In the late 1800s the father of submarines, Mr John Holland, hit upon the idea of powering a submarine with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. For a hundred years since the first semi-successful attempts during the American Civil War, submarine warfare had been fraught with difficulties and failure. In 1901, the Holland I was launched by the Royal Navy and submarines have been an integral part of the Navy ever since. The Second World War showed the first widespread use of these underwater vessels and their major advantages. Today nuclear submarines roam waters all over the world, for exploration and to keep the peace. This episode features rare archive footage, stunning 3-D graphics and film of some of the last surviving World War Two submarines. It is a privileged glimpse into the world of submarine warfare.
