1 00:00:03,106 --> 00:00:05,798 NARRATOR: No place on the planet has shaped the world 2 00:00:05,833 --> 00:00:08,767 quite like this one. 3 00:00:10,562 --> 00:00:13,220 And this bustling, self-confident city... 4 00:00:15,463 --> 00:00:18,363 has an extraordinary story to tell. 5 00:00:19,122 --> 00:00:21,435 SIMON: London is an archaeological gold mine. 6 00:00:22,091 --> 00:00:24,541 NARRATOR: London's secret ingredient, 7 00:00:24,576 --> 00:00:27,441 the mighty River Thames. 8 00:00:29,615 --> 00:00:33,171 Where its deepest and darkest mysteries 9 00:00:33,205 --> 00:00:36,036 lie waiting to be found. 10 00:00:37,761 --> 00:00:40,937 Imagine if we could empty the oceans. 11 00:00:40,971 --> 00:00:44,147 Letting the water drain away. 12 00:00:46,908 --> 00:00:50,050 To reveal the secrets of the sea floor. 13 00:00:51,154 --> 00:00:53,501 Now we can. 14 00:00:53,536 --> 00:00:57,160 Using accurate data and astonishing technology, 15 00:00:58,092 --> 00:01:02,407 to bring light once again to a lost world. 16 00:01:05,134 --> 00:01:11,381 This time...why is this one of the most dangerous shipwrecks in the world? 17 00:01:14,350 --> 00:01:17,732 Can these century old remains cast light on 18 00:01:17,767 --> 00:01:20,563 London's pirate past? 19 00:01:20,770 --> 00:01:22,737 ERIC: The Queen and her major advisors, 20 00:01:22,772 --> 00:01:25,223 they were all tied up in this violent trade. 21 00:01:26,948 --> 00:01:29,710 NARRATOR: And how did London's favorite warship 22 00:01:29,744 --> 00:01:33,472 explode into 1,000 pieces? 23 00:01:36,441 --> 00:01:42,861 [theme music plays]. 24 00:01:48,694 --> 00:01:51,559 Rich with history and tradition. 25 00:01:52,664 --> 00:01:56,599 Today, London is a global center of tourism, 26 00:01:58,566 --> 00:02:04,883 fashion, music and commerce. 27 00:02:06,885 --> 00:02:09,405 Home to more than eight million people, 28 00:02:09,439 --> 00:02:13,133 famous for their eccentricity. 29 00:02:15,065 --> 00:02:17,965 And attitude. 30 00:02:20,554 --> 00:02:24,868 And it all starts with fast flowing water. 31 00:02:26,284 --> 00:02:28,182 SIMON: The River Thames is absolutely vital to the story of London, 32 00:02:28,217 --> 00:02:30,805 without the River Thames there would be no London. 33 00:02:33,325 --> 00:02:35,879 NARRATOR: For thousands of years people have lived along 34 00:02:35,914 --> 00:02:38,468 the banks of the Thames. 35 00:02:40,953 --> 00:02:44,233 But how does the City of London begin? 36 00:02:45,268 --> 00:02:49,445 Could some extraordinary ruins hold the answer? 37 00:02:53,587 --> 00:02:58,039 As new buildings rise they expose evidence of the past. 38 00:03:00,007 --> 00:03:02,596 On the north bank of the River Thames, 39 00:03:02,630 --> 00:03:05,254 in the heart of the financial district, 40 00:03:05,288 --> 00:03:10,500 workers digging new foundations unearth something surprising. 41 00:03:13,538 --> 00:03:16,437 They call in the experts. 42 00:03:18,267 --> 00:03:21,753 The lead archaeologist is Gustav Milne. 43 00:03:22,581 --> 00:03:24,721 GUSTAV: Before the new buildings went up, 44 00:03:24,756 --> 00:03:27,759 a series of archaeological excavations took place here, 45 00:03:27,793 --> 00:03:30,348 and they revealed some amazing discoveries. 46 00:03:33,799 --> 00:03:36,630 NARRATOR: When Gustav's team arrives only part of the 47 00:03:36,664 --> 00:03:39,149 remains are exposed. 48 00:03:41,566 --> 00:03:43,533 GUSTAV: Archaeological excavations are a bit like 49 00:03:43,568 --> 00:03:45,811 crime scene investigations, 50 00:03:45,846 --> 00:03:49,021 we like to tape off the area to stop people trampling over it, 51 00:03:49,056 --> 00:03:52,128 and we like to record all sorts of information, 52 00:03:52,162 --> 00:03:55,062 which at the time might not seem relevant. 53 00:03:57,996 --> 00:04:01,310 NARRATOR: The best way to see this remarkable find 54 00:04:01,344 --> 00:04:04,244 is to drain away the city. 55 00:04:08,593 --> 00:04:11,941 The London pavement cracks. 56 00:04:15,255 --> 00:04:19,535 Soft, alluvial soil begins to crumble away. 57 00:04:23,055 --> 00:04:26,127 Based on highly accurate archaeological data, 58 00:04:26,162 --> 00:04:29,545 we can peer below the modern city. 59 00:04:30,891 --> 00:04:35,240 And witness the origins of London. 60 00:04:39,658 --> 00:04:42,661 Huge wooden timbers, 61 00:04:42,696 --> 00:04:47,390 clearly part of something very big and very old. 62 00:04:53,293 --> 00:04:54,811 GUSTAV: We can count the tree rings, 63 00:04:54,846 --> 00:04:57,158 this is a system called dendrochronology, 64 00:04:57,193 --> 00:05:01,266 you have to slice them up by chainsaw, and then look at 65 00:05:01,301 --> 00:05:04,338 the distance between each of the rings and match that 66 00:05:04,373 --> 00:05:06,547 to a master chronology. 67 00:05:06,582 --> 00:05:11,000 NARRATOR: These trees are chopped down almost 2,000 years ago, 68 00:05:11,034 --> 00:05:15,591 a time when something very important happened in southern England. 69 00:05:19,111 --> 00:05:22,460 The arrival of a super power. 70 00:05:22,494 --> 00:05:25,048 ANDREW: The Romans came to Britain to asset strip, 71 00:05:25,083 --> 00:05:27,188 they plundered its rich resources, and 72 00:05:27,223 --> 00:05:30,399 they were going to use it to sustain the rest of their empire. 73 00:05:31,848 --> 00:05:35,473 NARRATOR: The Romans come looking for riches. 74 00:05:36,370 --> 00:05:39,477 But what they find is trouble. 75 00:05:40,616 --> 00:05:43,446 SIMON: Roman Britain was the wild west of the Roman empire. 76 00:05:44,792 --> 00:05:47,208 NARRATOR: The Roman army builds an imposing settlement 77 00:05:47,243 --> 00:05:49,072 on the River Thames. 78 00:05:50,798 --> 00:05:53,870 And they call it Londinium. 79 00:05:55,389 --> 00:05:58,737 The giant timbers are unique evidence of this moment. 