News, Articles and Comment

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 examines the importance of cultivating clear strategy and deploying balanced fleets in the Baltic operations of the Crimean War and Russian Civil War. In both cases the Royal Navy was engaged blockading enemy ports and striking at their harbours, frequently without direct orders from London, and with profound consequences for the national consciousness of the region. The parallels for today’s littoral operations in the Baltic and Black Sea are obvious. A 40 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.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a short book exploring the Soviet development and deployment of river gunboats during the Second World War.

Ed. For the bicentenary of Trafalgar Day in 2005, distinguished scholars and Naval Review members produced a series of articles on Nelson’s legacy for the 21^st century [93/4, p. 320]. Professor Geoffrey Till provided the following comparison between the then emerging Effects Based Approach (EBA) and the illusive Nelson Touch. Reprinted here for the 218^th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. A 20 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a volume exploring the naval relationship between the United Kingdom and Sweden over the past 500 years, and features contributions from a range of distinguished authors.

Ed. Major General Jim Morris RM is Standing Joint Force Commander (SJFC). Among his responsibilities is command of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Headquarters, for which the UK is the NATO-nominated framework nation. In this article he considers some of the security challenges faced in the Arctic High North and the Baltic regions and the importance of the JEF as a regional security framework for delivering security. A 10 minute read.

Ed. In a fascinating investigation of the real maritime capacities of Russia and NATO in the Baltic, the author concludes that the ascension of Finland and Sweden into NATO gives the Allies a crushing preponderance in those waters. Winner of the Eric Grove prize for BRNC Dartmouth. A 25 minute read

Ed. Employing the DIME model of Diplomatic, Information, Military and Economic analysis, the author proposes that a clear-sighted view of Britain’s post-First World War priorities in the Baltic may help to chart the hazards today. 20 mins.