News, Articles and Comment

Ed. Originally published in November 2013 [101/4, p. 325], the author’s concluding comments from his series [101/1, p. 10], [101/2, p. 132], [101/3, p. 230], on long-term budget trends during the Great Depression and Great Recession eras provides a framework for where the RN stands today. A 20 minute read.

Ed. Originally published in November 2012 [100/4, p. 363], members may find this article from the NR’s archive instructive as to how geostrategic developments in the Persian Gulf have changed (or not) over the past decade and a half. A 25 minute read.

Ed. Two letters responding to recent RN developments and advocating for reform.

Ed. Our correspondent comments on the question of Pompey Revs.

Ed. As flash-to-bang time decreases in the hypersonic era, our correspondent questions if nuclear deterrence remains viable.

Ed. With critical decision-making in mind, our correspondent notes an illustrative case from the late Cold War, having had the potential for nuclear escalation.

Ed. Our correspondent returns to the question of the Fleet Solid Support Ships, and points to the unprecedented nature of their proposed operation.

Ed. Our correspondent continues his narrative of Operation HIGHMAST during the recent transit of the Red Sea, reflecting on developments in those tense waters. A 5 minute read.

Ed. Churchill’s final volume of his war memoirs is titled Triumph and Tragedy: the theme of the volume is “how the great democracies triumphed and so were able to resume the follies which had so nearly cost them their life.” What did Churchill mean by tragedy? Was he referring to the incredible loss of life caused by the firestorms of Dresden and Tokyo or by the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Or was he lamenting the tragedy that, for most of Eastern Europe, he foresaw that one jackboot was to be replaced by another. As it wasn’t just the democracies that triumphed, the most successful victor of the Second World War was indeed Stalin claiming territories and spoils both in Europe and in Asia. Once again, we risk another tragedy as it looks increasingly likely the jackboots are on the rise.