 257 00:19:34,541 --> 00:19:36,807 There's no splash as this thing hits the water. 258 00:19:36,910 --> 00:19:39,644 It's, it's literally coming out of the solid rock. 259 00:19:39,746 --> 00:19:41,379 It's amazing! 260 00:19:41,481 --> 00:19:44,382 Narrator: So, what happens on the night the blücher is sent 261 00:19:44,484 --> 00:19:46,834 To conquer norway? 262 00:19:49,973 --> 00:19:52,940 Early morning, all seems quiet. 263 00:19:54,077 --> 00:19:57,511 Heavily armed, the blücher brazenly leads a task force 264 00:19:57,614 --> 00:19:59,847 Right into oslofjord. 265 00:20:03,703 --> 00:20:06,671 They're not expecting any resistance. 266 00:20:10,410 --> 00:20:14,845 Certainly not from the 19th century oscarsborg fortress. 267 00:20:16,849 --> 00:20:18,065 Eric: The germans, I think, thought that, 268 00:20:18,167 --> 00:20:19,500 "well, we don't have to worry about this. 269 00:20:19,602 --> 00:20:21,068 They won't fire, and if they do, 270 00:20:21,170 --> 00:20:22,470 It won't be effective." 271 00:20:22,572 --> 00:20:24,772 But they were putting their head into a noose. 272 00:20:27,176 --> 00:20:29,543 Narrator: The commander of the garrison spots the blücher and 273 00:20:29,646 --> 00:20:32,280 Her task force approaching. 274 00:20:33,683 --> 00:20:36,434 As the german ships pass in front of the fortress, 275 00:20:36,536 --> 00:20:39,503 He opens fire. 276 00:20:42,442 --> 00:20:46,077 Multiple shell strikes on blücher cause severe damage. 277 00:20:48,848 --> 00:20:52,600 Fires break out on board, her rudder is jammed, 278 00:20:52,702 --> 00:20:59,073 But the blücher limps on, unaware of the impending danger. 279 00:21:01,210 --> 00:21:03,911 Eric: Having a secret torpedo nest in the island could come 280 00:21:04,013 --> 00:21:05,646 As a very nasty shock. 281 00:21:06,082 --> 00:21:10,268 Narrator: Each weapon carries 220 pounds of high explosives. 282 00:21:18,945 --> 00:21:21,012 Eric: Cause torpedoes hit below the waterline, 283 00:21:21,114 --> 00:21:23,648 Where the water comes in quite rapidly, and it did. 284 00:21:27,503 --> 00:21:30,404 Narrator: It takes just two torpedoes to stop the mighty 285 00:21:30,506 --> 00:21:32,907 Blücher in her tracks. 286 00:21:38,147 --> 00:21:40,414 And she soon capsizes. 287 00:21:44,904 --> 00:21:48,706 Hitler calls on the luftwaffe and his army to finish the 288 00:21:48,808 --> 00:21:54,011 Job, and eventually they do seize control of norway, 289 00:21:54,113 --> 00:21:59,533 But his plan for a world class navy has taken another blow. 290 00:21:59,769 --> 00:22:01,736 Tony: The loss of the blücher is particularly important. 291 00:22:01,838 --> 00:22:04,872 She is another one of these celebrity ships, brand new, 292 00:22:04,941 --> 00:22:08,743 Cutting edge, but she's gone. 293 00:22:09,345 --> 00:22:13,097 She's at the bottom of this fjord, and, again, 294 00:22:13,182 --> 00:22:16,334 Hitler looks at the navy and thinks, 295 00:22:16,436 --> 00:22:19,003 "what the hell's happening here?" 296 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,741 Narrator: But the nazis aren't done yet. 297 00:22:23,843 --> 00:22:27,178 One of hitler's killer warships is set to achieve 298 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,414 Germany's greatest ever naval victory, 299 00:22:30,516 --> 00:22:34,335 In a battle of the giants. 300 00:22:42,311 --> 00:22:46,414 Narrator: 1941, nearly 18 months into the war. 301 00:22:46,516 --> 00:22:49,767 France has fallen and britain relies on supplies from across 302 00:22:49,869 --> 00:22:54,672 The atlantic, but merchant convoys are vulnerable to 303 00:22:54,774 --> 00:22:58,609 Attack from u-boats and nazi ocean raiders. 