80 00:06:01,361 --> 00:06:03,846 GUSTAV: There is no surviving documentary record that tells 81 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:05,917 us when London was founded, 82 00:06:05,951 --> 00:06:09,127 we rely entirely on archaeological evidence to 83 00:06:09,161 --> 00:06:12,372 build up the real story of Londinium. 84 00:06:14,408 --> 00:06:16,617 NARRATOR: Removing even more of the modern city 85 00:06:16,652 --> 00:06:19,655 other clues emerge. 86 00:06:26,075 --> 00:06:29,699 The timbers are part of a 7 foot high wall. 87 00:06:36,292 --> 00:06:39,882 Behind it, the remains of Roman buildings. 88 00:06:42,540 --> 00:06:44,921 GUSTAV: Those buildings were not residential buildings, 89 00:06:44,956 --> 00:06:47,993 they didn't have mosaic floors or hearths in. 90 00:06:49,409 --> 00:06:53,102 NARRATOR: So what are these structures for? 91 00:06:54,414 --> 00:06:56,968 Clues lie in bore samples taken from soil 92 00:06:57,002 --> 00:06:59,453 next to the timber wall. 93 00:07:02,491 --> 00:07:04,596 VIRGIL: We found things like ostracods, 94 00:07:04,631 --> 00:07:06,805 which are millimeter sized crustaceans, 95 00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:10,775 and diatoms, which are single celled algae remains. 96 00:07:12,293 --> 00:07:15,573 NARRATOR: Many of these creatures thrive in tidal estuaries, 97 00:07:15,607 --> 00:07:19,369 but, the archaeological site is over 300 feet 98 00:07:19,404 --> 00:07:22,096 from the modern estuary river. 99 00:07:22,614 --> 00:07:24,167 The explanation, 100 00:07:24,202 --> 00:07:27,481 in Roman times the Thames was much wider and ran 101 00:07:27,516 --> 00:07:30,726 right alongside this timber wall. 102 00:07:31,692 --> 00:07:34,246 GUSTAV: If only you could remove all these buildings, 103 00:07:34,281 --> 00:07:36,041 drain the River Thames, 104 00:07:36,076 --> 00:07:38,941 you would get a perfect view of what we found. 105 00:07:58,443 --> 00:08:01,411 NARRATOR: The wall is a Roman quayside, 106 00:08:01,446 --> 00:08:04,622 almost 200 feet long. 107 00:08:05,830 --> 00:08:09,627 Set alongside ten stone buildings. 108 00:08:15,633 --> 00:08:21,570 Gustav's team hasn't just found some ancient pieces of wood, 109 00:08:21,604 --> 00:08:23,951 they've discovered the site of the city's first 110 00:08:23,986 --> 00:08:26,575 major harbor facility. 111 00:08:29,232 --> 00:08:32,753 Now it's possible to recreate the first port of London 112 00:08:32,788 --> 00:08:37,344 as it looked in the late first century AD. 113 00:08:41,797 --> 00:08:43,419 On its north bank, 114 00:08:43,453 --> 00:08:47,630 The Thames floods back to its ancient, original width. 115 00:08:50,357 --> 00:08:54,568 And Londinium rises from the tidal mud. 116 00:08:56,397 --> 00:08:59,504 Cargo ships from all over the known world unload 117 00:08:59,539 --> 00:09:02,542 along the wooden quayside. 118 00:09:06,304 --> 00:09:10,204 Along ten large stone warehouses. 119 00:09:11,758 --> 00:09:15,278 Where goods are stored and processed. 120 00:09:15,313 --> 00:09:17,695 SIMON: Roman London is an emporium, 121 00:09:17,729 --> 00:09:19,455 it's a place of trade, 122 00:09:19,489 --> 00:09:22,769 and therefore the port is absolutely vital. 123 00:09:24,322 --> 00:09:27,981 NARRATOR: The port gives London power and importance. 124 00:09:29,638 --> 00:09:32,986 A place to live and defend. 125 00:09:34,850 --> 00:09:36,645 It transforms a simple, 126 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:40,580 river settlement into a thriving town. 127 00:09:40,614 --> 00:09:42,582 ANDREW: We often get obsessed about Roman temples and 128 00:09:42,616 --> 00:09:44,791 amphitheaters, but actually, 129 00:09:44,825 --> 00:09:48,415 building a port is the thing that really makes Britain work. 130 00:09:50,935 --> 00:09:53,420 NARRATOR: But for London to become the dominant Roman city 131 00:09:53,454 --> 00:09:57,597 of Britain it needs something else. 132 00:09:59,771 --> 00:10:01,739 Close to the dock, 133 00:10:01,773 --> 00:10:05,363 archaeologists unearth more game changing evidence that's 134 00:10:05,397 --> 00:10:08,228 been hidden for centuries. 135 00:10:11,783 --> 00:10:16,201 The drained site reveals what they found. 136 00:10:18,445 --> 00:10:22,380 Part of a 20 foot rectangular wooden box. 137 00:10:24,485 --> 00:10:28,835 GUSTAV: The timbers were felled in about 85 AD or thereabouts. 138 00:10:31,078 --> 00:10:33,943 NARRATOR: The new structure is also Roman. 139 00:10:33,978 --> 00:10:36,636 And around the same age as the dock. 140 00:10:36,670 --> 00:10:39,052 But what is it? 141 00:10:39,086 --> 00:10:42,883 Gustav turns to other archaeological evidence found nearby. 142 00:10:50,132 --> 00:10:54,239 NARRATOR: Remnants of Roman roads right across London. 143 00:10:55,965 --> 00:10:58,899 One runs close to the wooden box and stops dead 144 00:10:58,934 --> 00:11:02,075 at the river's northern bank. 145 00:11:03,593 --> 00:11:07,667 Another does the same on the southern bank. 146 00:11:07,701 --> 00:11:11,049 Solid proof of a river crossing. 147 00:11:11,084 --> 00:11:14,259 But not by boat. 148 00:11:15,433 --> 00:11:17,884 GUSTAV: We think that the timber structure was 149 00:11:17,918 --> 00:11:22,060 a pier base for a Roman bridge. 150 00:11:25,167 --> 00:11:28,101 NARRATOR: Now, using all of the latest research, 151 00:11:28,135 --> 00:11:31,621 we can run the clock backwards and highlight 152 00:11:31,656 --> 00:11:35,315 the crowning glory of Roman London. 153 00:11:38,180 --> 00:11:41,252 The first ever permanent Thames crossing 154 00:11:41,286 --> 00:11:45,187 stretches for over 12,000 feet. 155 00:11:47,741 --> 00:11:50,848 The 20 foot wide superstructure is supported by 156 00:11:50,882 --> 00:11:53,609 20 massive timber piers, 157 00:11:53,643 --> 00:11:57,613 with bases like the one found by Gustav's team. 158 00:12:01,203 --> 00:12:04,654 There's nothing else like it in Roman Britain. 159 00:12:05,207 --> 00:12:08,313 It's an ancient engineering marvel. 