News, Articles and Comment

Ed. This article investigates the role of the aircraft carriers and battleships involved in, and otherwise enabling, Operation OVERLORD. The proper application of naval power over the course of the war ensured Allied victory, with capital ships and escort forces playing important roles in all theatres. Based on a presentation given to the Lunchtime Lecture Series of the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre, 17 October 2023. A 20 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers one of Osprey’s Campaign series, providing a big-picture overview of Operation PEDESTAL in 1942.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers Paul Kennedy’s maritime history of the Second World War and how it shaped the development of post-war global order.

Ed. The author investigates the perhaps surprising legacy of early 20^th century warship provisioning. While the cornucopia of commodities required to provision a Dreadnought-class battleship is to be expected, the long duration and haphazard nature of the victualing system emphasizes historical continuity and institutional ossification in an otherwise transformative era. A 30 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. it considers a new book, due to be published on 26 October, examining the story of the convoy HG-76, and the tactical innovations developed and employed by Commander Johnny Walker in its defence.

Ed. For the bicentenary of Trafalgar Day in 2005, distinguished scholars and Naval Review members produced a series of articles on Nelson’s legacy for the 21^st century [93/4, p. 320]. Professor Geoffrey Till provided the following comparison between the then emerging Effects Based Approach (EBA) and the illusive Nelson Touch. Reprinted here for the 218^th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. A 20 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a new book by Brian Lavery examining the construction of wooden warships for the Royal Navy in the Georgian era.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book examining the experiences of the Merchant Navy in the Second World War, with the author being a retired merchant navy master himself.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book exploring the Royal Navy’s contribution to the fishery protection role from the 14th century to the present.