News, Articles and Comment

Ed. In July 1997 (NR 85/3, p. 202) Lt G D Franklin reviewed the experience of the British Pacific Fleet (BPF) in the war against Japan, observing that, although the valuable combat lessons paid dividends in Korea, by the time of the Falklands conflict they had seemingly been forgotten. Republished here for the 78^th anniversary of VJ Day. A 25 minute read.

Ed. The Naval Review‘s Briefing Room is being expanded to include expert summaries on UK Defence institutions and formations. Currently on file are summaries of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and, reproduced here, the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG).

Ed. For a number of recent editions we have been using the reverse of the address form that accompanies the hardcopy as another form of communication. Inevitably, a number of these are reaching the recycling bin unread, so for those that missed it, it is now included in the edition contents and reproduced here as well.

Ed. When was the last time we spent enough on Defence and Security, the nation’s insurance policy? The problem, of course, is that democratic nations decide the answer to this question through elected politicians, not the military; many wise people are involved in reviewing and offering their best analysis of the likely future turn of events but this, as history regularly reminds us, is an inexact science. It all boils down to how effectively we communicate the power of the argument – articulating the threat and the likelihood versus the size of the purse and the amount of risk a government is prepared to accept in the level of military and security capability it wishes to invest in.

Ed. The author echoes the sentiment of Jackthelad that, for the NR to grow its membership, it must recognize the reality of both time constraints and the issues that matter to the current generation of Service personnel. Three of the eight founding members of the NR were Lieutenants who no doubt recognised the risk to their careers they were making by joining the ranks of an organisation that was not universally welcomed. Nothing gets changed by saying nowt, so my plea to WatchOnStopOn and your contemporaries is write and we will publish, the Naval Review belongs to all of its membership. I am the Editor – not the censor.

Ed. The author continues his investigation into the Dartmouth Coronation Park submarine mystery, having gained some key allies and a Ground Penetrating Radar kit. A 10 minute read.

Ed. Jeremy Blackham highlights the weaknesses of Britain’s current strategic assumptions, demonstrated by the failure of the Western powers to prevent the Ukraine War despite ample warning.

Ed. As a memorial and in tribute of his extensive contributions, the Digital and Editorial teams have compiled a complete archive of James Goldrick’s Naval Review letters, articles, reviews and eulogies.

Ed. David Waters concluded his 1995-1996 series of reflections on the Battle of the Atlantic [84/2 & 84/3] by returning to the question of convoy ‘laws’ and his concern that ideological assumptions and abstract thought concerning future operations would once again take precedence over the scientific conclusions he had reached forty years before. A 25 minute read.