304 00:23:03,216 --> 00:23:07,301 Most infamous of all, the bismarck. 305 00:23:09,172 --> 00:23:15,443 In may, she's hunting allied convoys, when hms hood, 306 00:23:15,545 --> 00:23:19,413 Pride of the royal navy, tracks her down. 307 00:23:21,184 --> 00:23:24,101 The stakes are high in this heavyweight showdown, 308 00:23:24,203 --> 00:23:27,204 And there can be only one winner. 309 00:23:31,811 --> 00:23:35,479 So, why are both of these powerful battleships now lying 310 00:23:35,581 --> 00:23:39,934 In deep waters, 1,100 miles apart? 311 00:23:43,005 --> 00:23:46,707 As battle begins, the bismarck has a slight upper hand. 312 00:23:46,809 --> 00:23:50,044 She's brand new and state of the art. 313 00:23:52,248 --> 00:23:56,634 Her 15 inch can fire an impressive 24 miles, 314 00:23:56,736 --> 00:23:59,503 And her deck armor plating is thick, 315 00:23:59,605 --> 00:24:03,574 At nearly five inches offering excellent protection from 316 00:24:03,676 --> 00:24:05,709 Incoming shells. 317 00:24:06,979 --> 00:24:11,015 James: Creating bismarck is all part of a larger plan, 318 00:24:11,117 --> 00:24:14,468 To build powerful, iconic ships that are going to strike 319 00:24:14,570 --> 00:24:18,439 Terror enforcing hitler's will on the rest of the globe. 320 00:24:20,109 --> 00:24:23,644 Narrator: On the british side, the famous hms hood. 321 00:24:23,746 --> 00:24:28,015 She's bigger than bismarck, at 860 feet long, 322 00:24:28,117 --> 00:24:31,969 But her main 15 inch guns are less powerful, 323 00:24:32,071 --> 00:24:37,241 Firing just 17 miles, and her deck armor is thinner, 324 00:24:37,343 --> 00:24:39,927 At three inches. 325 00:24:40,012 --> 00:24:44,048 She's also nearly 25 years old. 326 00:24:48,171 --> 00:24:50,905 David: The hood had a tremendous reputation, 327 00:24:51,007 --> 00:24:54,008 Not just in the uk, but around the world. 328 00:24:54,110 --> 00:24:58,245 It was the most powerful, fastest, most feared, 329 00:24:58,347 --> 00:25:01,799 But also most loved warship for a 20-year period, 330 00:25:01,901 --> 00:25:04,835 Until the launch of the bismarck. 331 00:25:08,975 --> 00:25:12,443 Narrator: Bismarck leaves her secret hideout in norway. 332 00:25:13,946 --> 00:25:16,313 She plots a route through the denmark strait, 333 00:25:16,415 --> 00:25:19,700 West of iceland, aiming for the north atlantic and the 334 00:25:19,802 --> 00:25:21,502 Allied convoys. 335 00:25:24,207 --> 00:25:26,540 But she'll never make it that far. 336 00:25:29,078 --> 00:25:32,313 British intelligence discovers bismarck is on the move. 337 00:25:32,415 --> 00:25:36,634 Hood is one of three ships sent to intercept. 338 00:25:37,803 --> 00:25:42,473 So what happens when these two giants come face to face? 339 00:25:46,145 --> 00:25:48,245 Wreck investigator, david mearns, 340 00:25:48,347 --> 00:25:50,981 Is tracking down the wreck of the hood. 341 00:25:52,868 --> 00:25:56,437 He knows hitler's top spec battleship has the bigger punch, 342 00:25:56,539 --> 00:26:00,574 But just how much damage can the bismarck inflict? 343 00:26:03,913 --> 00:26:06,380 The team begins to scan the sea floor at the last known 344 00:26:06,482 --> 00:26:09,900 Location of the hood in the denmark strait, 345 00:26:10,002 --> 00:26:13,938 But she's proving tough to find. 346 00:26:19,278 --> 00:26:22,329 Suddenly, the scan reveals a mysterious crater 347 00:26:22,415 --> 00:26:26,267 Almost 330 feet wide. 348 00:26:26,385 --> 00:26:28,135 David: I think this is it. 349 00:26:28,237 --> 00:26:32,139 Narrator: Could it be a vital clue in the hunt for the hood? 350 00:26:34,410 --> 00:26:38,545 The crater is nearly two miles down, too deep to dive, 351 00:26:38,614 --> 00:26:43,434 So david must use a remotely operated vehicle. 