160 00:12:12,593 --> 00:12:16,494 A marvel that rises from the ashes of war. 161 00:12:17,633 --> 00:12:21,430 In 60 AD, Queen Boadicea and her powerful tribe 162 00:12:21,464 --> 00:12:24,605 rebel against Roman rule. 163 00:12:27,885 --> 00:12:31,405 And burn London to the ground. 164 00:12:32,406 --> 00:12:35,030 After finally defeating her in battle 165 00:12:35,064 --> 00:12:37,618 the Romans rebuilt their city. 166 00:12:38,274 --> 00:12:40,276 SIMON: So, London becomes the provincial capital because 167 00:12:40,311 --> 00:12:44,833 London is the place where all the rebuilding starts for Roman Britain. 168 00:12:46,317 --> 00:12:49,941 NARRATOR: The bridge is a key part of this rebuilding program 169 00:12:49,976 --> 00:12:54,428 sending a message about the enduring power of Rome. 170 00:12:56,396 --> 00:12:59,951 SIMON: This is monumentalization on a huge scale for the Romans, 171 00:12:59,986 --> 00:13:02,091 saying we are here, 172 00:13:02,126 --> 00:13:04,024 we're controlling this river crossing, 173 00:13:04,059 --> 00:13:06,406 this is our provincial capital. 174 00:13:07,925 --> 00:13:10,962 NARRATOR: Incredibly, it's the city's only bridge 175 00:13:10,997 --> 00:13:13,827 for almost 1,000 years. 176 00:13:15,449 --> 00:13:19,971 It's what ties London and the rest of Roman Britain together. 177 00:13:22,491 --> 00:13:26,495 Cementing London's place as the centerpiece of the country 178 00:13:26,529 --> 00:13:29,636 and, along with the nearby port 179 00:13:29,670 --> 00:13:32,846 kick starting the city's remarkable growth. 180 00:13:37,057 --> 00:13:41,234 1400 years later and London is still going strong. 181 00:13:42,718 --> 00:13:45,203 Its success now fueled by violent, 182 00:13:45,238 --> 00:13:47,896 swashbuckling adventurers. 183 00:13:49,069 --> 00:13:52,245 Can some mysterious remains in the Thames estuary 184 00:13:52,279 --> 00:13:55,904 expose one of its darkest secrets? 185 00:14:03,428 --> 00:14:05,361 NARRATOR: Just as in Roman times, 186 00:14:05,396 --> 00:14:09,331 the modern river Thames is London's transport artery. 187 00:14:12,817 --> 00:14:15,475 Today, the heavyweight shipping action happens 188 00:14:15,509 --> 00:14:20,100 20 miles out of town in the Thames Estuary. 189 00:14:24,656 --> 00:14:28,937 Every year, giant vessels carry 50 million tons of cargo 190 00:14:28,971 --> 00:14:32,975 through these dangerously shallow, tidal waters. 191 00:14:35,426 --> 00:14:38,187 CAPTAIN: And we're now outbound for Sea Reach 4. 192 00:14:40,741 --> 00:14:42,226 NARRATOR: The Thames is patrolled by the 193 00:14:42,260 --> 00:14:45,850 Port of London Authority. Or PLA. 194 00:14:45,885 --> 00:14:50,579 Monitoring the ever-changing river bed to keep shipping channels clear. 195 00:14:53,823 --> 00:14:57,586 In 2003, a PLA survey vessel discovers 196 00:14:57,620 --> 00:15:02,246 a mysterious object in the busy Prince's Channel. 197 00:15:05,974 --> 00:15:08,390 JOHN: What we're looking at here is an area in the 198 00:15:08,424 --> 00:15:10,806 Prince's Channel, which we're going to dredge. 199 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:12,256 We'd surveyed it, 200 00:15:12,290 --> 00:15:14,810 we'd found something that didn't look quite right, 201 00:15:14,844 --> 00:15:17,744 and that's this relatively small obstruction. 202 00:15:18,952 --> 00:15:23,163 NARRATOR: Further sonar scans reveal it's a shipwreck. 203 00:15:24,233 --> 00:15:26,546 JOHN: These are manmade structures we're looking up here, 204 00:15:26,580 --> 00:15:29,135 and they turned out to be the ribs of a ship. 205 00:15:29,169 --> 00:15:32,034 That's when it all got very exciting and that's when all 206 00:15:32,069 --> 00:15:35,175 the follow up investigations started to happen. 207 00:15:37,591 --> 00:15:40,974 NARRATOR: The PLA calls in archaeologist Jens Auer. 208 00:15:44,219 --> 00:15:45,979 JENS: Everything was mysterious in the beginning, 209 00:15:46,014 --> 00:15:47,636 unknown wreck, where is it from? 210 00:15:47,670 --> 00:15:50,018 What could it be? What did it carry? 211 00:15:55,506 --> 00:15:58,060 I can remember my first dive very well. 212 00:15:58,095 --> 00:16:01,477 Couldn't see very much and it looked extremely confusing, 213 00:16:01,512 --> 00:16:04,549 there were timbers everywhere and bits of metal everywhere. 214 00:16:04,584 --> 00:16:06,793 And because of the strong currents things are 215 00:16:06,827 --> 00:16:08,968 moving around constantly. 216 00:16:10,245 --> 00:16:12,557 NARRATOR: Despite the challenging conditions, 217 00:16:12,592 --> 00:16:16,182 Jens immediately knows that the wreck is very old. 218 00:16:16,216 --> 00:16:18,287 But what is it? 219 00:16:18,322 --> 00:16:20,531 And why is it here? 220 00:16:22,050 --> 00:16:25,191 The poor visibility and fast currents make it difficult 221 00:16:25,225 --> 00:16:27,987 to get the full picture. 222 00:16:30,403 --> 00:16:33,544 But now, using dive survey data 223 00:16:33,578 --> 00:16:35,995 and powerful computer software... 224 00:16:39,101 --> 00:16:43,071 we can make the Thames Estuary drain away. 225 00:16:45,107 --> 00:16:48,628 And expose a remarkable sight. 226 00:16:49,663 --> 00:16:53,219 As the murky waters recede... 227 00:16:54,634 --> 00:16:58,948 part buried in shifting sands, an 80 foot skeleton. 228 00:17:03,436 --> 00:17:06,749 Floor timbers and adjoining frames remain. 229 00:17:06,784 --> 00:17:10,995 To an expert its design gives clues to its age. 230 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,483 JENS: This type of construction, this joining of the frames 231 00:17:16,518 --> 00:17:18,244 and some other features in the construction, 232 00:17:18,278 --> 00:17:19,831 the little details, 233 00:17:19,866 --> 00:17:22,282 they sort of pointed to the 16th century. 234 00:17:25,768 --> 00:17:28,633 NARRATOR: In the 16th century England is ruled by 235 00:17:28,668 --> 00:17:31,326 ruthless Tudor monarchs. 236 00:17:35,502 --> 00:17:37,746 Under their command, 237 00:17:37,780 --> 00:17:41,577 London's wealth and global ambition skyrockets. 