Naval Warfare in World War II

Season 1 Episode 5 - War in the Mediterranean

2014 · 27 min

TV-14

World War II comes to the Mediterranean Sea as Italian, French and British naval forces struggle. British forces have the unenviable position of guarding the sea as they escort convoys from Gibraltar to Malta.

Subtitles: English

Directed by:Bob Carruthers

S01:E01 - The Battle of the Atlantic 1939-1941

World War II begins and the Germans succeed in invading Poland and France. But German forces are restrained by the British thanks to the vital convoys, the German submarine war increases its crescendo thanks to new French bases.

S01:E02 - Pearl Harbour

Using Japanese footage, viewers see the planning, execution and, ultimately, the celebration of the country's attack on Pearl Harbor. There also is an explanation provided for the attack and some peaceful moments depicted among the U.S. sailors before the fateful events unfold.

S01:E03 - Anti-Submarine Warfare 1941-1943

With war now declared by the U.S., naval forces throughout the states have joined to bring convoys of supplies across the Atlantic Ocean to the Allies in England. German U-Boats come through and manage to destroy some of ships along the way.

S01:E04 - Japanese Victories and the Battle of Midway

The Japanese are ascendant as they successfully invade the East Indies, Singapore and the Philippines. But the Americans are victorious, first on the Coral Sea and ultimately on Midway as they manage to bomb and sink four of Japan's aircraft carriers; the same ones that were used for the attack on Pearl Harbor-making the imperial fleet retreat and giving the U.S. an early victory in the Pacific.

S01:E05 - War in the Mediterranean

S01:E06 - Guadalcanal

After training in Australia and New Zealand, the U.S. Marines land on Guadalcanal. The U.S. Navy suffers defeats by the Japanese Navy around the island—in an area called Ironbottom Sound.

S01:E07 - The Struggle for the Solomon Islands

The Japanese Navy is ascendant in its conquests, of which its main base is on Rabaul in the New Britain Islands. This episode refers to the U.S. strategy of surrounding and strangling the Japanese base in the autumn of 1943 through invasions of its surrounding islands (Bougainville, Rendova).

S01:E08 - Mediterranean Command 1940-1942

Mussolini calls the Mediterranean 'mare nostrum', or 'our sea', and seeks to exploit it. British and Greek military forces, however, defeat the Italians, forcing the Germans to send the Afrika Korps. But it is the sea battles to control the Mediterranean that is the crux.

S01:E09 - The Invasion of North Africa

The USSR government demands a 'second front' as their country struggles against the Germans. The wish is granted as Roosevelt and Churchill in Washington agree on the first invasion of North Africa against General Rommel's forces via Operation Torch, while the Allies also neutralize many of the Axis' Mediterranean supply bases.