News, Articles and Comment

Ed. The author provides an update on the geostrategic energy aspect of the Ukraine War, with the expansion of the conflict in the Middle East in mind. A 5 minute read.

Ed. The practitioner author paints a stark picture of a casualty-intensive opening phase of a near-future Pacific war, employing lessons from the Second World War to argue that depth of capability must be actualised today. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, April 2026. A 10 minute read.

Ed. Originally published in November 2013 [101/4, p. 325], the author’s concluding comments from his series [101/1, p. 10], [101/2, p. 132], [101/3, p. 230], on long-term budget trends during the Great Depression and Great Recession eras provides a framework for where the RN stands today. A 20 minute read.

Ed. The author considers RN readiness from the perspective of Military Aid to Civilian Authorities (MACA). As crises accumulate, the temptation to employ the RN to respond where civilian institutions lack support can erode warfighting capacity. A 15 minute read.

Ed. When the 1980s Iran-Iraq War bled into the maritime sphere, the US Navy raced to halt depredations to oil shipments; the mine-warfare factor weighed heavily in the operation and offers lessons for today. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, June 2025. A 15 minute read.

Ed. Two letters responding to recent RN developments and advocating for reform.

Ed. The expert author, BMT’s Head of Business Development in the UK and Europe, provides a pathway for actualising the hybrid navy – and modernising RN warship procurement. A 5 minute read.

Ed. Our correspondent comments on the question of Pompey Revs.

Ed. The author reinforces the case for common sense port infrastructure national security priorities in terms of what he describes as “seamanship applied to national logistics.” A 15 minute read.