238 00:17:44,063 --> 00:17:47,066 The mystery wreck is a chance to learn more about this 239 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:51,518 dramatic age, so Jens wants to identify it. 240 00:17:55,488 --> 00:17:59,837 Between the ship's timbers he finds some striking clues. 241 00:18:01,632 --> 00:18:05,808 Tin, lead ingots and iron bars. 242 00:18:06,602 --> 00:18:10,227 It's carrying a small fortune in metal. 243 00:18:10,261 --> 00:18:13,471 JENS: The cargo told us we were looking at a merchant vessel. 244 00:18:14,817 --> 00:18:17,337 NARRATOR: But exploring the drained wreck further 245 00:18:17,372 --> 00:18:21,272 reveals this is no ordinary trading ship. 246 00:18:23,205 --> 00:18:26,415 In the nearby sand, cannons, 247 00:18:26,450 --> 00:18:29,384 engraved on one of the guns, 248 00:18:29,418 --> 00:18:33,836 the initials TG, and the symbol of a grasshopper. 249 00:18:36,598 --> 00:18:38,393 JENS: Did some research and found out that TG 250 00:18:38,427 --> 00:18:40,602 stands for Thomas Gresham, Sir Thomas Gresham. 251 00:18:46,573 --> 00:18:50,888 NARRATOR: Sir Thomas Gresham is a key figure in 16th century London, 252 00:18:50,922 --> 00:18:55,651 one of the men who first turn England into a global power house. 253 00:18:57,205 --> 00:19:00,794 ERIC: Thomas Gresham was one of the greatest financiers of his day. 254 00:19:00,829 --> 00:19:04,936 He was an entrepreneur and a very successful one at that. 255 00:19:06,559 --> 00:19:09,493 NARRATOR: In 1566, Gresham establishes 256 00:19:09,527 --> 00:19:12,737 England's first purpose built trading center, 257 00:19:12,772 --> 00:19:15,775 called The Royal Exchange. 258 00:19:17,777 --> 00:19:20,228 It's such an important moment for the country 259 00:19:20,262 --> 00:19:23,817 that it's opened by Queen Elizabeth herself. 260 00:19:33,275 --> 00:19:35,657 Studying the wreck in greater detail 261 00:19:35,691 --> 00:19:38,694 reveals something astonishing. 262 00:19:38,729 --> 00:19:40,869 Gun ports. 263 00:19:56,885 --> 00:19:59,370 NARRATOR: The merchant vessel isn't trading cannon, 264 00:19:59,405 --> 00:20:02,131 it's armed with them. 265 00:20:04,651 --> 00:20:07,309 Now using Jens' forensic research, 266 00:20:07,344 --> 00:20:11,002 we can dial back time and restore this relic of 267 00:20:11,037 --> 00:20:14,627 Elizabethan London to her former glory. 268 00:20:19,287 --> 00:20:21,565 Rising from her resting place, 269 00:20:21,599 --> 00:20:24,982 a state of the art 16th century merchantman. 270 00:20:32,334 --> 00:20:34,612 115 feet long. 271 00:20:39,824 --> 00:20:43,034 Weighing 200 tons. 272 00:20:44,346 --> 00:20:47,694 Carrying over a dozen cannon. 273 00:20:49,006 --> 00:20:52,354 An ocean going trader from a time when England is making 274 00:20:52,389 --> 00:20:55,633 its presence felt on the world stage. 275 00:20:57,463 --> 00:20:59,499 JENS: Ships were the most advanced means of transporting 276 00:20:59,534 --> 00:21:01,121 and of communicating, 277 00:21:01,156 --> 00:21:03,607 you could compare it to a rocket nowadays. 278 00:21:04,435 --> 00:21:09,233 NARRATOR: But why does a merchant ship need so many guns 279 00:21:12,167 --> 00:21:15,791 The answer exposes the brutal truth that lies behind 280 00:21:15,826 --> 00:21:18,760 London's rise to power. 281 00:21:26,457 --> 00:21:29,322 NARRATOR: Identifying the 16th century mystery wreck 282 00:21:29,357 --> 00:21:31,807 might explain why it's armed. 283 00:21:34,362 --> 00:21:36,467 Investigator Jens Auer, 284 00:21:36,502 --> 00:21:39,746 asks archaeologist Gustav Milne, for help. 285 00:21:41,921 --> 00:21:45,476 GUSTAV: We have got a little bit of litigation which we found. 286 00:21:46,822 --> 00:21:50,378 NARRATOR: In 1603, a similar sized vessel sinks, 287 00:21:50,412 --> 00:21:53,346 just outside London in the Prince's Channel. 288 00:21:54,865 --> 00:21:57,799 GUSTAV: And the name of the ship is the Cherubim, 289 00:21:57,833 --> 00:22:00,629 it was what we call a Levanter. 290 00:22:00,664 --> 00:22:04,461 That is to say a merchantman which sailed to Turkey and 291 00:22:04,495 --> 00:22:07,015 back with the Levant Company. 292 00:22:11,399 --> 00:22:14,505 NARRATOR: The Cherubim isn't owned by Thomas Gresham. 293 00:22:14,540 --> 00:22:17,232 But there is a connection. 294 00:22:18,751 --> 00:22:23,549 The Levant Company uses cannon from Gresham's Iron Foundry. 295 00:22:24,412 --> 00:22:27,415 But why would it need them? 296 00:22:31,039 --> 00:22:33,766 GUSTAV: It wasn't just a Levanter, it was a privateer. 297 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:35,215 JENS: A privateer. 298 00:22:35,250 --> 00:22:36,596 GUSTAV: Or pirate, whatever you wanna call it, yeah. 299 00:22:36,631 --> 00:22:40,566 In 1591 it joined the Azores Campaign to attack, 300 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:42,982 with its guns, Spanish galleons 301 00:22:43,016 --> 00:22:46,813 coming back from the Caribbean with bullion in it. 302 00:22:50,438 --> 00:22:53,199 NARRATOR: Like other English vessels of her time, 303 00:22:53,233 --> 00:22:57,928 the Cherubim is also a part time pirate ship. 304 00:23:02,277 --> 00:23:07,144 Targeting England's enemies and looting their treasure. 305 00:23:10,319 --> 00:23:13,840 ERIC: The world had first been conquered by the Spanish and the Portuguese, 306 00:23:13,875 --> 00:23:16,256 which, towards the end of the 16th century came together 307 00:23:16,291 --> 00:23:17,982 in a single empire. 308 00:23:18,017 --> 00:23:21,469 So, if England wanted to play a part in this increasingly 309 00:23:21,503 --> 00:23:24,230 global trade she had to play catch up. 310 00:23:29,166 --> 00:23:31,996 She had to raid the empires that already existed. 311 00:23:32,031 --> 00:23:34,620 The Queen and her major advisors, the Lord Admiral, 312 00:23:34,654 --> 00:23:37,588 they were all tied up in this violent trade. 313 00:23:38,002 --> 00:23:40,798 NARRATOR: Some of the most famous English sea captains 314 00:23:40,833 --> 00:23:44,077 are also part time pirates. 