Combat Ships

Combat Ships - Smithsonian Channel

Smithsonian Channel

Reality Series

2017

TVPG

Documentary

Military

War

Documentary series that tells the story of the evolution of maritime conflict.

Where to Stream

2017–2023 Reality Series 4 Seasons34 Episodes

Upcoming TV Airings

The airings below are based on a generic national schedule. Times and dates can vary by TV provider.

Thursday, March 20

Game Changers

Season 3 • Episode 1

Experimental ships and revolutionary designers that have changed the tide of war.

Thursday, March 20

Mutiny

Season 4 • Episode 5

A look at how technological advances over the centuries have transformed maritime warfare.

Thursday, March 20

Doomed Vessels

Season 2 • Episode 3

Featuring Britain's K13 submarine, HMS Hood, Sweden's 17th century Vasa, and Kublai Khan's fleet.

Thursday, March 20

Secrets of the Sea

Season 2 • Episode 5

Stories of espionage at sea, including deadly U-boat cat-and-mouse games during WWI.

Thursday, March 20

Courageous Captains

Season 4 • Episode 1

Exploring maritime heroes who left their mark on history through their bravery and skill.

Thursday, March 20

The Battle of Trafalgar

Season 3 • Episode 2

The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 pitted Napoleon's French ships against a British armada.

Thursday, March 20

Heroes of Guadalcanal

Season 4 • Episode 4

A comprehensive look at the naval battle of Guadalcanal and the efforts of U.S. sailors.

Thursday, March 20

Smugglers and Pirates

Season 4 • Episode 6

Maritime forces guard US waters and ships from pirates and drug smugglers.

Thursday, March 20

The Battle of Leyte Gulf

Season 2 • Episode 7

The Battle of Leyte Gulf in WWII was three days of ingenious strategy and white-knuckle combat.

Thursday, March 27

The Battle of Incheon

Season 3 • Episode 3

A crucial September 1950 military operation carried out by the ROK and UN amid the Korean War.

Thursday, March 27

Lightning Strikes

Season 4 • Episode 8

Examining some of maritime history's most effective and deceptive lightning strikes.

Thursday, March 27

Secrets and Lies

Season 1 • Episode 10

A look at how the art of deception was used by naval forces in the first half of the 20th century.

Thursday, March 27

Galleons and Privateers

Season 2 • Episode 6

Revolutionary ship design helped England defeat the Spanish Armada and become a world power.

Thursday, March 27

Metal War Ships

Season 1 • Episode 4

The evolution from wooden ships to metal ones in the second half of the 19th century is examined.

Thursday, March 27

World Wars

Season 1 • Episode 2

A look at how the role of battleships changed over the course of the First and Second World Wars.

Thursday, March 27

War Beneath the Waves

Season 1 • Episode 1

The 200-year evolution of the submarine in wartime is examined, told by the designers and engineers.

Thursday, March 27

Cold War Warriors

Season 1 • Episode 6

An up-close look at the naval carriers, destroyers, and nuclear submarines of the Cold War.

Thursday, March 27

Torpedo Boats

Season 1 • Episode 5

A look at some of the most fearsome torpedo boats, used by both sides during the World Wars.

Thursday, March 27

Hidden Figures

Season 4 • Episode 3

A 14-year-old enslaved powder boy who served during the French and Indian War.