Warships Pod

In this episode host Iain Ballantyne and returning guest Dr Gary Blackburn convene to discuss the substance, or otherwise, of the UK's recently published Strategic Defence Review (SDR) paper. They also tackle topics relating to the Israel-Iran War, the British reaction to it and also what President Donald Trump may or may not do next. Gary proposes that the UK SDR paper was more of a template than anything else, and in fact amounted to a rather big fudge.  Iain suggests that UK politicians have not yet woken up the to the sheer scale of effort needed - and also urgency required - to properly defend the nation. For example, submarines appear fundamental to the SDR's vision of national defence and yet the Submarine Service itself is not really getting what it needs to be ready to operate future vessels. In sharing his considerable expertise on how Defence economics work, Gary touches on the UK's creative accounting - ‘cooking the books'. It sees things that are not really part of Defence slotted into the UK's supposed proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) devoted to creating robust and capable military forces (plus what it needs to qualify for NATO membership). The worth of drones and A.I. versus the need for more frigates and submarines is among other things weighed up during a lively chat that also considers the viability of the UK's new ‘Atlantic Bastion' concept. •Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull. He has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on X at @gjb70 •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn For more on Warships IFR www.warshipsifr.com 

Our guest is John Foreman, naval officer and former UK Defence Attaché in Moscow and Kyiv. He provides amazing insights into what it was like dealing with the regime of Vladimir Putin as Russia invaded Ukraine and reflects on other dealings with the Russians, at sea and ashore. Topics discussed include the halcyon days of the old Cold War ending at sea between the Royal Navy and Russian Navy - amid a fair bit of amity - when the anti-submarine and intelligence-gathering frigate HMS London sailed to Murmansk and Archangel on a defence diplomacy mission. John shares his memories of that summer 1991 voyage, in the wake of the farcical ‘hardliners coup' in Moscow, with several memorable aspects discussed. Podcast host Iain Ballantyne asks John to outline his subsequent exploits as Defence Attaché in Kyiv (2008-2011) and in Moscow (2019-2022). In addition to explaining how he came to be honoured by Ukraine and banned by Russia, John relates what it was like as the relations between the UK and Vladimir Putin's gangster state with nukes deteriorated. Events for which John provides a Moscow embassy insider's perspective include: the HMS Defender ‘Black Sea incident' of 2021; the run in to Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine; what it was like to under constant surveillance - including harassment - from Russia's security services as Putin's military tried to conquer Ukraine. In looking at relations between the UK and Russia as the new period of confrontation beds in, John suggests that - despite the hostility - efforts must be made to stay engaged diplomatically. He also explains how the Royal Navy is a key tool in keeping pressure on Russia, by refusing to cede ownership of international waters  and deterring it from further aggression. The next (June) edition of Warships IFR is published on 16.5.25 in the UK and is also deployed globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow us on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 For more on various editions of the magazine https://bit.ly/wifri •John Foreman CBE is a naval officer who commanded two warships and a former UK Defence Attaché in Moscow and Kyiv. He has also worked in Washington D.C., NATO and in the EU. He is an Associate Fellow of Chatham House and acts as a senior advisor to various UK defence consultancies. John bills himself on X as ‘banned by Russia and decorated by Ukraine.' Follow him on X @John_ForemanCBE •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

In this episode of the Warships Pod guests David Murrin and Dr David Blagden, with help from host Iain Ballantyne, discuss a worldwide struggle in a multi-polar era that is rapidly turning kinetic - from Ukraine, to the Red Sea and Gaza. It may soon burn even hotter should China invade Taiwan and/or the USA attack Iran. A number of topics are discussed during this episode, including the following: *Does the European Union (EU) have a place in such a world, at the top table? Or is it going to be sweeping up the crumbs along with the UK, the latter finding itself a bridge to neither the USA or the EU? *Bearing in mind the UK is a maritime nation, is committing what remains of the British armed forces to policing a frozen war in Ukraine unwise? Do we risk a situation where things get bogged down in that theatre while the Russians run amok at sea, with the UK defenceless? *With concerted attacks by US Navy carrier jets and cruise missile attacks by other USN units against the Houthis in Yemen is it at odds with the Trump administration's supposed urgent priority of facing down China and its huge navy? Every missile expended against the Houthis is surely one less for use against the Chinese? *Narrowing the discussion down to the UK, with the Labour government announcing plans to cut welfare to pay for Defence boosts, how do the two Davids think the Royal Navy should mould itself? Finally - and this is a big one for the episode's final point of discussion - are we heading inexorably towards what the tabloids might call WW3? Or can it be avoided? The May 2025 edition of Warships IFR is published on 22.4.25 in the UK and also deployed globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 For more on various editions of the magazine https://bit.ly/wifri •Dr David Blagden is Associate Professor in International Security and Strategy at the University of Exeter. Dr Blagden has previously worked in the Cabinet Office, regularly consults for several UK Government departments, and has served as Specialist Advisor to a Parliamentary Select Committee. He is also a Senior Associate Fellow of the NATO Defense College and a Visiting Fellow of the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre. Find him on X @blagden_david • David Murrin is a Global Forecaster, investor, polymath and author of ‘Breaking the Code of History' (2011). He has a talent for spotting and analysing deep-seated patterns in history and using them to try and understand the present and also where we might be going in today's turbulent geopolitical scene. His other books are ‘Lions Led by Lions' (2018), ‘Now or Never' (2021) and ‘Red Lightning' (2021). The latter is a work of faction that depicts China winning a world war. David Murrin's web site is https://www.davidmurrin.co.uk/about Find him on X @GlobalForecastr •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR' magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

