News, Articles and Comment

Ed. Originally published in November 2012 [100/4, p. 363], members may find this article from the NR’s archive instructive as to how geostrategic developments in the Persian Gulf have changed (or not) over the past decade and a half. A 25 minute read.

Ed. The author provides an overview of the Russo-Japanese War as a watershed for the naval history of the 20^th century. A 10 minute read.

Ed. The author investigates the crisis planning and political justifications for the US invasion of the island nation of Grenada on 25^th October 1983. A 15 minute read.

Ed. An important retrospective on the RN’s role in the Pacific, revealing patterns in the history of the last 150 years. Delivered originally as a Royal Navy Club speech onboard HMS Belfast, 6 June 2025. A 20 minute read.

Ed. Utilising econometric analysis, the author contends that the Covid pandemic may have represented the dénouement of a long period of post-war western decline. A 20 minute read.

Ed. The author continues his analysis of the Russo-Ukraine War [110/4, p. 482 & 112/1, p. 21], by contrasting the countervailing narratives presented by ‘Expansionists’ and ‘Realists’ and suggests a ‘Westphalian’ approach to peace. A 5 minute read.

Ed. Originally published in 1958, the author provided an instructive narration of Allied amphibious operations against Finnish and Russian coastal fortifications in the Baltic during the years 1854-5 of the Crimean War. Reproduced from the NR’s archives [46/2, p. 136]. A 30 minute read.

Ed. Based on considerable historical precedent, the author argues that any future settlement in Ukraine will have to take into account divisions in society along media, church and minority lines. A 20 minute read.

Ed. It would be more than fair to say that my editorials over the last two years have been rather gloomy. People often ask for an injection of humour into the Naval Review which is one I fully support so please help me in restoring the wonderful more amusing side of naval life into these hallowed pages. That said, despite my best efforts, I am struggling to spot what we currently have to shout about beyond the awesome exploits of Mr Joesph Root this Summer and Autumn!