The Warship: Tour of Duty

Following a welcome break in Cyprus, HMS Queen Elizabeth heads back to sea. But after passing through the Suez Canal, it's discovered that one sailor has contracted Covid. By the time the ship enters the Indian Ocean, Covid is spreading almost out of control, with 400 sailors in isolation.

With almost a third of the ship's labour force out of commission, command has to find ways of keeping the aircraft carrier operational, or the deployment could be seriously compromised or even abandoned. Most departments are forced to increase the length of their work shifts from eight to twelve hours, and tensions rise across the warship.

In the South China Sea, the warship launches anti-submarine helicopters to see off an unwelcome visit from the Chinese Navy.

After travelling over 20,000 miles, HMS Queen Elizabeth heads from Japan back to Guam for vital maintenance. After the sailors relax on a longer run of shore leave, the ship and her escorts sail in convoy with the American, Japanese and Australian navies for a show of strength in China's backyard.

After six months at sea on her first operational deployment, HMS Queen Elizabeth departs the Pacific for the long voyage home. Although it will be two months before the ship arrives back in Portsmouth, most are already thinking of family and Christmas.

As the ship makes its way across the Indian Ocean, the F35 jet pilots have to maintain a strict round-the-clock programme of launches and landings to ensure combat readiness - until, one morning, an F35 on a routine launch loses power at a critical moment.