In this episode of the Warships Pod Dr Gary Blackburn returns to have a chat with host Iain Ballantyne about the impact of the second presidency of Donald Trump. Topics discussed include the transactional fashion in which the returning POTUS runs domestic and foreign policies along with defence matters, plus how he seems intent on creating a tripolar world in which the USA, Russia and China have their spheres of influence and every other nation must fall in line. Gary points out that none of it should be a shock and while a sense of moral outrage is understandable over some aspects, Trump made no secret of what he intended to do and why. Touching on NATO and its future, Gary suggests it may not be ‘a dead duck'. Iain asks Gary if a major difference between how the Trump administration operates and other US Presidents (and their teams) is that they put everything out there, rather than have big falling outs with allies behind closed doors? Among the other things Iain and Gary talk about are: the UK's habit of taking ‘capability holidays' and expecting the USA in years past to fill in the gaps; concerns about UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ‘boots on the ground and jets in the air' proposal for peace-keeping in Ukraine; the UK defence budget and its inclusion of sea-based nuclear weapons and military pensions to ‘cook the books'; the global proxy war between the West and its allies on the one hand and Russia/China/N. Korea on the other; the importance for the UK staying militarily engaged beyond Suez. Looking at the UK's new Strategic Defence Review, Gary ponders whether or not raising the defence budget to 2.5 per cent by 2027 is enough and the dubious move to cut amphibious warfare vessels from the Royal Navy at this turbulent time. The April 2025 edition of Warships IFR magazine, which is mentioned during this podcast episode, is out on March 21st. For more details of Warships IFR and its various editions visit http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull. He has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on X at @gjb70 Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

In the second of our podcast episodes devoted to the State of the US Navy - as it and a troubled world sail into 2025 - guest David Axe chats with host Iain Ballantyne. A range of topics, including many covered in the recently published Warships IFR ‘Guide to the US Navy 2025', are covered in the discussion. After giving his overall take on the America's navy David provides his perspective on how Donald Trump taking office as President for a second time might affect NATO. Iain wonders even if the new POTUS does not pull the US out of the Alliance, might he still scale back the number of destroyers committed to providing Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) for Europe? Also touched on is the US-led naval and air campaign to stop Houthi rebels of Yemen firing missiles and drones at merchant shipping. Can even the mighty US Navy sustain such a commitment and expenditure of munitions? Looking to Indo-Pacific, Iain asks what the chances are of China invading Taiwan in 2027, as some are suggesting and could the US Navy lose that battle if it happens? Turning to the AUKUS defence pact, David weighs up how the plan to provide Australia with nuclear submarines is faring and whether or not President Trump might axe it. Looking at the specific arms of the US Navy, Iain asks David for his perspective on how the following are shaping up as we head into a turbulent future: the surface force; the submarine force; naval aviation; the US Marines   To obtain the ‘Guide to the US Navy' bit.ly/3z8ms4F And please check out the latest edition of the monthly magazine. For print subscriptions: https://bit.ly/Wifrsubspe  For digital subscriptions: https://bit.ly/Wdpm * A long-time Warships IFR contributor David Axe also writes for ‘Forbes' and 'The Daily Telegraph'. His most recent book is ‘Drone War: Vietnam' (Pen & Sword Military). Follow him on X @daxe * Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

In the first of two podcast episodes on the State of the US Navy as it (and a troubled world) sail into 2025, guest Dr Emma Salisbury chats with host Iain Ballantyne They look first of all at areas Emma wrote about in the recently published Warships IFR ‘Guide to US Navy 2025', namely: the USA's ‘shipbuilding woes'; the future size and composition of the USN; the US Navy and AUKUS - is it mission impossible? And is there a solution for the latter - enabling the AUKUS project to survive - should it be impossible to provide the Australians with Virginia Class attack submarines (SSNs) off American production lines? Among other topics discussed are the impact of the second Trump presidency (as the new POTUS takes office in January 2025). Also, what kind of message is the UK sending to the USA by cutting naval vessels ahead of its own defence review? Emma and Iain look at how US Navy anti-missile and drone defences may evolve and other topics include the elephant in the room - the future of NATO, and whether or not President Trump will pull the USA out of the Alliance.  The importance of drones and how they might enhance American naval mass and global presence is weighed up, along with how important the US Navy is to us all. To obtain the ‘Guide to the US Navy' https://warshipsifr.com/news/guide-to-the-us-navy-2025/ And please check out the latest edition of the monthly magazine. For print subscriptions: https://sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/subscribe/warships.htm  For digital subscriptions: https://bit.ly/Wdpm * Dr Emma Salisbury is a fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, specialising in naval matters, defence-industrial policy, and military procurement. She recently completed her PhD with a dissertation focused on the history of the US military-industrial complex. She is also a senior staffer for a UK Member of Parliament and an assistant editor at War on the Rocks. Follow her on X @salisbot * Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

