Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group Showcased in New TV Documentary
A Channel 5 documentary offers a rare view inside HMS Prince of Wales during Operation HIGHMAST in October 2025. Former Royal Marine JJ Chalmers is embedded with the ship’s company throughout filming.
Production and access
True North Productions made the film. The company balanced storytelling with operational and personnel security.
Production teams have built trust with the Ministry of Defence to document frontline activity. That access enabled close coverage of carrier operations at sea.
Prior and upcoming series
True North’s past films include several naval titles. These featured multiple Royal Navy vessels.
- Warship: Life at Sea — filmed on HMS Duncan in the Black Sea and Gulf.
- Submarine: Life Under the Waves — filmed on HMS Trenchant.
- Warship: Life at Sea Series 3 — filmed on HMS Northumberland.
- Onboard Britain’s Nuclear Deterrent — featuring HMS Vengeance.
A further seven-part Warship series is set to be broadcast from 1st April. Episode one was filmed aboard HMS Iron Duke in October 2025.
That episode covered monitoring of the damaged Russian submarine RFS Novorossiysk as it transited UK waters. The vessel was returning from the Mediterranean.
Life aboard the carrier
Filming focused mainly on HMS Prince of Wales during HIGHMAST in October 2025. The carrier displaces about 65,000 tonnes and carries roughly 1,600 personnel.
The programme captures the wide range of shipboard work. It highlights engineering, logistics and daily routines during sustained deployment.
Air operations and threats
The film shows F-35 sorties over the northern Arabian Sea. Aircraft carried out live weapons training in a contested environment.
Operations took place within range of Iranian weapons. Iranian drones and missile systems were described as credible threats.
The coverage gives a sense of the intensity of modern carrier strike operations. It also shows pressures on crews during prolonged periods at sea.
Transit through the Red Sea
The documentary follows the carrier on its return passage through the Red Sea. The threat environment there changes and requires constant vigilance.
Houthi forces have repeatedly targeted shipping with missiles and uncrewed systems. The programme depicts heightened defensive readiness during that transit.
Broadcast details
The new TV documentary showcases the Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group in action. It will be shown on Channel 5 in the UK at 9pm on Wednesday 25th March.
Filmogaz.com covered the production details and screening schedule. Viewers can expect a close look at frontline naval operations.