352 00:26:44,971 --> 00:26:47,705 It sends back tantalizing images, 353 00:26:47,807 --> 00:26:52,509 Shattered debris that suggests a catastrophic event. 354 00:26:55,181 --> 00:26:59,183 Next, the rov finds a section of hull. 355 00:27:03,172 --> 00:27:07,174 It's so massive it can only be the hood. 356 00:27:07,476 --> 00:27:09,510 And it's overturned. 357 00:27:10,613 --> 00:27:14,014 David: I've looked at 45 ships in deep water, 358 00:27:14,116 --> 00:27:17,001 And never found one completely turned over. 359 00:27:17,870 --> 00:27:20,437 Narrator: Bismarck's deadly firepower has delivered a 360 00:27:20,539 --> 00:27:22,706 Knockout blow. 361 00:27:22,975 --> 00:27:25,643 David: In every single way, she is as badly destroyed as 362 00:27:25,745 --> 00:27:28,746 Anybody could have imagined or described. 363 00:27:36,539 --> 00:27:40,040 Narrator: Using david's data, it's now possible to drain 364 00:27:40,159 --> 00:27:44,878 Away billions of gallons of water from the denmark strait, 365 00:27:49,035 --> 00:27:52,903 And fully expose the wreck site for the first time. 366 00:27:54,273 --> 00:27:58,208 Spread across one and a half miles of the sea floor, 367 00:27:58,310 --> 00:28:02,312 The shattered remains of over 40,000 tons 368 00:28:02,415 --> 00:28:05,415 Of scarred and twisted metal. 369 00:28:07,870 --> 00:28:10,671 To the north, the conning tower. 370 00:28:13,843 --> 00:28:17,311 To the east, part of the bow and stern. 371 00:28:21,016 --> 00:28:23,567 Almost half mile away to the south, 372 00:28:23,669 --> 00:28:28,038 The largest intact section, the midships. 373 00:28:30,576 --> 00:28:34,978 The scattered remains suggest a massive explosion. 374 00:28:36,682 --> 00:28:41,368 David: I wasn't expecting to see hood as damaged as she was. 375 00:28:43,305 --> 00:28:45,689 That's what was completely unexpected. 376 00:28:45,775 --> 00:28:48,842 It was shocking and it was very upsetting, actually. 377 00:28:48,944 --> 00:28:51,912 Narrator: Superimposing parts of the wreck on to the 378 00:28:52,014 --> 00:28:56,333 Original plans of the hood reveals a missing part of the 379 00:28:56,435 --> 00:28:59,903 Ship between the stern and midships. 380 00:29:01,273 --> 00:29:06,376 The missing section of ship is where an ammunition store was located. 381 00:29:07,313 --> 00:29:11,248 It looks like this is the epicenter of the explosion. 382 00:29:13,536 --> 00:29:18,172 David: What we know is that bismarck's shell hit hood in 383 00:29:18,274 --> 00:29:21,475 The aft part of the ship, near the main mast. 384 00:29:21,577 --> 00:29:24,678 There was this enormous explosion. 385 00:29:24,780 --> 00:29:28,415 They, they talked about it like a blow lamp, 600 feet high. 386 00:29:28,501 --> 00:29:31,802 Eric: The shot that sank the hood was, in many ways, 387 00:29:31,904 --> 00:29:34,538 A very lucky one for the germans. 388 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:36,774 If that shell had landed a little bit further aft, 389 00:29:36,876 --> 00:29:38,342 Hood may not have blown up. 390 00:29:40,746 --> 00:29:43,413 Narrator: It's now possible to piece together how the 391 00:29:43,516 --> 00:29:46,700 Bismarck sank the hood in one of the shortest battles 392 00:29:46,802 --> 00:29:48,769 In naval history. 393 00:29:53,409 --> 00:29:57,744 Early morning, hood spots the bismarck. 394 00:30:08,507 --> 00:30:11,008 At a distance of over 14 miles, 395 00:30:11,110 --> 00:30:15,546 Hood fires her twin 15 inch guns. 396 00:30:19,935 --> 00:30:23,504 Bismarck takes a hit, damaging her fuel tanks. 