As the United Kingdom strives to maintain a credible strategic deterrent in the face of Russian aggression – including threats from President Vladimir Putin to ‘go nuclear' due to alleged Western interference in the Ukraine War - our guest on the podcast is Dr David Blagden. Together with podcast host Iain Ballantyne he considers the case for augmenting the UK's sea-based Trident missile force. Among other things, Iain wonders if a driver might be the sheer stress imposed on the Royal Navy's (RN's) ballistic missile submarines by very long patrols. Bearing in mind developments such as Moscow changing its nuclear doctrine yet again - in response to Ukraine using long-range missiles inside Russia itself - do the UK and France (as Europe's nuclear weapons powers) and also the USA - need to place more focus on ‘sub-strategic' potential? And what does that mean? Is it too dangerous to even contemplate due to the difficulty in knowing whether or not a Trident submarine is launching a full-scale strategic nuclear missile or a lower yield sub-strategic strike? Iain asks if the West's nuclear deterrent as a whole has been invalidated by the Ukraine War. Moscow was not deterred from invading Ukraine. But, there again, it has refrained from unleashing its entire military power and has not made a direct move against NATO, or used nukes…yet.  And are European powers, with their comparatively weak conventional forces, in danger of relying on nuclear weapons as a first line of defence rather than a last resort? Finally, as we possibly head towards some kind of negotiated end to the Ukraine War under the new Trump presidency, where is UK and European defence going and will Britain's Strategic Defence Review (SDR) rise to the occasion? Shortly before the podcast episode was recorded the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed more naval cuts – months before the results of the SDR are announced. Being axed are a frigate, two amphibious warfare command ships and a pair of Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) tankers. Iain and David discuss those development too and their implications. •The next (January 2025) edition of ‘Warships IFR' is published on 20.12.24 in the UK and also deployed globally. It will include articles touching on some aspects of topics discussed in this podcast episode. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 For more on various editions of the magazine https://bit.ly/wifri • Dr David Blagden is Associate Professor of International Security and Strategy at the University of Exeter. He has served as Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords' International Relations and Defence Committee, consulted for various HM Government departments, and given evidence to several Parliamentary Select Committee inquiries. Dr Blagden is also a Visiting Fellow of the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre and a Senior Associate Fellow of the NATO Defence College. He has written for outlets including The Guardian, The Spectator and the New Statesman. Follow him on X @blagden_david Dr Blagden wrote about the UK and its potential need for nuclear deterrent augmentation in the November 2024 edition of Warships IFR. To obtain that edition visit https://sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/products,november-2024_586.htm •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR' magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn or Bluesky @iainballantyne.bsky.social

Dr James Bosbotinis draws on his considerable expertise in naval weaponry and the threats they pose, along with offering insights into geopolitical developments that do not augur well for world peace. The discussion with host Iain Ballantyne includes the part played by the US Navy and Royal Navy defending international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden against attack by the Houthi rebels of Yemen, along with Iranian ballistic missile and drone blitzes on Israel. Western naval stocks being depleted at a time when the threat from Russia and China must also be deterred is considered, along with whether or not Directed Energy Weapons (lasers) offer a cheap, less expensive, means to tackle incoming drones and missiles. Going back to the future is also likely, Iain and James agree, with Western warships bristling with guns. The Iranian-Russian alliance, and also Moscow's co-operation with North Korea, crops up in the chat, as does Russia sending military advisors to assist the Houthis in targeting Western warships and merchant vessels. Iain and James discuss Putin possibly supplying even more deadly missiles to the Houthis, raising the prospect of a latter-day Cuban Missile Crisis. Moscow may well miscalculate and cross a red line that could lead to major war with the West, a conflict stretching around the globe with worldwide repercussions. How Russia might deal with NATO after the Ukraine War draws to an end is also touched on during the conversation, not least the UK's lack of ballistic missile defences, and the need for the West's political and military leaders to create credible deterrence that defeats Moscow's nuclear blackmail. • Dr James Bosbotinis is a freelance specialist in defence and international affairs and the Book Reviews Editor of ‘The Naval Review'. He has written widely on issues including: development of maritime strategy, long-range strike technologies (including hypersonic weapons) and their impact on strategy; Russian naval and wider military modernisation; China's evolving strategy and naval force development. Dr Bosbotinis contributes to various international media outlets. He is also an Associate Member of the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies, King's College London. For more information about Dr Bosbotinis visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbosbotinis He is on X @JamesBosbotinis •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR' magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn The next (November) edition of ‘Warships IFR' is published on 18.10.24 in the UK and also deployed globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 For more on various editions of the magazine https://bit.ly/wifri

