War Documentary hosted by Karl Ude-Martinez, published by UKTV in 2012 - English narration
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Documentary series which takes a look at the various weapons used on the battlefield throughout history and examines the devasting effects they would have had on the human body.
In days gone by, death came at close quarters. This was a time when warriors stood toe-to-toe with their enemy; when battlefields were confused hell holes where men hacked desperately at each other; where no mercy was expected and none was given. This series explores the realities of taking a crushing blow from a battle axe or being hit by a deadly arrow from a longbow. The experience of facing mortar and artillery fire; or of attacking into a hail of bullets from muskets or machine guns.
Instruments of Death place some of history s deadliest weapons in your hands. Through a series of innovative tests and modern experiments, you'll see at first hand the effects of the blade and the bullet on a human being. You'll find out how just effective shields, armour and helmets actually were. And how the wounds suffered by ordinary soldiers were treated on the battlefield.
This is a fascinating and immersive look at the stark truth of yesterday's wars a world far away from statistics and numbers and co-ordinates and demonstrates the dangers faced by those who were sent into battle to do or die
This exclusive 6-part series goes back to a time before precise pin-point weapons, computer guided missiles and drone strikes and looks at the hand-to-hand combat which for centuries saw soldiers standing toe-to-toe with their enemies hacking at each other with hand held weapons until one of them yielded.
From Roman times all the way through to WW1 the series takes a hands on approach with war re-enactments, first-hand tests and modern experiments; the viewers will discover the effects of blades, bullets and arrows on the human body and how they would be treated by surgeons on the frontline.
Each episode focuses on a different famous battle from history, and investigates why these Instruments of Death were created to inflict the most untreatable, bloody and mortal wounds possible.
A 'Top Gear' for weapons, Instruments of Death is a fascinating and modern look at the stark realities of battle!
Filmed and Directed by James Fowler ; A Like A Shot/Definition Media Production in Association with Yesterday/UKTV
4) Queen Boudica's Revolt: The Battle of Watling Street AD 61
Karl Ude-Martinez tests out swords, spears and armour as he revisits the bloody British uprising against the Roman Army. The Roman Army was the best equipped, best trained and most fearsome fighting machine of the age. When the united tribes of ancient Britain rose in revolt under the charismatic Iceni Queen Boudicca, it was fully put to the test before achieving final bloody victory at Watling Street in AD61. In this episode, Karl Ude-Martinez gets to use a Gladius sword and a Pilum spear, to test Roman armour and to hear how tactics were developed to inflict the worst possible wounds on the enemy.
