News, Articles and Comment

Ed. NR Editor Richard Hill penned this review of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach’s memoir, Endure No Makeshifts, in 1994 [82/1, p. 79]. Reprinted here for the 100^th anniversary of Sir Henry Leach’s birthday.

Ed. The clarity and unity of purpose of state-on-state conflict over the centuries is a panacea that modern leaders must marvel at – in how relatively simple the world once was. Today’s interconnected, complex, and ambiguous global wicked problems present too many challenges to accommodate the security aspirations of the medium powers. We British wish to remain a global player yet our security options remain over-stretched and under-resourced. I suspect the new Secretary of State for Defence was given clear riding instructions to maintain a steady course and speed as well as under no circumstances rock the boat. As transparent as that is ‘events, dear boy, events’ are the greatest threat to his direction.

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.

Ed. The author, the only serving female RN Commando and currently a helicopter pilot in training, explores in this retrospective to her younger self the practical and mental lessons that motivated her to excel in her challenging and inspiring career. A 10 minute read.

Ed. As a diversity and inclusion resource for Black History Month, in the second article of a two-part series, the author examines how slavery, the law and conflict pushed black sailors into the Royal Navy before and after Trafalgar, and how those black sailors were treated. A 40 minute read.

Ed. The author takes to task the combination of factors, personnel and hull numbers in particular, that have strained the Submarine Service to meet the demands of ever increasing global commitments.

Ed. The author revisits the old chestnut of FAA control: should naval aviation, vital to the RN’s strike group doctrine, reside under RAF or RN control?

Ed. The author contemplates the implications of the ‘Art of Admiralty’, as explored in NR 111/3, for the mindset of the RN’s leadership as a cultural component of a maritime nation in today’s complex operating environment. A 5 minute read.

Ed. The author agrees with Cdr de Silva that much has changed in the “promotion sweepstakes” but that service culture bottlenecks and educational barriers still linger.