News, Articles and Comment

BRE. The latest book review is now available. Professor Andrew Lambert considers an edited volume in the Kiel Seapower Series, exploring how naval and maritime strategy is conceptualised and developed.

Ed. In an impressive and no-holds-barred investigation into the command decisions that led to the destruction of Force Z, reflecting on a tragically recurring and lethal combination of command over-confidence and staff obsequiousness, the author catalogues a cascade of failures that at innumerable stages were all too predictable. A 50 minute read.

Ed. The Royal Navy not only logistically enabled Wellington’s campaigns during the Peninsular War, but also acted as a force-multiplier during the critical operations at Cadiz, Lisbon and elsewhere. Originally published in 2010 [98/4, p. 385]. A 30 minute read.

Ed. The author questions the ability of the Allies to successfully deter future Russian sub-threshold or hybrid operations, with narrow deterrence having failed both in Syria and Salisbury. The deniability of attacks on vulnerable undersea cables and infrastructure has been clearly demonstrated over the past two years. A 20 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a new report by Dr Jerry Hendrix, who will be well-known to NR members, on the issue of naval presence.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book exploring the premodern history of great power conflicts along the maritime silk road, stretching from the Mediterranean to the shores of Japan, in order to help inform understanding of the current geopolitical environment in the Indo-Pacific.

Ed. The author considers the maritime implications for Russia’s naval forces in the Baltic and Black Sea, theatres where geopolitical developments or naval losses have significantly weakened the Russian Navy’s sea control capabilities. A 10 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers the third volume of a series exploring the development of warships of the Soviet fleets during the Second World War.

Ed. The Battle of Taranto of 11-12 November 1940 was an epoch defining event in the history of naval aviation and a decisive moment for the Fleet Air Arm. With the 83^rd anniversary of the battle in mind, we reproduce here an American perspective on the Royal Navy’s pioneering development of aircraft carriers and the lessons for naval doctrine this history demonstrates. Originally published in July 1994 [82/3, p. 260]. A 30 minute read.