Decisive Weapons

Documentary looking at the design and role of the Hurricane during the Battle of Britain and World War II, and how it actually played a larger and more important role than the Spitfire, which is usually credited with repelling the Luftwaffe's air attacks in 1940. Ex-pilots talks about the plane and its qualities.

First invented by the British during the First World War, the aircraft carrier was frowned on by traditionalists. But Japanese recognition of the carrier's potential led to the devastating 1941 attack on the US fleet at Pearl Harbor.

Accurate over distances of 500 metres, and with a vastly increased rate of fire, the Springfield rifle marked a great leap forward in rifle technology. The first weapon to be mass-produced, it was used to devastating effect by Union soldiers during the American Civil War.

Initial U-Boat success in strangling the transatlantic supply routes began a battle to protect the Atlantic convoys. The Allies developed sophisticated anti-submarine warfare.

This programme looks into the origins and history of the samurai sword, considering the processes and engineering that went into its design and making, and its importance as a weapon in battle when repelling the Mongol invasions.

The F-117 A Stealth Fighter is the world's first operational combat plane designed to be invisible to radar. But while powerfully impressive during the Gulf War, doubts have persisted over the plane's ability to avoid radar detection. Is its reputation justified?