marianoe-11449

First I really hate the use of WW2's updated HMS Barham CGI model to represent absolutely all the battleships (even the German battlecruisers!) at tactical level along the whole program, repeatedly stealing the center of the scene. Even more disgusting is that same ship appears at Opening Titles. It seems that someone was producing another documentary (about the sinking of HMS Barham, I suppose) and also did think: "HMS Barham was in Jutland… who cares about technical, pictorial or historic accuracy?" But honestly we know that isn't the only program with that kind of errors.

Many other accuracy ship's CGI animations are showing: HMS Indefatigable, HMS Black Prince, HMS Queen Mary but they sadly switch to WW2 updated HMS Barham when translated to tactical quad map. "Jutland WW1's Greatest Sea Battle" made me remembers that TV shows are entertainment and in order to keep us well documented we need to read books.

This documentary sails on wake of Jutland's Centennial but improves technical resources using surprising "Multibeam" Survey (April 2015); but I feel a little disappointed because the famous historian-diver don't dive, it may be that he explains why in his Naval Archaeology's book. There are also information about conditions of wrecks and even one interesting explanation about HMS Indefatigable case. If you want to know more… get the book.

Another original approach is based at Jellicoe's grandson claim for ancestral redemption, based in a map "fortuity founded between wall papers". The situation moves me to investigate and this man also wrote a book about Jutland's Battle. But he hasn't the last word because Dr. Grove comes to rescue the objectivity sentencing: "We didn't do a good job".

This documentary in two parts (part one "Mighty Hood" & part two "Sink The Bismarck") combines well both past history narration and reconstructions with sixty years later undersea videos from 2,000 meters below the surface captured by remote control vehicles which bring us much more than only the views of wreckages; British and German veterans add they own combat experiences to that of naval experts; specially emotive is the participation of Ted Briggs (one of three survivors of HMS Hood's demise) and former Bismarck crewmen. No doubt the British point of view rules the documentary but it includes also some technical aspects and human suffering from German side. Contrary to the fictionalized "Sink The Bismarck" movie from 1960, Admiral Lütjens is described by his son as a traditional non Nazi naval officer. So the program makes good balanced conjunction of entertainment, history, drama and technical facts. I really appreciate the CGI images because HMS Hood and Bismarck are each one represented by her own silhouette. Also it's very interesting when a former FAA pilot explains that Swordfish torpedo airplanes were forced to retire from final act of retaliation against the Bismarck.

Produced to commemorate the Century of Battle of Jutland, this program shows more or less same things we have watched several times in TV. The great new value is that human aspect of the battle improves to include not only casualties but also relatives and it breaks national boundaries displaying shocking long term effects on German civil population. It's the new strategic point of view that outclasses tactic accounts going beyond the battlefield, beyond the Northern Sea, beyond 1916 to the whole World and to the future; so today young generations learn how to appreciate his Heritage, seeing a parallel between then and now; military and civilian people read fragments of first hand Jutland History; with same intention Royal Navy locates some sites of undersea graveyards. New goals include an explanation about use of WWI optical telemeters, takes of gorgeous models of battlecruisers at Maritime Museum, actual battlecruiser plans, first time no CGI wrong ship's silhouettes, some views of Admiralty rooms, and again: the Human Dimension. Propellant ignition tests are very demonstratives but I don't like the "surprise" that Dr. Engineer exhibits seeing combustion of confined cordite; a scientist must know how powder, cordite and similar substances burning on function of circumstances (that's precisely the reason why they are used as propellants). The wood model sinking simulator remains below the level of credibility of any episode of "Mythbusters". Curiously according to new Grand Strategy approach, First Sea Lord changes previous opinion about Admiral Jellicoe. So the Blame Game aims today to some procedures at various levels of command.