315 00:23:44,112 --> 00:23:48,427 Or, to use the politer phrase, Sea Dogs. 316 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:51,464 ERIC: When Francis Drake sailed around the world 317 00:23:51,499 --> 00:23:54,191 he made a profit for his investors, 318 00:23:54,225 --> 00:23:57,988 including the Queen, of 4,700%. 319 00:23:58,022 --> 00:24:00,784 You're talking about the equivalent really of billions 320 00:24:00,818 --> 00:24:03,476 of pounds by modern standards. 321 00:24:03,511 --> 00:24:05,789 This was big money indeed. 322 00:24:05,823 --> 00:24:08,654 And the fruits of piracy were very good. 323 00:24:11,070 --> 00:24:13,382 NARRATOR: By the late 16th century, 324 00:24:13,417 --> 00:24:17,007 between 10 and 15% of all the goods brought into the 325 00:24:17,041 --> 00:24:20,700 Port of London are the result of privateering. 326 00:24:21,149 --> 00:24:23,392 Making the city, the crown and 327 00:24:23,427 --> 00:24:27,327 merchants, like Thomas Gresham, filthy rich. 328 00:24:30,020 --> 00:24:32,574 But the Cherubim's buccaneering adventures 329 00:24:32,609 --> 00:24:36,233 come to a sudden end in 1603. 330 00:24:41,031 --> 00:24:44,655 Leaving London, heavy with a valuable cargo, 331 00:24:44,690 --> 00:24:48,072 she is caught in a storm in the Thames Estuary and 332 00:24:48,107 --> 00:24:51,282 disappears from view for centuries. 333 00:24:57,944 --> 00:25:01,085 Fast forward 60 years, 334 00:25:01,120 --> 00:25:04,606 London is a center of world trade and opportunity, 335 00:25:04,641 --> 00:25:09,818 its population swelling from 200,000 to 350,000. 336 00:25:10,819 --> 00:25:14,513 The era of state piracy is over. 337 00:25:15,652 --> 00:25:20,933 And now it's England's turn to be the target of greedy rival powers. 338 00:25:23,004 --> 00:25:27,491 To protect her merchants the Royal Navy must expand, fast. 339 00:25:30,011 --> 00:25:33,117 Can these shattered remains explain how Britannia 340 00:25:33,152 --> 00:25:36,362 came to rule the waves? 341 00:25:41,678 --> 00:25:47,269 In 2005, a Port of London surve ship is scanning the riverbed. 342 00:25:48,823 --> 00:25:52,723 When its sonar picks up something big. 343 00:25:54,104 --> 00:25:55,899 MAN: Just coming up to it now, Paul. 344 00:25:55,933 --> 00:25:58,557 There's the wreck. 345 00:25:59,799 --> 00:26:02,388 NARRATOR: The remains are 40 miles from London, 346 00:26:02,422 --> 00:26:04,804 in the Thames Estuary. 347 00:26:13,433 --> 00:26:18,266 Archaeologist Alison James, and diver Steve Ellis investigate. 348 00:26:20,095 --> 00:26:22,304 Their job is to find out whether the site is 349 00:26:22,339 --> 00:26:24,997 historically important. 350 00:26:26,792 --> 00:26:29,311 ALISON: We're taking the clues that we find, 351 00:26:29,346 --> 00:26:30,796 in this case on the seabed, 352 00:26:30,830 --> 00:26:32,245 because we're working underwater, 353 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:35,283 and using it to build up a picture of the wreck, 354 00:26:35,317 --> 00:26:38,597 so, every single clue could be very significant. 355 00:26:40,529 --> 00:26:45,465 NARRATOR: They use a side scan sonar to gather more information. 356 00:26:49,055 --> 00:26:52,852 STEVE: This is the data that's coming from the tow fish. 357 00:26:58,202 --> 00:27:00,515 It's just like one massive underwater jigsaw puzzle. 358 00:27:00,549 --> 00:27:03,622 And it's just a challenge, I love it. 359 00:27:07,004 --> 00:27:08,419 MAN: Okay, diver into water. 360 00:27:22,917 --> 00:27:24,815 ALISON: It takes a certain type of diver to want to 361 00:27:24,850 --> 00:27:26,921 dive in the Thames. 362 00:27:26,955 --> 00:27:31,235 Visibility is fairly poor, it's highly tidal, 363 00:27:31,270 --> 00:27:33,962 and the location of the vessel does make it a 364 00:27:33,997 --> 00:27:36,689 challenging environment to dive. 365 00:27:37,828 --> 00:27:41,280 NARRATOR: First, giant timbers come into view. 366 00:27:43,006 --> 00:27:46,561 Then something intriguing. 367 00:27:56,053 --> 00:27:58,055 NARRATOR: Along with cannonballs, 368 00:27:58,090 --> 00:28:01,058 personal belongings litter the sea bed. 369 00:28:02,301 --> 00:28:05,407 A sailor's clay pipe. 370 00:28:06,408 --> 00:28:09,618 A navigational divider. 371 00:28:12,414 --> 00:28:15,452 There's evidence everywhere. 372 00:28:20,975 --> 00:28:24,979 The best way to make sense of this underwater jigsaw puzzle 373 00:28:26,843 --> 00:28:31,123 is to see all the pieces clearly. 374 00:28:36,887 --> 00:28:39,994 As the estuary water pours away, 375 00:28:40,028 --> 00:28:42,099 the carcass of an old wooden ship 376 00:28:42,134 --> 00:28:45,275 emerges into the light once again. 377 00:28:45,309 --> 00:28:50,073 A 65 foot section of the hull lies semi buried in silt. 378 00:28:52,661 --> 00:28:56,182 It was once a large vessel. 379 00:28:57,597 --> 00:29:00,462 But now it's in pieces. 380 00:29:02,982 --> 00:29:06,537 Inside the main section of the hull... 381 00:29:07,676 --> 00:29:12,992 shoes, books, and a sundial compass, 382 00:29:15,615 --> 00:29:20,897 all signs that passengers and crew had little time to escape. 383 00:29:27,317 --> 00:29:29,008 Back on shore, 384 00:29:29,043 --> 00:29:33,012 specialists try to ID the wreck by analyzing relics 385 00:29:33,047 --> 00:29:35,670 pulled from the river bed. 386 00:29:35,704 --> 00:29:39,225 Ramrods, cannonballs. 387 00:29:39,260 --> 00:29:42,677 All examined in forensic detail. 388 00:29:43,989 --> 00:29:48,545 One of the most crucial pieces of evidence, leather shoes. 389 00:29:49,580 --> 00:29:51,824 ANGELA: We have a large number of shoes which are 390 00:29:51,859 --> 00:29:53,999 of a very similar construction and style. 391 00:29:54,033 --> 00:29:56,760 And they are very typical for the 17th century. 392 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:00,143 ALISON: It's incredibly special to be able to find a 393 00:30:00,177 --> 00:30:04,492 17th century vessel lying on the sea bed in this country. 