PBS TV/Internet Series "Carrier"

Hi folks,

the PBS documentary “Carrier” is now available in high quality format on Youtube. 🙂
The 10-hour documentary television series traces the six-month cruise of USS Nimitz along with Carrier Air Wing Eleven from May 7 2005 to Nov. 8 2005.
Link (May 26th, 2009): http://www.youtube.com/show?p=lwRWg1czcnk

A British fly on the wall documentary called Warship is going out tomorrow night at 9.00 on Channel 5 filmed aboard HMS Illustrious.

RE: PBS TV/Internet Series “Carrier”

AegisFC, thank you for the insight. -Adrian

I agree, my only problem was those who had the worst or minial jobs made no effort to get more education or learn a skill that would qualify them for a better job. All in all, this was the best program to show “human face” in the Navy on long cruises.

Adrian

Most of those people were VERY low on the pay scale and don’t have much choice in what they were doing. To move into a more technical job or even a different job than the one you are in requires your chain of command to approve it and it isn’t in their best interest to approve such a move (especially if you are off the ship for months learning a new job) so usually that kind of thing happens when you are up to re-enlist and you can negotiate for a school you want. That show did not show the entire story, we don’t know what they were doing every hour of the day the ship probably offered college courses (my last 2 deployments had a professor on board for classes) and we don’t know who took them or if those people even had time to do take them if they were working 12+ days.

RE: PBS TV/Internet Series “Carrier”

My favorite part so far was the end of the pitching deck sequence

It was my favorite part in that entire ten hour program. Even my wife was in awe watching the twenty some minute sequence on the pitching deck. After being on a cruise ships and how smooth it was, I was surprised to see how much a carrier moved in heavy seas.
The one thing I found interesting is an aircraft approaching and having a ‘bolter’ because ship movement, not anything the pilot did wrong.
I have heard (on other programs) that in rougher weather the glide slope is increased from 3º to 4½º. Does anyone know if this is the maximum or not?

I saw the series and I loved it, the best “warts and all” documentary I’ve seen on any military in a long time.

I agree, my only problem was those who had the worst or minial jobs made no effort to get more education or learn a skill that would qualify them for a better job. All in all, this was the best program to show “human face” in the Navy on long cruises.

Adrian

I liked the show, but I was not to happy when the young man painted over paint. In my days we chipped the paint before painting. Painting several levels of paint on a ship is not good for the weight of a ship.

Hate to break it to you but that is the way it is done now a days. I’ve hardly every been given enough time to PROPERLY do preservation, heck I’ve hardly even been given time to just chip the old off and then toss on a coat of primer and paint.
Recently a ship failed INSURV and they found several extra tons of paint over old paint over the whole ship while other parts (non-skid areas mostly) were dangerously corroded, so I suspect this is a fleet wide problem.

I liked the show, but I was not to happy when the young man painted over paint. In my days we chipped the paint before painting. Painting several levels of paint on a ship is not good for the weight of a ship.

I agree, Ive only seen parts of it but I feel, at this time, it is a very well put together documentary. Id recommend it to anyone interested in the US Navy and what carrier life is like.

I saw the series and I loved it, the best “warts and all” documentary I’ve seen on any military in a long time.