397 00:30:28,377 --> 00:30:30,344 She returns fire. 398 00:30:33,516 --> 00:30:37,534 A shell hits hood right above the ammunition stores. 399 00:30:39,939 --> 00:30:45,909 The great warship disappears beneath the waves in less than three minutes, 400 00:30:46,011 --> 00:30:51,448 With the loss of over 1,400 men. 401 00:30:53,435 --> 00:30:56,470 Eric: Hms hood, this great symbol of british imperial 402 00:30:56,572 --> 00:31:00,240 Power, british sea power, blowing up the way she did, 403 00:31:00,409 --> 00:31:03,544 With only three survivors, came as an enormous shock. 404 00:31:05,347 --> 00:31:07,681 Narrator: For the first time in centuries, 405 00:31:07,783 --> 00:31:11,068 Britannia cannot claim to rule the waves, 406 00:31:11,170 --> 00:31:14,071 And in the propaganda war, at least, 407 00:31:14,173 --> 00:31:18,809 German sea power is finally riding high. 408 00:31:21,447 --> 00:31:26,466 Bismarck appears invincible, but just three days after her 409 00:31:26,569 --> 00:31:31,505 Great victory, she, too, lies at the bottom of the atlantic. 410 00:31:32,174 --> 00:31:36,076 How did this brilliant killing machine meet her end? 411 00:31:36,178 --> 00:31:38,512 Eric: It became very important for churchill, 412 00:31:38,614 --> 00:31:40,547 The british government and the royal navy, 413 00:31:40,649 --> 00:31:43,467 That the british re-assert their command of the sea by 414 00:31:43,569 --> 00:31:45,068 Sinking bismarck. 415 00:31:47,172 --> 00:31:49,773 Narrator: An armada of warships and squadrons of 416 00:31:49,875 --> 00:31:54,478 Aircraft scour the ocean, hunting this killer down. 417 00:31:57,116 --> 00:32:01,535 A spotter plane picks up a trail of oil on the surface, 418 00:32:03,639 --> 00:32:06,356 Leading straight to a wounded bismarck. 419 00:32:16,101 --> 00:32:19,503 A staggering 2,800 shells rained down on 420 00:32:19,605 --> 00:32:22,506 Hitler's iconic battleship. 421 00:32:24,109 --> 00:32:27,411 Outnumbered, outgunned and out of luck, 422 00:32:29,348 --> 00:32:31,348 Bismarck goes down, 423 00:32:32,101 --> 00:32:36,303 And now lies 1,100 miles south of its opponent, 424 00:32:36,538 --> 00:32:38,672 At the bottom of the sea. 425 00:32:39,808 --> 00:32:41,842 Tony: She was powerful, she was beautiful. 426 00:32:41,944 --> 00:32:45,012 All eyes were on her, and, at the end of the day, 427 00:32:45,114 --> 00:32:47,948 That was what killed her. 428 00:32:50,235 --> 00:32:53,070 Eric: Hitler was shocked by the loss of this symbol of the 429 00:32:53,172 --> 00:32:54,972 Prestige of the third reich. 430 00:32:55,074 --> 00:32:57,407 It was yet another nail in the coffin, if you like, 431 00:32:57,509 --> 00:32:58,909 Of the german navy. 432 00:33:02,014 --> 00:33:06,900 Narrator: The tirpitz is hitler's last great battleship. 433 00:33:09,538 --> 00:33:13,507 What can the sunken remains of allied aircraft tell us about 434 00:33:13,609 --> 00:33:18,178 The extraordinary cost of destroying her? 435 00:33:27,139 --> 00:33:30,440 Narrator: With the loss of the bismarck in 1941, 436 00:33:30,542 --> 00:33:35,045 Hitler's faith in his navy is at an all-time low. 437 00:33:36,982 --> 00:33:40,600 He has one last battleship, the mighty tirpitz. 438 00:33:40,703 --> 00:33:45,105 Terrified of losing her, the führer orders a series of 439 00:33:45,207 --> 00:33:47,174 Major upgrades. 440 00:33:47,910 --> 00:33:52,312 The improved tirpitz weighs in at nearly 53,000 tons, 441 00:33:52,414 --> 00:33:56,266 2,000 more than her sister ship, the bismarck. 442 00:33:57,036 --> 00:34:00,303 Her hull is strengthened, wrapped in 13 inch thick 443 00:34:00,472 --> 00:34:03,006 Armor plating. 