394 00:30:05,631 --> 00:30:08,668 NARRATOR: And records reveal that one heavily armed warship 395 00:30:08,703 --> 00:30:12,224 did sink in these waters in the 17th century, 396 00:30:12,258 --> 00:30:16,504 and, appropriately, she's called The London. 397 00:30:17,816 --> 00:30:19,887 ALISON: The London is the only candidate of the right size 398 00:30:19,921 --> 00:30:23,545 and scale and period that's in the vicinity. 399 00:30:26,894 --> 00:30:29,241 NARRATOR: In the mid-17th century, 400 00:30:29,275 --> 00:30:33,314 England's rulers invest heavily in the Navy to protect trade. 401 00:30:35,764 --> 00:30:38,353 ERIC: If England was going to be a great power 402 00:30:38,388 --> 00:30:41,011 it had to be a naval power. 403 00:30:41,046 --> 00:30:43,358 NARRATOR: Calling one of England's latest warships 404 00:30:43,393 --> 00:30:48,225 The London is a symbol of the city's ever-growing influence. 405 00:30:49,261 --> 00:30:51,573 ANDREW: The London is a heavyweight bruiser, 406 00:30:51,608 --> 00:30:54,369 it's gonna go forward and it's gonna smash the enemy. 407 00:30:54,404 --> 00:30:57,856 NARRATOR: So, how did such a heavyweight champion end up 408 00:30:57,890 --> 00:31:01,031 at the bottom of the estuary? 409 00:31:03,965 --> 00:31:08,383 The drained wreck reveals a clue. 410 00:31:10,351 --> 00:31:13,319 The ship is in pieces. 411 00:31:14,700 --> 00:31:18,221 One fragment and some cannon lie 1300 feet 412 00:31:18,255 --> 00:31:21,189 from the main body of the wreck 413 00:31:21,224 --> 00:31:25,021 The vessel has been ripped apart. 414 00:31:26,125 --> 00:31:30,095 ALISON: It is really clear that a catastrophic event has occurred. 415 00:31:30,129 --> 00:31:33,443 NARRATOR: So catastrophic that the ship's plight is recorded 416 00:31:33,477 --> 00:31:36,929 in one of the most famous diaries of the age, 417 00:31:36,964 --> 00:31:42,452 written by the Secretary to the Admiralty, Samuel Pepys. 418 00:31:43,971 --> 00:31:46,283 PEPYS: This morning is brought me to the office the 419 00:31:46,318 --> 00:31:48,872 sad news of The London, 420 00:31:48,907 --> 00:31:52,186 in which Sir Joe Lawson's men were all bringing her from 421 00:31:52,220 --> 00:31:54,360 Chatham to The Hope, 422 00:31:54,395 --> 00:31:56,984 and thence she suddenly blew up. 423 00:31:57,018 --> 00:32:01,678 About 24 men and a woman that were in the Roundhouse and 424 00:32:01,712 --> 00:32:06,648 Coach saved, the rest, being above 300, drowned. 425 00:32:08,167 --> 00:32:10,204 NARRATOR: But in friendly waters, 426 00:32:10,238 --> 00:32:14,070 what could have caused such a devastating explosion? 427 00:32:22,871 --> 00:32:26,910 NARRATOR: In the mid-17th century England and Holland are at war. 428 00:32:28,601 --> 00:32:31,639 The London is preparing for a battle in the English Channel 429 00:32:31,673 --> 00:32:34,228 when it suddenly blows up. 430 00:32:37,334 --> 00:32:40,959 Archaeologists want to know why. 431 00:32:42,029 --> 00:32:44,376 Clues lie inside the wreck. 432 00:32:45,687 --> 00:32:47,827 Buried in one small section, 433 00:32:47,862 --> 00:32:50,071 a gunner's kit. 434 00:32:50,106 --> 00:32:53,074 Breaching ropes to reduce recoil, 435 00:32:53,109 --> 00:32:55,974 hand spikes to move the cannon, 436 00:32:57,078 --> 00:33:00,771 and lint stocks to help fire the guns. 437 00:33:02,014 --> 00:33:05,259 But the equipment is not located near the gun stations, 438 00:33:05,293 --> 00:33:08,469 where it would be on a ship ready for battle. 439 00:33:10,678 --> 00:33:14,026 ALISON: We'd expect to find a hand spike, a lint stock, 440 00:33:14,061 --> 00:33:16,304 by every cannon effectively, 441 00:33:16,339 --> 00:33:17,685 but that's not what we're seeing, 442 00:33:17,719 --> 00:33:20,446 we're seeing everything in one very small area. 443 00:33:20,481 --> 00:33:25,244 NARRATOR: One possibility is that the items are still in storage. 444 00:33:27,246 --> 00:33:29,697 ALISON: We found all of these things in a relatively small area, 445 00:33:29,731 --> 00:33:31,319 possibly the gunner's store, 446 00:33:31,354 --> 00:33:35,116 but it clearly shows the ship was not ready for war. 447 00:33:36,324 --> 00:33:38,671 NARRATOR: With the help of historical records it's 448 00:33:38,706 --> 00:33:42,503 possible now to dial back the centuries and reveal 449 00:33:42,537 --> 00:33:45,471 the anatomy of a disaster. 450 00:33:51,132 --> 00:33:53,134 ALISON: The London was making its way up to The Hope from 451 00:33:53,169 --> 00:33:56,103 Chatham where it would have taken on board senior officers 452 00:33:56,137 --> 00:33:59,658 ready to set sail and take part in the war. 453 00:34:01,901 --> 00:34:04,835 NARRATOR: With the leaders due on board shortly the crew 454 00:34:04,870 --> 00:34:07,252 urgently prepare the ship. 455 00:34:08,874 --> 00:34:12,188 ALISON: This is a very busy ship getting ready to go to war, 456 00:34:12,222 --> 00:34:14,742 with large amounts of gunpowder on board and 457 00:34:14,776 --> 00:34:17,089 a huge hive of activity. 458 00:34:17,124 --> 00:34:21,197 NARRATOR: No-one knows what, but something causes a fire. 459 00:34:21,231 --> 00:34:23,199 ALISON: It's very cramped conditions, 460 00:34:23,233 --> 00:34:27,824 the men are working in deck areas with very low ceilings, 461 00:34:27,858 --> 00:34:29,826 it would have been lit by candles, 462 00:34:29,860 --> 00:34:32,070 they may have been smoking. 463 00:34:37,834 --> 00:34:41,148 NARRATOR: The fire quickly spreads to the magazine. 464 00:34:42,839 --> 00:34:45,911 Packed with 12 tons of gunpowder. 465 00:35:00,305 --> 00:35:02,893 After The London disaster, 466 00:35:02,928 --> 00:35:05,482 the Royal Navy standardizes tactics, 467 00:35:05,517 --> 00:35:09,141 procedures and equipment to try and improve safety. 468 00:35:12,248 --> 00:35:15,492 ALISON: Because of accidents like The London, 469 00:35:15,527 --> 00:35:19,738 they started to introduce tests to have more professional officers, 470 00:35:19,772 --> 00:35:24,087 so you really start to see the Navy changing after the loss of The London. 