News, Articles and Comment

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book exploring the construction of battlecruisers for the Royal Navy at John Brown’s Shipyard on the Clyde before and during the First World War.

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. Canon James Hawkey frames the debate ahead of the BRNC Naval Review lecture on 14 November. The moral conduct of war in the 21^st century remains an imperative. The author maintains that the Church has a role to play transcending politics and acting as a beacon for all faiths. A 5 minute read.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. It considers a book examining the latter part of the Napoleonic Wars, and the consequences of the end of that conflict for the Royal Navy.

BRE. The latest book review is now available. it considers an edited volume examining the naval roles and contribution to operations other than traditional war-fighting.

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.

Ed. The author notes the danger of assuming unimpeded access for the RFA’s Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships (MROSS) to contested waters in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere.

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.