Our guests on this episode of the podcast are Dr Emma Salisbury and Will Freer, who recently wrote a commentary for Warships IFR, headlined ‘How to Achieve a More Lethal Royal Navy', which was based on their recent report for the Council on Geostrategy. Here they discuss various topics associated with the report with podcast host Iain Ballantyne. They include the Royal Navy's role today, what ‘being more lethal' means in reality and also component parts of ‘more lethality'. In addition, the ideal size of the Royal Navy's destroyer and frigate force is touched on and also the importance of fleet size, especially in the drone era. Other aspects of lethality are highlighted, including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the importance of an efficient recruitment system for the RN (along with retention of those already in the Naval Service). Iain asks if, in light of the new UK Government, how likely we are to see a pruning back of current warship orders, for the Type 26 and/or Type 31 frigates. With the scars of the notorious 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) still running deep - and the state of UK Defence not getting much better during subsequent reviews - can we be optimistic about the defence review now underway, especially with Lord Robertson at the helm? Or can we kiss hopes for a more lethal Royal Navy goodbye? To read Emma and Will's report, called ‘A more lethal Royal Navy: Sharpening Britain's naval power,' in full  https://www.geostrategy.org.uk/research/a-more-lethal-royal-navy-sharpening-britains-naval-power/ Follow the Council on Geostrategy on X @ConGeostrategy Web site: geostrategy.org.uk To read a concise summary of the same report, written by its authors, get the July 2024  edition of Warships IFR https://warshipsifr.com/issues/ •Dr Emma Salisbury is a fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, specialising in naval matters, defence-industrial policy, and military procurement. She recently completed her PhD with a dissertation focused on the history of the US military-industrial complex. She is also a senior staffer for a Member of Parliament and an assistant editor at War on the Rocks. Follow her on X @salisbot •William Freer is a Research Fellow in National Security at the Council on Geostrategy, where his work centres around the Council's 'Strategic Advantage Cell' exploring the key foreign and defence policy issues facing the UK. Before joining the Council he did War Studies at King's College London and went on to work in the world of consulting. He is also an Associate Fellow with the Royal Navy's Strategic Studies Centre. Follow him on X @william_freer  •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn The next (Sept) edition of Warships IFR is published on 16.8.24 in the UK and also deployed globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 For more on various editions of the magazine https://bit.ly/wifri

Back for a second discussion of hot topics are guests Dr Gary Blackburn and Dr David Blagden. With host Iain Ballantyne, they weigh up the prospect of European NATO nations being forced to cope with a bigger burden of defence, if a re-elected President Trump decides to to pull American land forces out of the Continent. It is a policy that is being called ‘Dormant NATO' by some commentators. They also consider whether or not the confrontation between missile-firing Houthi rebels and Western navies in the Red Sea is becoming a forgotten contest, with warships that were once committed to protecting sea trade now diverted elsewhere. With European taxpayers getting a subsidy on their own defence - due to the USA carrying the NATO burden -  it is suggested that (even if America did not pull out or scale back forces in annoyance) its strategic and military rivalry with China - which is building a huge navy - may force Washington to concentrate even more on Asia-Pacific. In discussing the fact that certain sanctions on Russia, for invading Ukraine in 2022, may be less than waterproof, the subject of whether to directly confront Moscow or stick to a long, hard policy of containment - in ‘Cold War 2' - is also touched upon by the trio. •The next (July) edition of Warships IFR is published on June 21 in the UK and globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Also, follow us on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 For more on various editions of the magazine https://bit.ly/wifri •Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull. Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on X at @gjb70 •Dr David Blagden, is Senior Lecturer in International Security at the Strategy and Security Institute (SSI) and in the Department of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Exeter. Dr Blagden has worked in - and subsequently consulted for - the UK Cabinet Office, provided evidence for a number of Parliamentary Select Committees and HM Government policy reviews.  He is also a Visiting Fellow of the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre, an Associate of the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies. He has written for outlets including The Guardian, The Spectator and the New Statesman. Follow him on X @blagden_david •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Maritime Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