444 00:34:03,075 --> 00:34:06,676 Nearly five inches of steel protects the main deck. 445 00:34:06,779 --> 00:34:11,014 She bristles with eight, 15 inch main guns, 446 00:34:11,116 --> 00:34:15,285 And a staggering 72 anti-aircraft guns. 447 00:34:16,572 --> 00:34:19,356 She is an impenetrable floating fortress, 448 00:34:19,441 --> 00:34:24,277 Perhaps the most perfect battleship ever put to sea. 449 00:34:25,047 --> 00:34:27,147 But despite her impressive armory, 450 00:34:27,249 --> 00:34:32,369 This goliath spends most of her life hiding out in 451 00:34:32,471 --> 00:34:37,174 Norwegian fjords, becoming a major thorn in the side 452 00:34:37,276 --> 00:34:39,342 Of allied forces. 453 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:44,214 Eric: Tirpitz became what naval strategists call a 454 00:34:44,316 --> 00:34:46,233 "fleet in being." 455 00:34:46,335 --> 00:34:50,437 It wasn't risked, but the risks it posed forced the british and the americans, 456 00:34:50,539 --> 00:34:52,939 At times, to deploy considerable forces just in 457 00:34:53,041 --> 00:34:54,574 Case it did do something. 458 00:34:56,044 --> 00:34:59,746 Narrator: But the tirpitz does not survive the war. 459 00:35:04,837 --> 00:35:09,139 The story of her demise begins in this fjord near trondheim. 460 00:35:11,510 --> 00:35:14,211 Maritime archaeologist, fredrik søriede, 461 00:35:14,313 --> 00:35:16,696 Is on a mission to try and uncover the 462 00:35:16,782 --> 00:35:19,432 Tirpitz's shadowy past. 463 00:35:19,535 --> 00:35:23,870 He believes these deep waters may contain clues to help 464 00:35:23,972 --> 00:35:26,473 Explain the lengths the allies went to 465 00:35:26,575 --> 00:35:28,642 To destroy the tirpitz. 466 00:35:28,744 --> 00:35:33,280 (radio chatter) 467 00:35:34,883 --> 00:35:39,436 The team are using specialist rovs and deep water cameras. 468 00:35:40,205 --> 00:35:41,838 Fredrik: Oh, look at that! 469 00:35:44,943 --> 00:35:46,543 Can we try to move it a little bit closer, or? 470 00:35:46,645 --> 00:35:48,078 Yeah. 471 00:35:48,180 --> 00:35:50,614 Narrator: The ghostly outline of an aircraft appears. 472 00:35:50,716 --> 00:35:51,681 Man: Cockpit. Yes. 473 00:35:51,783 --> 00:35:52,866 Fredrik: Oh, yeah! 474 00:35:52,968 --> 00:35:54,868 That's the nose and then the cockpit. 475 00:35:54,970 --> 00:35:56,636 Narrator: But what is this plane, 476 00:35:56,738 --> 00:35:58,905 And what's it doing here? 477 00:35:59,007 --> 00:36:00,540 Fredrik: Oh. 478 00:36:00,709 --> 00:36:03,476 Narrator: Fredrik tries to id the aircraft. 479 00:36:03,579 --> 00:36:06,613 He needs to take a closer look inside. 480 00:36:13,105 --> 00:36:15,038 Man: We're probably sitting in the pilot seat. 481 00:36:18,010 --> 00:36:19,276 Fredrik: Look at that! 482 00:36:19,378 --> 00:36:20,677 Man: We have the stick. 483 00:36:20,779 --> 00:36:21,845 Fredrik: Oh, yeah. 484 00:36:21,947 --> 00:36:23,180 That's the stick. That's the stick. 485 00:36:23,282 --> 00:36:24,548 Man: That's the stick. That's the stick, yeah. 486 00:36:24,650 --> 00:36:26,132 Fredrik: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's the stick. 487 00:36:26,235 --> 00:36:27,734 Man: Yeah, also. 488 00:36:27,836 --> 00:36:32,539 Narrator: From the layout of the cockpit and the position 489 00:36:32,641 --> 00:36:36,042 Of the two propellers on each side of the aircraft, 490 00:36:36,144 --> 00:36:40,780 Fredrik believes this is a british halifax bomber. 491 00:36:45,837 --> 00:36:50,307 More rov dives discover the halifax is not alone. 