News, Articles and Comment

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book exploring the takeovers of four dreadnoughts originally built for foreign navies, by the Royal Navy, their use in the First World War, and subsequent fates.

Ed. Originally published in 1963 [51/4, p. 430] as a reprint from Cross & Cockade magazine, the author provided a fascinating retelling of the final flight of Peter Strasser, the iconoclastic chief of Imperial Germany’s Naval Airships, who refused to recognize that by August 1918 British air defences had doomed the Zeppelins to military obsolescence. A 30 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It revisits Eric Grove’s 2005 The Royal Navy Since 1815. Whilst the book has been previously reviewed, new perspectives on important books are always welcome.

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 83^rd 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.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers Norman Friedman’s latest work on British Coastal Forces, and should be regarded as ‘the stand-out volume’.

Ed. The author expands on Lt Cdr Lester May’s research concerning the victualling of a Dreadnought-class warship at the beginning of the 20^th century. The proliferation of commodities supplied representing without doubt a vast logistical undertaking. A 25 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book exploring the construction of battlecruisers for the Royal Navy at John Brown’s Shipyard on the Clyde before and during the First World War.

Ed. The author considers the grand strategic temptation of seeking a flank to break the current, Huntingesque, East-West standoff. Engaging additional allies, or enemies, and perpetuating old conflicts worldwide has dangerous implications for the future of global stability. Originally published in The Article. A 10 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers an edited volume examining the evolution of the tactics, doctrine and technology in the first half of the 20th century for naval operations at night.