News, Articles and Comment

Ed. With the precedent of HMS Ocean in mind, the author argues that the RN’s future Amphibious Transport Ships (ATS) should be through-deck and built to a mixed standard. A 30 minute read.

Ed. The vast population of this ‘sceptred isle’ is ‘sea blind’ or, if you prefer, ‘maritime illiterate’. We should acknowledge this as the steady state and the only thing that could change one’s appreciation would be total war.

Ed. As firepower and lethality increasingly become central to warfighting doctrine and escalation at sea, the reintroduction of ship and submarine tactical nuclear weapons has been proposed as a means of closing the gap. The author takes the argument for carrier-based nuclear weapons to task. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, July 2026. A 10 minute read.

Ed. The Naval Staff Research author argues that the post-Cold War ‘peace dividend’ era has come to an end, necessitating a total reconsideration of defence policy and warfighting doctrine. A 10 minute read.

Ed. A balanced and insightful investigation into the iconoclastic leadership style of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, master organiser and exacting operational planner. A 45 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book setting out to examine the air and sea battles of the Falklands War.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers John Nichol’s new book, Blitz, which provides a powerful, poignant and timely discussion of particularly the Home Front in the Second World War as well as contemporary challenges.

Ed. Originally published in two parts in 1999 [87/1, p. 3 & 87/2, p. 105], the author elaborated with particular clarity the strategic, operational and doctrinal rationale for what is now the current RN carrier aviation capability in the Joint Armed Forces post-Cold War environment. A 50 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book providing a detailed case study of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, exploring the rationale for the raid and its execution.