Our guests for this episode are Dr Gary Blackburn and Dr David Blagden who, with host Iain Ballantyne, discuss a recent proposal by the UK Government to introduce a new National Service scheme for 18-year-olds. Iain asks if it is just a case of blatant electioneering by the incumbent Sunak administration, which looks set to lose a summer General Election to the Labour Party? Or does the proposal offer some merit amid a recruitment crisis for the Royal Navy? Likewise, was the other recent big defence announcement by the Conservative government - of taking Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 - another gambit to try and win votes? Also discussed is the state of the Royal Navy, with frigate and destroyer levels now cut to just 15 and yet with warnings of the UK being confronted by a pre-war state. Things may improve in the 2030s, with new warships entering service, but in the meantime it leaves Britain with a small, tired ‘jam tomorrow' Navy. The effect of sea blindness is also touch upon during the conversation. And can drones really replace people and warships? Or are they just a seductive illusion? This is just the first helping of discourse between the trio as in the next episode – out very soon – they tackle the topics of ‘Dormant NATO' (under a possible second Trump presidency), the wars in the Red and Black seas and whether to directly confront Russia or contain that nuclear state. •The next (July) edition of Warships IFR is published on June 21 in the UK and globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Also, follow us on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 For more on various editions of the magazine https://bit.ly/wifri •Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull. Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on X at @gjb70 •Dr David Blagden, is Senior Lecturer in International Security at the Strategy and Security Institute (SSI) and in the Department of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Exeter. Dr Blagden has worked in - and subsequently consulted for - the UK Cabinet Office, provided evidence for a number of Parliamentary Select Committees and HM Government policy reviews.  He is also a Visiting Fellow of the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre, an Associate of the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies. He has written for outlets including The Guardian, The Spectator and the New Statesman. Follow him on X @blagden_david •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

Our guest on this episode is Dr Helen Fry, the author of more than 25 books on the social history of WW2, not least British intelligence activities, spies and the like.  She is a leading authority on many related topics, including on the ‘secret listeners' who eavesdropped on what enemy Prisoners of War were discussing. This was in order to gain insights into what was going on in the foe's war effort and also the mindset of the German opposition.  In the discussion with podcast host Iain Ballantyne, Dr Fry touches on various naval angles not least the eavesdropping that was used across various sites where German U-boat crews were held. This includes the use of deliberately casual interrogations to lull the PoWs into a false sense of security for when they discussed things later with their comrades in captivity (not knowing they were being listened to). We also learn how one U-boat sailor in 1940 gave away Enigma machine secrets in a most extraordinary fashion. The unsung, backroom work of women and others in British naval intelligence, including for the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, is included in the fascinating chat.   Also discussed is the use of female interrogators, and also how German and Austrian refugees from Nazi oppression (due to their Jewish faith) became players in the British intelligence-gathering system and even commandos. The next edition of Warships IFR is published on May 17, in the UK and globally. It includes a special D-Day 80 feature section, commemorating the Allied invasion of Normandy that began the liberation of Northwest Europe from Nazi oppression. For more on the June 2024 edition https://bit.ly/w2406c (live from 17.5.24) or visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow us on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 For more on various editions of the magazine https://bit.ly/wifri Among Dr Fry's books are ‘Women in Intelligence', ‘The Walls Have Ears' and ‘The London Cage'. Her next book is ‘Why I Became an X Troop Commando' (out later this year). All of the aforementioned are published by Yale University Press. Visit Helen's web site https://www.helen-fry.com or follow her on X @DrHelenFry Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (published by Canelo). Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

In part two of their discussion, Warships Pod host Iain Ballantyne and guest Doug Littlejohns touch on numerous things, not least nuclear deterrent matters. As in the previous episode, the situation during the Cold War is compared with today's, including the problem of Royal Navy submarines that carry the deterrent becoming elderly and badly in need of replacement. Doug recalls his role in selling the upgrade from Polaris to Trident to the British public in the 1980s, providing insights into how fundamental it was to absolutely guarantee its effectiveness. Doug suggests that for such systems to be effective ‘weapons for peace', the UK and NATO need to have a credible conventional deterrent too. Today, so Doug believes, the balance has been lost and this risks making nuclear weapons use more likely. Mentioned are the massive efforts of Royal Navy submarine crews keeping the now 30 years-old Vanguard Class Trident missile submarines of today running on marathon patrols, some of them lasting an astonishing six months or more. Among other things covered in this episode, Doug recalls the time when - during 1980s arms reduction talks in Iceland with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev - US President Ronald Reagan appeared to give away the British and French nuclear deterrent without prior permission, as part of bargaining. Iain and Doug also discuss the situation today with Houthi rebels of Yemen attacking merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Doug reflects on his experiences as the captain of a British frigate tasked with protecting shipping during the Tanker War of the 1980s. Iain and Doug also consider the recruitment crisis currently facing the Royal Navy and the challenge of encouraging people to join up (and then keeping them in service) today and back in the Cold War. Finally, they ponder when, if ever, the current mess of UK Defence will be properly sorted out. For more on the current state of the Royal Navy, and more particularly the UK Submarine Service and its ‘Perfect Storm', get the April 2024 edition of Warships IFR, which is out NOW! Visit https://bit.ly/w2404c Doug Littlejohns commanded the diesel-electric patrol submarine HMS Osiris and the nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) HMS Sceptre, plus the anti-submarine warfare frigate HMS London, during the Cold War. Capt Littlejohns faced the forces of the Soviet Union in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Baltic, and also the Iranians in the Arabian Gulf. Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare.