471 00:35:26,089 --> 00:35:28,091 NARRATOR: The Royal Navy evolves into one of the 472 00:35:28,126 --> 00:35:31,715 greatest military forces ever to go to sea. 473 00:35:32,889 --> 00:35:36,410 And it's this maritime strength that allows Britain 474 00:35:36,444 --> 00:35:39,689 to build a vast empire. 475 00:35:44,003 --> 00:35:46,799 London continues to grow. 476 00:35:46,834 --> 00:35:49,216 Spectacularly. 477 00:35:49,250 --> 00:35:53,599 By 1840, 2 million people live in the city, 478 00:35:53,634 --> 00:35:57,500 making it the biggest and most powerful in the world. 479 00:36:03,644 --> 00:36:06,854 Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, 480 00:36:06,888 --> 00:36:10,996 Britain's power draws her into numerous conflicts. 481 00:36:13,550 --> 00:36:16,277 Some very close to home. 482 00:36:23,250 --> 00:36:26,218 One and a half miles off the coast of Kent 483 00:36:26,253 --> 00:36:30,567 is a rusting hulk that still threatens London today. 484 00:36:36,332 --> 00:36:38,748 Naval architect, Dr. Nick Bradbeer, 485 00:36:38,782 --> 00:36:41,544 has spent his life studying ships. 486 00:36:41,578 --> 00:36:46,376 But he's never been face to face with one as deadly as this 487 00:36:47,688 --> 00:36:49,448 NICK: Right now I'm out in the Thames Estuary, 488 00:36:49,483 --> 00:36:52,382 and just over there we can see the three masts 489 00:36:52,417 --> 00:36:54,212 still above the waves. 490 00:36:54,246 --> 00:36:56,490 These buoys mark the edge of the exclusion zone, 491 00:36:56,524 --> 00:36:59,286 inside which boats are not allowed to enter. 492 00:37:00,252 --> 00:37:02,910 NARRATOR: The semi-submerged vessel is a permanent hazard 493 00:37:02,944 --> 00:37:05,223 to passing ships. 494 00:37:05,257 --> 00:37:07,501 NICK: The wreck is monitored by CCTV constantly, 495 00:37:07,535 --> 00:37:11,436 to avoid the risk of somebody coming out and colliding with it. 496 00:37:11,781 --> 00:37:14,404 NARRATOR: What kind of ship is this? 497 00:37:14,439 --> 00:37:16,268 Why is it here? 498 00:37:16,303 --> 00:37:19,167 And why is it so dangerous? 499 00:37:20,341 --> 00:37:23,827 Diving is difficult, visibility appalling, 500 00:37:23,862 --> 00:37:29,247 but, using 3D scan data we can reveal explosive secrets 501 00:37:29,281 --> 00:37:32,111 hidden under water. 502 00:37:36,184 --> 00:37:41,431 The metal hull of an enormous, 14,000 ton cargo ship emerges. 503 00:37:44,745 --> 00:37:47,713 The SS Richard Montgomery. 504 00:37:50,682 --> 00:37:54,030 Unseen for 75 years. 505 00:37:54,548 --> 00:37:59,277 From a time when London is in the front line of a global war. 506 00:38:06,698 --> 00:38:11,150 In 1940, Nazi Germany has taken over much of Europe. 507 00:38:12,428 --> 00:38:17,053 Next, Hitler's air force, the Luftwaffe, targets Britain. 508 00:38:22,161 --> 00:38:24,060 ERIC: What the Germans were trying to do was 509 00:38:24,094 --> 00:38:26,062 starve Britain out, 510 00:38:26,096 --> 00:38:28,444 because Britain depended on overseas supplies. 511 00:38:28,478 --> 00:38:30,860 So, therefore, if you could destroy the docks 512 00:38:30,894 --> 00:38:33,690 and if you could stop shipping coming up and down the Thames, 513 00:38:33,725 --> 00:38:36,141 then you would really affect the British economy and 514 00:38:36,175 --> 00:38:39,282 hopefully coerce Britain into a political settlement with Hitler. 515 00:38:41,422 --> 00:38:44,218 NARRATOR: The Thames becomes a battlefield. 516 00:38:44,252 --> 00:38:48,740 Cargo ships entering the estuar must run the risk of Nazi fire. 517 00:38:51,777 --> 00:38:54,539 The details from the drained wreck suggest that the 518 00:38:54,573 --> 00:38:58,508 Richard Montgomery is not a victim of an enemy attack. 519 00:39:01,477 --> 00:39:06,033 She's lying in two pieces, with a clean break. 520 00:39:06,067 --> 00:39:08,863 The damage is not typical of World War II bombs, 521 00:39:08,898 --> 00:39:11,832 torpedoes or sea mines. 522 00:39:12,488 --> 00:39:15,663 The drained wreck site reveals a clue. 523 00:39:15,698 --> 00:39:19,357 She's sitting astride a large sandbank. 524 00:39:29,090 --> 00:39:32,784 To an expert, the Montgomery's design is familiar, 525 00:39:32,818 --> 00:39:36,166 it's called a Liberty Ship. 526 00:39:37,305 --> 00:39:42,794 And Dr. Nick Bradbeer believes this could shed light on why it sank. 527 00:39:48,731 --> 00:39:51,768 Liberty ships are American made. 528 00:39:53,425 --> 00:39:56,704 An emergency response to the large number of merchant ships 529 00:39:56,739 --> 00:39:59,673 being sunk by the enemy. 530 00:40:02,917 --> 00:40:08,198 US shipyards produce over 2700 Liberty ships during World War II. 531 00:40:11,650 --> 00:40:15,413 The most ever made to a single design. 532 00:40:16,690 --> 00:40:20,003 The quickest build takes just four and a half days 533 00:40:20,038 --> 00:40:22,868 from start to finish. 534 00:40:27,873 --> 00:40:31,670 Liberty ships help break Hitler's stranglehold of Europe 535 00:40:34,673 --> 00:40:37,469 ERIC: They were vital components of the Allied Merchant Fleet 536 00:40:37,504 --> 00:40:40,852 that effectively provided the foundations of victory. 537 00:40:40,886 --> 00:40:45,373 NARRATOR: But building quick and cheap leads to problems. 538 00:40:46,167 --> 00:40:48,929 NICK: Liberty ships have a couple of well-known design flaws, 539 00:40:48,963 --> 00:40:51,138 they were made of a grade of steel which became quite 540 00:40:51,172 --> 00:40:53,209 brittle in low temperatures. 541 00:40:53,243 --> 00:40:56,039 NARRATOR: The ships are not riveted but welded together, 542 00:40:56,074 --> 00:40:58,697 which makes them weaker. 543 00:40:58,732 --> 00:41:01,459 NICK: Some of the ships simply broke in half at sea. 544 00:41:02,287 --> 00:41:04,496 NARRATOR: Delving into historical records, 545 00:41:04,531 --> 00:41:07,913 Nick pieces together the Montgomery's last voyage. 546 00:41:11,676 --> 00:41:16,646 August 1944, the ship leaves Hog Island, Philadelphia. 