Combat Ships

The episode explores the artefacts recovered from the Tudor warship Mary Rose, including weaponry and daily implements, shedding light on life aboard the vessel. It also analyses Admiral Nelson's victorious tactics employed on HMS Victory, highlighting the strategic decisions that secured victory during the Napoleonic Wars.

Mighty Wooden Warships is a television programme presented as a single episode that focuses on historic sailing vessels constructed from timber. The series title signals a concentration on the age‑of‑sail warships that once dominated the seas, and this particular instalment continues that emphasis. In this episode the presenters turn their attention to two iconic ships. First, they investigate a selection of artefacts recovered from the wreck of the Mary Rose, analysing the objects to shed light on the vessel’s construction, crew life and the circumstances of its sinking. The segment then shifts to a study of Admiral Horatio Nelson’s winning tactics employed aboard HMS Victory, illustrating how his strategic decisions contributed to decisive victories. The programme links the material culture of the Mary Rose with the tactical brilliance displayed on HMS Victory, offering viewers a combined perspective on both the physical remnants of a Tudor warship and the naval command that defined the Napoleonic era. By juxtaposing the tangible items from one historic ship with the strategic insights from another, the episode provides a concise overview of how wooden warships were built, used and remembered in British maritime history.