In the first part of a discussion with Captain Doug Littlejohns, who commanded a nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine against the Russians during the old Cold War, the primary topic is whether or not we are on the brink of World War Three. Doug provides insights gained when he played key roles tasking NATO submarines during 1980s spikes in tension and also from working in the corridors of power in the Ministry of Defence in London. Podcast host Iain Ballantyne also asks whether or not Doug was ever truly scared the face-off between the Soviet Union and the West would turn into a hot war, especially during a surge of Russian Navy submarines into the North Atlantic. The situation then and now is contrasted with today's, not least the pronouncements of NATO leaders that war with Putin's Russia is looming. The state of the Royal Navy today - with its combat commitments against the Houthis in the Red Sea and having to handle the rising Russian threat elsewhere -  is considered and compared with how the British fleet handled things in the 1980s. And what of the so-called ‘Special Relationship' militarily between the UK and USA - is it now seriously out of balance? Doug Littlejohns commanded the diesel-electric patrol submarine HMS Osiris and the nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) HMS Sceptre, plus the anti-submarine warfare frigate HMS London, during the Cold War. Capt Littlejohns faced the forces of the Soviet Union in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Baltic, and also the Iranians in the Arabian Gulf. Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare. For more details on Iain and his books visit the websites: http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/ Follow him on Twitter @IBallantyn

A National Audit Office (NAO) report on ‘The Equipment Plan 2023 - 2033' in the UK makes for grim reading, revealing a massive so-called ‘black hole' in the Defence budget, which means there is apparently no money for key projects, including future warships. In part two of the discussion, host Iain Ballantyne and guests Gary Blackburn and James Bosbotinis weigh up the shortfall in funding. They also ponder what the Labour Government-in-waiting might do to fill in the ‘black hole' if it succeeds in coming to power in 2024.  Are we going to see the Navy-led Indo-Pacific ‘tilt' by the UK axed and would that be a wise move in our interconnected world? Surely there cannot be another British retreat from East of Suez?  With so many threats looming globally, might a UK government be foolish enough to follow the example of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review and further hollow out the Armed Forces to save money with big item cuts?  Aside from contemplating the above issues, the discussion addresses whether or not the long-feared New Cold War is here, with the Western liberal democracies confronted by a global existential threat from authoritarian states (not least Russia and Iran). • For more on Warships IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR The topics discussed during our podcast episode are often also looked at in the magazine itself. It is available in digital and hard copy formats. To find out where it is available from UK shops bit.ly/searchdist  Our new Warships IFR 'Guide to the Royal Navy 2024' is out now in the UK in shops bit.ly/searchdist or order direct from Sundial Magazines https://bit.ly/GRN24e  Guests: • Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull, which seeks to enhance understanding on the nature of war and strategy while also providing guidance on best practice in war and strategy to professional stakeholders. Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on Twitter @gjb70 • Dr James Bosbotinis is a freelance defence and international affairs analyst, specialising in maritime strategy and force developments. He is a regular contributor to Warships International Fleet Review, and is the Book Reviews Editor of The Naval Review. For more information about Dr Bosbotinis visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbosbotinis He is on twitter @JamesBosbotinis Warships Pod host: • Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, with his most recent books being ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' and ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (Canelo History).  For more details on Iain and his books visit the web sites  http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/ Follow him on Twitter @IBallantyn

This episode begins with a discussion by host Iain Ballantyne and guests Dr Gary Blackburn and Dr James Bosbotinis about the bid by Venezuela to annex a major part of neighboring Guyana. How might navies attempt to prevent escalation as the communist client state of Russia and Iran considers its next move against an oil-rich Commonwealth nation? How the Venezuelan Navy stacks up against Guyana's forces is part of the discussion. Then there is the Red Sea situation where the Houthi faction in Yemen is letting fly with Iranian-supplied drones and missiles against merchant ships and warships in international waters.  Do the Houthis have the capacity in weaponry and also the capability to cause serious damage and disruption? Gary and James provide their perspectives on the above issues and more including the broader canvas of the Iranian-led resistance to Western involvement in the Middle East. The historical context of today's events is also considered, with reference to the Tanker War of the 1980s and the importance of Red Sea trade to the global economy. • For more on Warships IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and Facebook @WarshipsIFR Guests: • Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull, which seeks to enhance understanding on the nature of war and strategy while also providing guidance on best practice in war and strategy to professional stakeholders.  Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on Twitter @gjb70 • Dr James Bosbotinis is a freelance defence and international affairs analyst, specialising in maritime strategy and force developments. He is a regular contributor to Warships International Fleet Review, and is the Book Reviews Editor of The Naval Review.  For more information about Dr Bosbotinis visit  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbosbotinis He is on twitter @JamesBosbotinis Warships Pod host: • Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, with his most recent books being ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' and ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (Canelo History). For more details on Iain and his books visit the web sites  http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/ Follow him on Twitter @IBallantyn