492 00:36:51,076 --> 00:36:53,443 The bed of the fjord is littered with the remains 493 00:36:53,545 --> 00:36:55,645 Of downed aircraft. 494 00:36:55,747 --> 00:36:59,799 Fredrik: We believe that there are 40, 50 plane wrecks 495 00:36:59,902 --> 00:37:03,219 Resting on the bottom of this fjord. 496 00:37:04,473 --> 00:37:06,806 This area really saw a lot of action, 497 00:37:06,909 --> 00:37:10,477 So this is really a veritable plane graveyard. 498 00:37:13,015 --> 00:37:15,315 Narrator: There must have been something really special here 499 00:37:15,417 --> 00:37:19,169 For the allies to suffer such huge losses, 500 00:37:19,271 --> 00:37:23,306 And fredrik discovers there is. 501 00:37:24,676 --> 00:37:27,244 The tirpitz was hiding here for one year, 502 00:37:27,346 --> 00:37:31,865 Heavily defended with anti-aircraft guns. 503 00:37:35,337 --> 00:37:39,472 But there's another reason why so many bombing raids fail. 504 00:37:46,615 --> 00:37:50,133 Scientist, claudia hartyl is gathering evidence from the 505 00:37:50,235 --> 00:37:55,138 Most unlikely of places, the pine clad slopes high 506 00:37:55,240 --> 00:37:57,507 Above the fjord. 507 00:37:59,678 --> 00:38:03,079 Claudia takes core samples from deep inside the trees, 508 00:38:03,181 --> 00:38:05,966 Revealing the growth rings. 509 00:38:07,235 --> 00:38:09,636 Claudia: They record everything. 510 00:38:09,738 --> 00:38:11,471 They are time machines. 511 00:38:11,573 --> 00:38:13,606 They can tell you the past. 512 00:38:14,109 --> 00:38:17,277 Narrator: Each ring records one year of the tree's growth. 513 00:38:17,379 --> 00:38:21,014 Claudia carefully counts back, until she reaches the early 514 00:38:21,116 --> 00:38:25,769 1940s, and notices something unusual. 515 00:38:26,238 --> 00:38:28,772 Claudia: So, you can see here, wider rings, 516 00:38:28,874 --> 00:38:31,408 Then you have a period of very narrow rings. 517 00:38:31,510 --> 00:38:34,177 You have a period of very low growth. 518 00:38:34,279 --> 00:38:38,114 Narrator: It's the same for all the trees in the area. 519 00:38:38,216 --> 00:38:43,903 During the war, something is stunting the tree's growth. 520 00:38:44,473 --> 00:38:47,474 Claudia: This is tree damage caused by the artificial smoke 521 00:38:47,576 --> 00:38:50,076 To hide the tirpitz. 522 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:54,147 Narrator: The germans had dozens of smoke generators 523 00:38:54,249 --> 00:38:58,401 Around the fjord, pumping out dense acid clouds, 524 00:38:58,503 --> 00:39:02,272 Poisoning the trees, but hiding their ship from 525 00:39:02,374 --> 00:39:04,908 Allied bombers overhead. 526 00:39:06,511 --> 00:39:10,814 Eric: The germans proved very adept at protecting tirpitz 527 00:39:10,916 --> 00:39:12,832 With smoke screens. 528 00:39:12,934 --> 00:39:14,634 Tony: She's almost got a cloaking device, 529 00:39:14,736 --> 00:39:16,336 Like something out of star trek , 530 00:39:16,438 --> 00:39:20,407 And she foils raid after raid. 531 00:39:23,378 --> 00:39:25,979 Narrator: But hitler knows his last killer battleship 532 00:39:26,081 --> 00:39:28,214 Is on borrowed time. 533 00:39:28,316 --> 00:39:32,235 Fearing the allies might get lucky, in October 1944, 534 00:39:32,337 --> 00:39:35,972 He orders the tirpitz to sail to a new location, 535 00:39:36,074 --> 00:39:38,074 Håkøya island. 536 00:39:41,780 --> 00:39:44,514 It's to be her last voyage. 537 00:39:49,905 --> 00:39:51,638 Fredrik: So, we are just outside of tromsø, 538 00:39:51,740 --> 00:39:54,174 And this is the final resting place of the tirpitz, 539 00:39:54,276 --> 00:39:56,376 Just below this area. 540 00:39:56,478 --> 00:39:58,344 But, remember, this ship was enormous. 