547 00:41:18,234 --> 00:41:22,031 After crossing the Atlantic it joins a convoy in the 548 00:41:22,065 --> 00:41:25,655 Thames Estuary destined for France. 549 00:41:28,969 --> 00:41:33,767 While moored up, strong tidal currents cause her to drag her anchor. 550 00:41:37,184 --> 00:41:39,842 NICK: She ran aground over the rafter on a a sandbar, 551 00:41:39,876 --> 00:41:41,982 and that probably didn't damage her very badly. 552 00:41:42,016 --> 00:41:44,053 But, that stuck her in place. 553 00:41:44,087 --> 00:41:48,954 NARRATOR: As the tide goes out the 7000 tons of cargo in the 554 00:41:48,989 --> 00:41:52,682 ship's hold is no longer supported by water. 555 00:41:52,717 --> 00:41:54,926 NICK: She started to bend and bend, and then 556 00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:57,894 eventually bent beyond her ability to withstand. 557 00:41:59,068 --> 00:42:03,141 NARRATOR: Under high stress, the deck plates fracture. 558 00:42:07,421 --> 00:42:10,079 As time passes, the fracture grows. 559 00:42:12,599 --> 00:42:15,878 Until the ship rips apart. 560 00:42:21,262 --> 00:42:24,542 Just one question remains, 561 00:42:24,576 --> 00:42:28,615 what is it about this wreck that makes it so dangerous? 562 00:42:30,237 --> 00:42:34,310 The answer lies in her deadly cargo. 563 00:42:41,904 --> 00:42:43,940 NARRATOR: The wreck of the Montgomery endangers 564 00:42:43,975 --> 00:42:46,598 shipping and lives. 565 00:42:48,496 --> 00:42:51,845 The drained vessel explains why. 566 00:42:51,879 --> 00:42:55,642 Some of her cargo can be glimpsed through cracks in the hull. 567 00:42:57,575 --> 00:43:00,301 Bombs. 568 00:43:00,336 --> 00:43:04,996 Further research uncovers the full inventory of explosives. 569 00:43:06,929 --> 00:43:10,104 Almost 300 2,000 pounders, 570 00:43:11,209 --> 00:43:14,592 over ten times as many 1,000 pounders 571 00:43:16,076 --> 00:43:19,493 and 2,500 cluster bombs. 572 00:43:20,321 --> 00:43:23,635 In total, 1400 tons of explosives 573 00:43:23,670 --> 00:43:26,845 lying at the bottom of the Thames. 574 00:43:31,436 --> 00:43:33,334 ERIC: Given the combination of the amount of explosives still 575 00:43:33,369 --> 00:43:35,923 on the ship and the location of the ship I would say she is 576 00:43:35,958 --> 00:43:39,064 probably the most dangerous ship in British waters. 577 00:43:40,721 --> 00:43:43,862 NARRATOR: To make matters worse... 578 00:43:45,105 --> 00:43:50,662 the wreck lies just 1.5 miles from the town of Sheerness. 579 00:43:51,974 --> 00:43:56,668 And four miles from a huge natural gas terminal. 580 00:43:58,359 --> 00:43:59,982 COLIN: It's been suggested it could be the biggest 581 00:44:00,016 --> 00:44:02,812 non-nuclear explosion in peace time. 582 00:44:02,847 --> 00:44:05,056 People have actually left the island in fear that something 583 00:44:05,090 --> 00:44:07,299 was going to happen. 584 00:44:10,268 --> 00:44:14,099 NARRATOR: It wouldn't be the first time a Liberty ship explodes. 585 00:44:14,997 --> 00:44:19,967 In 1944, US war operations continued to expand, 586 00:44:20,002 --> 00:44:22,901 Liberty ships, many packed with ammunition, 587 00:44:22,936 --> 00:44:25,732 set off around the world. 588 00:44:27,699 --> 00:44:29,252 Near San Francisco, 589 00:44:29,287 --> 00:44:32,670 the SS EA Bryan and the SS Quinault Victory 590 00:44:32,704 --> 00:44:37,053 are being loaded with ammunitio when they both explode. 591 00:44:39,262 --> 00:44:42,265 320 die. 592 00:44:43,542 --> 00:44:47,581 And in the Philippines the Liberty ship SS John Burke 593 00:44:49,514 --> 00:44:52,137 is hit by a kamikaze aircraft, 594 00:44:52,172 --> 00:44:55,244 causing the explosives on board to detonate. 595 00:44:55,278 --> 00:44:57,936 68 are killed. 596 00:44:59,317 --> 00:45:02,907 So, could the Montgomery also blow? 597 00:45:08,498 --> 00:45:12,330 More clues lie in the drained wreck. 598 00:45:13,089 --> 00:45:16,990 Close examination reveals a disintegrating deck house. 599 00:45:24,135 --> 00:45:27,310 And a collapsing deck plate. 600 00:45:31,487 --> 00:45:34,455 Failing parts of the ship could eventually hit or 601 00:45:34,490 --> 00:45:37,804 dislodge the bombs. 602 00:45:39,081 --> 00:45:41,877 Whether it's enough to cause them to detonate, 603 00:45:41,911 --> 00:45:46,502 and what the impact of what such an explosion would be, 604 00:45:46,536 --> 00:45:49,470 is impossible to know. 605 00:45:52,128 --> 00:45:53,716 CLIVE: Lots of people have looked at this, 606 00:45:53,751 --> 00:45:56,270 but nobody can give you a guarantee about anything. 607 00:45:59,273 --> 00:46:02,035 NARRATOR: To avoid a disaster, the British Government's 608 00:46:02,069 --> 00:46:06,384 policy is to cordon off and monitor the wreck. 609 00:46:07,419 --> 00:46:10,250 NICK: It's a difficult situation to know what to do, 610 00:46:10,284 --> 00:46:13,701 the risk always has to be balanced between 611 00:46:13,736 --> 00:46:16,739 doing something and that potentially actually 612 00:46:16,774 --> 00:46:18,637 making the situation worse, 613 00:46:18,672 --> 00:46:21,019 or, doing nothing, and monitoring. 614 00:46:21,054 --> 00:46:23,228 CLIVE: Nothing's happened much in the last 70 years, 615 00:46:23,263 --> 00:46:24,816 that's a fact, 616 00:46:24,851 --> 00:46:27,957 and trying to predict the future is difficult. 617 00:46:27,992 --> 00:46:30,442 I think if it's monitored and it's managed sensibly 618 00:46:30,477 --> 00:46:32,582 it will be fine. 619 00:46:40,556 --> 00:46:45,699 NARRATOR: Bloodshed, piracy, ruthless ambition and war. 620 00:46:48,529 --> 00:46:52,085 The story of London has it all. 621 00:46:53,880 --> 00:46:57,297 And whatever fate has in store, 622 00:46:57,331 --> 00:46:59,333 this city and its adaptable, 623 00:46:59,368 --> 00:47:01,439 enterprising people, 624 00:47:01,473 --> 00:47:05,753 will be at the heart of a world they helped create. 625 00:47:05,788 --> 00:47:06,962 Captioned by Cotter Captioning Services.