In a fascinating and absorbing discussion host Iain Ballantyne and guest Tom Sharpe discuss the US Navy destroyer USS Carney shooting down cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea. As a former warship captain, Tom provides deeply insightful expert analysis on how the incident may have unfolded. But the podcast first grips listeners with Tom's insider perspective on tense anti-terrorist patrols aboard British frigates in the northern Arabian Gulf and facing the Iranian threat in the Strait of Hormuz. Iain and Tom then consider the naval side of the Israel-Hamas crisis, not least the USA moving its nuclear-powered strike carriers around the geopolitical chessboard and what missions they and British vessels may undertake in the Mediterranean. For more on the naval events discussed in this podcast get the December 2023 edition of Warships IFR - packed with commentaries, analysis, and news from the global naval scene!  Further information on Warships IFR magazine  http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Warships IFR is available in shops and direct as both a hard copy magazine and in digital format. You can make sure that you receive a regular delivery of global naval news and features by subscribing bit.ly/wifrsub Follow it on X (formerly known as Twitter) via @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR •Tom Sharpe writes about the rigours of commanding a warship against the Iranian threat in the Strait of Hormuz in the forthcoming ‘Warships IFR Guide to the Royal Navy 2024' https://bit.ly/GRN24e which is out on 14.11.23. Tom spent 27 years in the Royal Navy, 20 of which were at sea. He commanded four different warships, including a fishery protection vessel, a Type 23 frigate (HMS St Albans), and the ice patrol vessel, HMS Endurance. Today he is a partner at SPP, an international communications consultancy, and also writes for The Daily Telegraph,  and occasionally for Warships IFR.  Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @TomSharpe134 •Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of Warships IFR and both its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' and ‘Guide to the US Navy'. He is the author of several books, including ‘Strike from the Sea', which tells the story of the British and American navies at war in Middle East waters from the 1940s to the early 2000s. It is partly based on his numerous visits to warships on front-line operations.  Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @IBallantyn

Our special guest for a deep dive into British naval espionage during the Cold War is Mike Hurley, a veteran of undersea deployments in dangerous waters. As a very young submariner in the late 1950s Mike endured marathon patrols in diesel-electric submarines, most notably HMS Taciturn. In this fascinating discussion with Warships Pod host Iain Ballantyne, Mike reveals how Taciturn ventured into Arctic waters to gather intelligence on Red Navy exercises and, potentially, the foe's secret technology. As a conventional (non-nuclear) submarine, Taciturn had to risk ‘snorting' to vent diesel fumes while charging her battery and also to suck in fresh air. This could expose the boat to the Russians. She was on one occasion attacked by a Russian destroyer and even detected by a potentially hostile submarine. With often grim conditions - going short of water, running out of fresh food and oxygen, not daring to make the slightest noise when in close company with the Soviets - HMS Taciturn's submariners somehow got through 38 days dived. On another patrol, communications were lost and it was feared by the boss of the Royal Navy's Submarine Service that Taciturn and her men might have disappeared. Such missions into the High North to spy on the Soviets were top secret. Once home again, Royal Navy submariners were under threat of imprisonment if they told even their families and loved ones about what they had been up to. Mike did not dare tell his family anything for a quarter of a century.  It is a privilege therefore to take Warships Pod listeners on a Cold War voyage with Mike Hurley aboard HMS Taciturn. Mike's warts and all account can only be likened to a latter-day ‘Das Boot' adventure due to its grungy details. Some of them are not for the faint-hearted! • Warships IFR magazine is available in shops and direct as both a hard copy mag and digital edition. You can make sure that you receive a regular delivery of global naval news and features by subscribing bit.ly/wifrsub  For more information on Warships IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Follow it on X (formerly known as Twitter) via @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR • Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR. He is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, including the Cold War under the sea.  For more details on Iain and his books visit the websites http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/ Follow him on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) via @IBallantyn

In part two of their podcast discussion Iain Ballantyne and Gary Blackburn provide their opinions on the Hollywood movie ‘Oppenheimer', about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the so-called ‘father of the atom bomb.' It includes a discussion on the historical context of The Bomb's use to end WW2, especially in light of the US Navy already bringing Japan to the brink of surrender via a blockade enforced by its submarines. So, what were the motivations for dropping the Fat Man and Little Boy nuclear weapons on Hiroshima in 1945? Iain and Gary also weigh up the worth of the latest revelations in the story of UFOs (aka Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, or UAPs) and how some mystery craft have interacted with the US Navy's jets and warships. The testimony of two US Navy pilots and an ex-US Air Force intelligence officer to the USA's House Oversight Committee in the House of Representatives has produced some fascinating details about the encounters. It even raised the possibility that the mystery craft may have been piloted by “non-human biologics,” according to one of the officers. Might the Warships Pod one day feature an alien life form as a special guest!? The new (September) edition of Warships IFR magazine is OUT NOW!  It includes Iain Ballantyne's reviews of both ‘Oppenheimer' and the latest ‘Mission: Impossible' movie, the latter featuring dramatic scenes involving a Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine. And the September edition offers so much more besides. Warships IFR is available in shops and direct as both a hard copy mag and digital edition. You can make sure that you receive a regular delivery of global naval news and features by subscribing bit.ly/wifrsub  For more information on Warships IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Follow it on X (formerly known as Twitter) via @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR • Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull, which seeks to enhance understanding on the nature of war and strategy while also providing guidance on best practice in war and strategy to professional stakeholders. Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security.  Follow him on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) via @gjb70 • Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR. He is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, with his most recent books being ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' and ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (new editions for Canelo History).  For more details on Iain and his books visit the web sites http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/  Follow him on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) via @IBallantyn

