News & Views
The latest news and views in the UK Military Maritime Arena.
BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a 2021 reissue of Vice Admiral Sir Peter Gretton’s 1974 book Crisis Convoy, providing an account of convoy HX.231, amidst the wider context of the Battle of the Atlantic.
Ed. The author describes the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) developments in the Royal Norwegian Navy and NATO that will revolutionize mine countermeasure operations in the coming years. A 25 minute read.
Ed. Capt Stocker’s forthcoming Navy Records Society volume The Postwar Fleet is highly anticipated. Provided here is a sample document, written in 1949 by the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ralph Edwards, later Controller of the Navy and then Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean. It was circulated to the First Sea Lord and other members of the Admiralty Board. The original is held at the National Archives, Kew [ADM 205/83]. A 20 minute read.
Ed. The author explores the PQ17 disaster, questioning First Sea Lord Dudley Pound’s decision to scatter the convoy in the face of Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine threats. The principles of mission command should have left the decision to the convoy commanders. A 25 minute read.
Ed. The second article in the NR’s series featuring BRNC Pellew Division officer cadets. The author here examines the assets Finland and Sweden bring to NATO in the Arctic and Baltic, together representing a significant increase in the Alliance’s regional capability. A 15 minute read.
Ed. The author questions the ability of the Allies to successfully deter future Russian sub-threshold or hybrid operations, with narrow deterrence having failed both in Syria and Salisbury. The deniability of attacks on vulnerable undersea cables and infrastructure has been clearly demonstrated over the past two years. A 20 minute read.
Ed. The author considers the maritime implications for Russia’s naval forces in the Baltic and Black Sea, theatres where geopolitical developments or naval losses have significantly weakened the Russian Navy’s sea control capabilities. A 10 minute read.
Ed. The author, a Hudson Fellow at Oxford, answers the Chairman’s call from NR 111/4 to engage with the defence review process, contextualizing here over 70 years of history and lighting the way for the debate on Integrated Review 2025 looming ahead. A 15 minute read.
Ed. The Battle of Taranto of 11-12 November 1940 was an epoch defining event in the history of naval aviation and a decisive moment for the Fleet Air Arm. With the 83rd anniversary of the battle in mind, we reproduce here an American perspective on the Royal Navy’s pioneering development of aircraft carriers and the lessons for naval doctrine this history demonstrates. Originally published in July 1994 [82/3, p. 260]. A 30 minute read.