News, Articles and Comment

Ed. The author provides an overview of the Armada campaign of 1588, arguing that the fundamental flexibility of mission command can be seen in England’s early modern fleet leadership. A 10 minute read.

Ed. Our correspondent comments on NR 114/1’s report on the current status of the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB).

Ed. The authors consider the future of Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) in an operating environment increasingly defined by autonomous and hybrid systems, and provide recommendations for adaptation. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The author argues against the prevailing binary view of deterrence, favouring instead a grey zone or limited conflict model that places the RN as escalation manager, with nuclear Continuous At-Sea Deterrent (CASD) playing a vital deterrent role. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The author provides a command account of HMS Cattistock’s shadowing of the Russian intelligence ship Yantar in November 2024. A 10 minute read.

Ed. With critical decision-making in mind, our correspondent notes an illustrative case from the late Cold War, having had the potential for nuclear escalation.

Ed. The author’s self-examination of an equipment incident at sea, with important lessons for the present. A 10 minute read.

Ed. The author, an RNSSC 1SL Fellow, continues his ‘liminal advantage’ series [111/4, p. 40], with due regard to the imaginative demands of leadership in the maritime domain. A 30 minute read.

Ed. The author provides a biographical history of his father, Lt R S Frost RNR, a consummate professional who served aboard liners in the interwar period and met his fate as a Mediterranean submariner during the Second World War. A 20 minute read.