541 00:39:59,414 --> 00:40:04,033 Narrator: Fredrik puts down a remotely operated underwater camera. 542 00:40:06,638 --> 00:40:08,838 Fredrik: The whole sea floor is basically littered with stuff. 543 00:40:08,940 --> 00:40:10,707 Man: Yeah, it's a big area. 544 00:40:10,809 --> 00:40:15,761 Narrator: After 75 years, shells capable of traveling 545 00:40:15,847 --> 00:40:19,265 20 miles remain intact. 546 00:40:20,335 --> 00:40:21,401 Fredrik: They look like they (inaudible). 547 00:40:21,503 --> 00:40:22,802 Man: Oh, yeah. 548 00:40:22,904 --> 00:40:24,070 And there's a book. 549 00:40:24,172 --> 00:40:25,738 Man: There's a book. 550 00:40:25,841 --> 00:40:28,241 Narrator: Personal items, a book, 551 00:40:28,343 --> 00:40:31,211 With the pages still clearly readable. 552 00:40:34,983 --> 00:40:38,835 Very little of this enormous battleship remains. 553 00:40:43,108 --> 00:40:45,775 But now, using historical records, 554 00:40:45,877 --> 00:40:50,346 Coastal scans and state of the art computer visualization, 555 00:40:50,449 --> 00:40:53,766 We can roll back the waters of håkøya island, 556 00:40:53,869 --> 00:40:57,303 As they were in 1944. 557 00:40:57,539 --> 00:41:01,407 The tirpitz is lying upside down in shallow waters. 558 00:41:08,450 --> 00:41:11,868 Near the port bow, a gigantic hole. 559 00:41:21,046 --> 00:41:25,648 Towards the stern, evidence of two more impacts, 560 00:41:25,750 --> 00:41:30,103 All punched through the thick, five inch armor plating. 561 00:41:32,407 --> 00:41:35,742 And directly next to the ship, more evidence. 562 00:41:35,844 --> 00:41:40,146 An enormous crater, 563 00:41:40,248 --> 00:41:45,301 100 feet wide, gauged into the seabed. 564 00:41:51,643 --> 00:41:56,880 What weapon could have caused such catastrophic damage? 565 00:42:07,209 --> 00:42:12,245 Narrator: October 1944, håkøya island, northern norway. 566 00:42:13,148 --> 00:42:15,965 Hitler's last great battleship, the tirpitz, 567 00:42:16,067 --> 00:42:19,269 Is hiding out just off the shoreline. 568 00:42:21,206 --> 00:42:25,742 The germans know the tirpitz is on the allies most wanted list. 569 00:42:28,246 --> 00:42:31,814 Underwater nets protect her from torpedo attacks. 570 00:42:34,436 --> 00:42:37,904 Sand and rubble are piled up around the hull to prevent the 571 00:42:38,006 --> 00:42:40,907 Tirpitz capsizing if hit. 572 00:42:42,644 --> 00:42:46,012 She survived over two years of aerial attacks, 573 00:42:46,097 --> 00:42:50,533 So what happens here, less than one month after arriving, 574 00:42:50,635 --> 00:42:54,170 That sends her to the bottom of the fjord? 575 00:42:57,042 --> 00:43:01,611 At the side of the wreck, a huge bomb crater. 576 00:43:05,016 --> 00:43:08,901 On the deck, holes punched straight through the extra 577 00:43:09,004 --> 00:43:13,473 Thick steel, too big to be shell or torpedo damage. 578 00:43:16,611 --> 00:43:19,946 What could cause such devastating destruction? 579 00:43:22,550 --> 00:43:25,468 The evidence of its power still scars the landscape 580 00:43:25,570 --> 00:43:28,304 Today, at håkøya island. 581 00:43:33,144 --> 00:43:36,212 Churchill is determined the tirpitz must be destroyed, 582 00:43:36,314 --> 00:43:39,599 But to cut through her five inch thick steel deck, 583 00:43:39,701 --> 00:43:44,270 The allies need a more powerful bomb than ever before. 