The original underdog story: England's 'itty bitty' navy vs. Spain's floating fortress of doom.
60 minSeason 1 • Episode 3
LatestNewly discovered documents reveal a remarkable web of misunderstandings that stopped the Spanish from invading, and show how the English victory forged the reputation of Elizabeth.
Three-part documentary about the sinking of the Spanish Armada, featuring dramatic reconstructions and information gleaned from recently recovered documents. Dan Snow takes to the sea to tell the story of how England came within a whisker of disaster in summer 1588.
Production
Ship reconstructions that actually float (unlike Spain's).
Acting
Anita Dobson's Elizabeth: regal, paranoid, iconic.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'recently recovered documents' include Spanish muster rolls showing their sailors were dying of disease before even reaching England.
The 'Drake's game of bowls' story is probably propaganda—this doc quietly lets that myth drown.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
GB
