The Silent War

Episode one
For a period of history so steeped in secrets and submerged threats, a time when the specifics of plans were kept hidden from even the people carrying them out, what better object to target in a documentary than the submarine? This fascinating investigation, as the title suggests, goes into the hidden details of the Cold War that until now have remained closely guarded.

Both Brits and Russians give their accounts of life on these submarines, as nuclear threats from both sides held them in a paranoia-fuelled stalemate. But with on-board living conditions often better than those at home (entertainment and gourmet food: ‘Too many frogs’ legs,’ complains one crew member), there’s a surprising tone of upbeat nostalgia to the accounts; strange, considering what we now know was going on around them. With balance favoured over jingoism, it’s an honest, open and revealing doc, concluding next week and adding another layer to the BBC’s ongoing Cold War season.