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A Thirst For Blood & Iron. Clash Of The Dreadnoughts.
A story of Rulers, War Lords, and Admirals who became intoxicated by the sheer power, majesty and grandeur of these floating fortresses. The Battleships unveils the epic saga of power, international politics, and one-upmanship that led to the titanic wars at sea.
For centuries the wind and the elements were dominant factors in war at sea. When the industrial revolution ushered in the era of steam propulsion, the British naval establishment resisted change fearing it would make its massive fleet of wooden sailing ships obsolete overnight. But soon new, more accurate firepower was developed, resulting in revolutionary transformation for the battleship. The late 19th century saw bold new fleets emerge - those of Italy, the United States, Russia and Japan. World War I was about to erupt. The outbreak of hostilities between Germany and Britain in 1914 saw the battleship at almost the peak of its superiority among fighting ships. On windswept waters of the North Sea the two greatest navies in the world put their fleets to test under fire. In the Battle of Jutland, the entire might of the British Grand Fleet came head-to-head with the German High Seas Fleet. It was the first, and largest, naval battle fought. Both sides claimed victory, and both sides suffered enormous casualties and loss of capitals ships. To this day, controversy still surrounds this epic naval battle. Despite losing more ships and more men than the Germans, Britain's Grand Fleet remained master of the North Sea. Never again did the High Seas Fleet throw down the gauntlet to their great rivals across the Channel.
Narrated by Robyn Williams
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