All Seasons

Season 1

  • S01E01 Birth of a Giant

    • October 13, 2019
    • Smithsonian Channel
  • S01E02 Do or Die

    • October 20, 2019
    • Smithsonian Channel
  • S01E03 Trials at Sea

    • October 27, 2019
    • Smithsonian Channel

    Britain's supercarrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is wrapping up sea trials, but she has a long way to go before being battle-ready. First, she and her crew must test a brand-new fire fighting system, make a dramatic rendezvous with the USS George Bush, and team up with American pilots to train on the top-secret F-35 jet, the most advanced fighter ever built. Finally, she heads to her home port of Portsmouth for an emotional arrival and an appointment with someone no one ever keeps waiting: her royal namesake, Her Majesty the Queen.

Season 2

  • S02E01 Heading for America

    • February 23, 2020
    • Smithsonian Channel

    The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, Britain's $4 billion gamble, is finally ready to set sail from Portsmouth Dockyard on her make-or-break four-month deployment on the high seas. The mission is to forge the brand-new ship's crew into an effective fighting force. Hop on board for an exclusive look at life above and below deck, and follow the crew as they face the challenges of a Russian warship, floods, fuel leaks, and a headline-making first night on U.S. soil.

  • S02E02 Hurricane Alert

    • March 1, 2020
    • Smithsonian Channel

    Britain's biggest warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is in her second month of a grueling four-month deployment in the west Atlantic Ocean to test her compatibility with the top-secret F-35B Lightning stealth jet. After dozens of landings and launches — by day and by night — Commanding Officer Jerry Kyd wants to find out how well the aircraft and the supercarrier will operate in difficult weather and wind conditions. They are put to the test when the ship is pounded by one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the southeastern United States in decade

  • S02E03 Pushing the Limits

    • March 8, 2020
    • Smithsonian Channel

    It's the final weeks of HMS Queen Elizabeth's first deployment and things are ramping up. Test pilots must try a risky, never-before-attempted method of landing the F-35B Lightning and launch weapons from the aircraft for the first time. The supercarrier will finish her four-month mission in a spectacular fashion by docking in New York Harbor, where she will transform from a warship to a floating embassy, a conference center, and a concert hall for the VIPs and dignitaries of America.