The Story of the Armed Forces is a story of weapons, battles, glorious victory and embarrassing defeats. Featuring rare and unseen film, it is a fitting tribute to the most momentous century in the history of Britain's exceptional armed forces.

The Army's story is one of ever improving technology - but above all is the story of the soldier. Employing the massive technological improvements of the last 100 years, the soldier's importance on the battlefields have not diminished whatever the situation demands - advancing from mud-filled trenches on the Somme battlefield, racing across the North African desert, dropping by parachute into Normandy, fighting through the jungles of Burma or peace-keeping in far flung parts of the world.

Throughout the 20th century, the Royal Navy has maintained its place as one of the world's major maritime powers. The turn of the century saw a race for naval supremacy, leaving the Victorian era behind and ushering in the age of the massive battleship, the Dreadnought. This era may have passed but the aircraft carriers, frigates and destroyers have kept the tradition of the Royal Navy as strong as ever, as have the men and women who serve on them.

The Royal Air Force has defended Britain's skies and those of her Empire and allies for most of the last century. Spawned from both the British Army and the Royal Navy, the RAF fought hard to maintain its independence after the success of the First World War. It was not until the Second World War however, that the RAF was able to show its true worth. While Fighter Command defended Britain from the Luftwaffe, Bomber Command took the fight across the Channel into war torn skies over Germany. And while Coastal Command patrolled the vital sea-lanes of the Atlantic, Transport Command flew to all corners of the world supplying and reinforcing hard pressed ground forces.

The programme includes spectacular footage of Spitfire and Hurricane battles against Me109s and the massed bomber raids over Germany, and concludes by following the RAF through more than 50 years of the jet age from the first Meteors to the low level Tornado attacks during the Gulf War.