News, Articles and Comment

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a short book exploring the Soviet development and deployment of river gunboats during the Second World War.

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.

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 an edited volume examining the evolution of the tactics, doctrine and technology in the first half of the 20th century for naval operations at night.

Ed. The author investigates the operational command style, risk strategy, and facility for delegation of Admiral Chester Nimitz, focusing on his management and employment of subordinates including the methodical Raymond Spruance and the larger-than-life ‘Bull’ Halsey. A 30 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book examining the largest sea battle in history, the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944.

Ed. The author argues that Britain’s current grand strategy has the hallmarks of uncertainty, having not yet settled on a strictly continentalist, or purely maritime strategy, one way or the other. If the Armed Forces are to be deployed effectively, it is imperative that clarity replace the current strategic ambiguity. Originally published in The Article. A 5 minute read.