584 00:43:45,740 --> 00:43:48,408 There's only one man to turn to, 585 00:43:48,510 --> 00:43:51,678 The brains behind the legendary bouncing bomb of the 586 00:43:51,780 --> 00:43:54,747 Dambusters raid, barnes wallis, 587 00:43:54,849 --> 00:44:00,436 And the weapon he develops is so huge the planes carrying it 588 00:44:00,605 --> 00:44:04,140 Have to be specially adapted and stripped down. 589 00:44:05,343 --> 00:44:10,947 It's called the "tallboy," towering at a mighty 21 feet, 590 00:44:11,049 --> 00:44:15,702 Its unique aerodynamic shape allows it to free fall quickly 591 00:44:15,804 --> 00:44:18,137 And accurately through the air, 592 00:44:18,239 --> 00:44:20,340 Breaking the sound barrier. 593 00:44:20,442 --> 00:44:24,310 At six tons it's designed to penetrate the ground to depths 594 00:44:24,412 --> 00:44:29,048 Of 80 feet, and only then explode. 595 00:44:31,169 --> 00:44:35,171 Tony: And these are massive, almost earth-quaking explosive devices. 596 00:44:37,776 --> 00:44:39,409 Narrator: The mission to destroy the tirpitz 597 00:44:39,511 --> 00:44:41,511 Is highly dangerous. 598 00:44:42,781 --> 00:44:46,165 She's well-protected with anti-aircraft guns, 599 00:44:46,267 --> 00:44:49,369 So the bombers need to get in and out fast. 600 00:44:49,471 --> 00:44:53,573 There's only one squadron for the job, 617, 601 00:44:53,675 --> 00:44:55,942 The dambusters themselves. 602 00:44:56,044 --> 00:45:00,546 Eric: 617 squadron had become the leading exponent of 603 00:45:00,648 --> 00:45:02,081 Precision bombing. 604 00:45:02,183 --> 00:45:06,869 They were able to drop these barnes wallis designed weapons 605 00:45:06,971 --> 00:45:09,939 With great accuracy, and they were, therefore, 606 00:45:10,041 --> 00:45:12,608 A tremendous danger for an anchored warship, 607 00:45:12,711 --> 00:45:14,243 However well-protected. 608 00:45:15,847 --> 00:45:19,282 Narrator: At 18,000 feet dodging anti-aircraft fire, 609 00:45:19,384 --> 00:45:24,604 The bomb aimers of 617 squadron finally get the 610 00:45:24,706 --> 00:45:27,106 Tirpitz in their sights. 611 00:45:27,942 --> 00:45:30,910 The tallboys accelerate through five, six, 612 00:45:31,012 --> 00:45:33,613 700 miles per hour. 613 00:45:33,915 --> 00:45:37,366 Several miss their targets, cratering the shoreline, 614 00:45:38,470 --> 00:45:42,138 But others are set firmly on a deadly course. 615 00:45:45,410 --> 00:45:49,512 Tallboys punch straight through the tirpitz's steel decking. 616 00:45:58,807 --> 00:46:01,641 Fredrik: So, these bombs turn out to be very powerful tools 617 00:46:01,743 --> 00:46:04,777 Against the tirpitz, and for the first time, 618 00:46:04,879 --> 00:46:08,548 They really managed to penetrate the steel. 619 00:46:11,903 --> 00:46:14,437 Narrator: Other tallboys destroy the huge sandbank 620 00:46:14,539 --> 00:46:18,007 Built to protect the tirpitz from capsizing. 621 00:46:19,377 --> 00:46:23,679 Within minutes, the vessel lists and rolls over. 622 00:46:26,167 --> 00:46:31,604 The tirpitz, like her sister ship, the bismarck, is gone. 623 00:46:36,344 --> 00:46:39,011 Eric: By the time tirpitz was sunk, 624 00:46:39,113 --> 00:46:43,499 Hitler had completely lost faith in the german navy. 625 00:46:43,935 --> 00:46:46,636 He'd actually ordered the german navy to be scrapped. 626 00:46:46,971 --> 00:46:48,671 There were other things to worry about. 627 00:46:51,543 --> 00:46:53,709 Narrator: The death of the tirpitz marks a revolution 628 00:46:53,812 --> 00:46:55,745 In naval warfare. 629 00:46:58,516 --> 00:47:01,100 The future belongs to submarines, 630 00:47:02,704 --> 00:47:05,304 Striking from beneath the waves, 631 00:47:08,776 --> 00:47:12,678 And aircraft carriers that can launch attacks anywhere in the world. 632 00:47:15,183 --> 00:47:19,402 Hitler's dream is dead, and with it, the age of the battleship. 633 00:47:19,504 --> 00:47:20,736 Captioned by cotter captioning services.