News, Articles and Comment

Ed. The author, previously published in the NR [113/3, pg. 424] and now with a new book out on the subject, employs his extensive knowledge of Allied mediterranean submarine operations to tell the story of HMS Seraph, a symbol of Allied resolve, which played a critical role in the TORCH landings. A 15 minute read.

Ed. With the Royal Navy declaredly pushing towards a ‘Hybrid’ fleet utilising several classes of complex ‘ship-like’ uncrewed vessels, the author, Associate Professor of International Security and Strategy at the University of Exeter, identifies key limitations of such autonomous naval systems and proposes that a lean-crewed model may instead offer distinctive advantages. A 25 minute read.

Ed. It will come as no surprise to the NR’s readership that Lord Cochrane, when he was faced with an amphibious problem, intended to attack with dogged determination. The author, Master in International Studies at the University of Santiago, Chile, examines two of Cochrane’s amphibious operations during the Chilean campaign of 1820, revealing the diametric results of Cochrane’s method. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The outgoing Captain BRNC reflects on the foundational reforms taken to modernise RN Officer Cadet training and education. A 15 minute read.

Ed. A balanced and insightful investigation into the iconoclastic leadership style of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, master organiser and exacting operational planner. A 45 minute read.

Ed. Rear Admiral James Goldrick AO CSC RAN (Retired) (1958–2023) was a towering figure in Australian and international naval thought – a commander at sea and ashore, a scholar of maritime history, and a teacher whose influence reshaped generations of naval professionals. His life’s work bridged the helm and the classroom, the bridge and the seminar room, the Royal Australian Navy, and its partners around the world. Given the breadth of his influence across command, education, and maritime thought, this volume seeks to consolidate and extend that legacy through critical reflection.

Ed. Through an imagined Socratic dialogue the author conveys to the younger generation the heroism of Shackleton’s rescue of the Endurance crew in August 1916. A 20 minute read.

Ed. With Operation HIGHMAST complete, the author, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group (COMUKCSG), provides a retrospective on the deployment, demonstrating the range of defence engagement, diplomacy and deterrence embodying the flagship mission. A 10 minute read.

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.