News, Articles and Comment

Ed. If a cyber-attack paralyses a dockyard or a disrupted supply chain prevents a critical repair, the resulting loss of fleet availability constitutes a military defeat achieved by civilian means. The era of the homeland as a sanctuary is over. This article, by the NR’s Chairman, challenges the unhurried pace of current government resilience planning, arguing that the Royal Navy must adopt a National Support Base mindset and apply the same rigorous, FOST-style testing to its civilian dependencies as to its warships. A 20 minute read.

Ed. The author’s straightforward study of naval strategy in the Great War, comparing British, US and German approaches. In the final analysis, quantity produced a quality all of its own. A 15 minute read.

Ed. For Bastille Day, the author considers the past and future of the relationship between the Marine Nationale and the Royal Navy, a vital pillar in the European defence architecture. With a foreword by the First Sea Lord. A 20 minute read.

Ed. Two letters reflecting on cultural and doctrinal transformation in the NATO naval realm.

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. The expert author tackles the thorny question of academic freedom in the US Professional Military Education field. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, June 2026. A 10 minute read.

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. Two letters highlighting institutional learning, whether for better in the service of ceremonial fleet reviews or for worse in terms of political-bureaucratic stagnation.

Ed. If the recent conflict in the Middle East has confirmed anything, it is that sea power remains essential to our nation’s prosperity. Much has been written about Operation EPIC FURY, the rapidly evolving threats we face and our ability to counter them, and how advances in drones, uncrewed and autonomous systems have forever changed the way we fight. But some things remain constant, as evidenced by Iran shutting the Strait of Hormuz, the vital maritime chokepoint through which a fifth of the world’s oil transits.