News, Articles and Comment

Ed. The author, previously the navigator on board the USS South Dakota (SSN-790) and New Jersey (SSN-796), currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at MIT, argues that the USN has drifted into a depleted SSBN force, but prudent reforms may yet carry forward strategic deterrence. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, October 2026. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The author, a retired RN warfare officer, argues for sub-strategic Trident as a prudent escalation measure. A 10 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book examining the evolution of ASW through the Cold War.

Ed. Our correspondent questions the Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD) from a perspective of cost and strategic choice for the future of the Submarine Service.

Ed. Originally published in July 2000 [88/3, pg. 204], this far-sighted article took aim at the inherent risk of ‘peace dividend’ logic in the increasingly volatile post-Cold War world, in which missile defence and nuclear proliferation were certain to become strategic concerns. A 15 minute read.

Ed. As firepower and lethality increasingly become central to warfighting doctrine and escalation at sea, the reintroduction of ship and submarine tactical nuclear weapons has been proposed as a means of closing the gap. The author takes the argument for carrier-based nuclear weapons to task. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, July 2026. A 10 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book exploring the history of the Royal Navy’s submarine forces during the Cold War.

Ed. By the time you read this in the hardcopy, the NATO Summit in Ankara will have taken place. However, this article by the Naval Review’s Chairman gives a clear indication, and a warning, of the general direction in which the United States wishes to steer the Alliance. A 15 minute read.

Ed. This article argues that although the Ukraine War has degraded Russian conventional forces, Moscow’s hybrid and grey zone warfare capability remains a persistent and growing national security concern. A 15 minute read.