In part one of this discussion between Dr. Gary Blackburn and host Iain Ballantyne, they investigate the recently published UK Defence Command Paper (DCP).  It was meant to lay out how British national defence and security will be achieved, especially in light of the on-going Ukraine War. However, it is regarded by some as nothing more than a ‘word salad' - an opaquely worded smokescreen to hide the fact that Britain doesn't have enough money to defend itself properly. Gary highlights valid points made by the DCP, while also suggesting its weaknesses. Iain proposes the DCP should actually be called the ‘No Money Command Paper.' Iain and Gary look at ‘wonder technologies' versus traditional combat mass (and how the former has for decades been used as a mask for defence cuts in various UK defence reviews). Other things touched on during Gary and Iain's chat include Russia's moves in Africa and China's ability to build as many warships as it likes with no regard for the sort of political-economic imperatives that Western democracies have to take into account. A hot topic also considered is the Ukraine War at sea, including attacks by maritime drones on Russian vessels and Moscow's ‘Black Sea Grain Gambit' - the weaponization of grain exports to the rest of the world (or lack of them). When it comes to sea drone attacks on Russia's ships, some historical context is provided – basically, the use of such equalising weapons by weaker nations against stronger ones is nothing new, as Gary and Iain point out. So-called ‘kamikaze' maritime drones are just the latest variation on an old weapon… Aspects of this fascinating discussion are covered also in the new (September) edition of Warships IFR magazine, which is OUT NOW!  Warships IFR is available in shops and direct as a both a hard copy mag and digital edition. You can make sure that you receive a regular delivery of global naval news and features by subscribing bit.ly/wifrsub  For more information on Warships IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Follow it on X (formerly known as Twitter) via @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR • In part two of their podcast discussion Iain Ballantyne and Gary Blackburn provide their opinions on the Hollywood movie ‘Oppenheimer', about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the ‘father of the atom bomb.' It includes a discussion on the historical context of The Bomb's use to end WW2, especially in light of the US Navy already bringing Japan to the brink of surrender. Finally, in part two Iain and Gary also weigh up the worth of the latest revelations in the story of UFOs (aka UAPs) and how the mystery craft have interacted with the US Navy. Might the Warships Pod one day feature an alien lifeform as a special guest!? • Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull, which seeks to enhance understanding on the nature of war and strategy while also providing guidance on best practice in war and strategy to professional stakeholders. Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security.  Follow him on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) via @gjb70 • Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR. He is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, with his most recent books being ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' and ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (new editions for Canelo History).  For more details on Iain and his books visit the web sites http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/  Follow him on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) via @IBallantyn

In the second and final installment of our discussion with British submarine captain Commander Rob Forsyth, we hear how a hard-charging Soviet spy vessel forced him to order HMS Repulse to ‘crash dive'. It happened as the Polaris missile submarine deployed from Scotland on a deterrent patrol in the early 1970s.  With the UK and its NATO allies locked in the Cold War confrontation with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, it was vitally important the best of the best became submarine captains, able to take such split-second, life-or-death decisions at sea. And so Rob Forsyth also tells Warships Pod host Iain Ballantyne about the tough job of being a Perisher course ‘Teacher', deciding who had the right stuff to command a Royal Navy submarine against the Soviets. Next, we hear how Rob was given command of the new Swiftsure Class nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine HMS Sceptre in the late 1970s. Aside from bringing the SSN into service and through sea trials, Rob was given a mission in the Mediterranean to find and trail a Russian Navy aircraft carrier and gather vital intelligence. Among other things Iain and Rob discuss are latter day developments such as the AUKUS defence pact between Australia, the UK and USA that will see a new generation of submarines constructed for both the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy.  Rob and Iain also ponder whether or not a return of diesel-electric submarines in the British fleet is a means to relieve the operational strain on a small number of SSNs. Rob considers whether, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, nuclear deterrence still works today, especially when conventional UK and NATO forces have arguably declined too far. • Follow Rob Forsyth on Twitter @RStanleyForsyth  • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine.  For more details on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Warships IFR is a monthly naval news magazine, also packed with commentary and analysis and offering a dash of naval history and culture. Available from shops and direct from the publisher. Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and Facebook @WarshipsIFR Iain Ballantyne can be found on Twitter @IBallantyn • To find out more about the Royal Navy's submarines and submariners during the Cold War at sea, including the exploits of Cdr Forsyth, read the book ‘Hunter Killers' by Iain Ballantyne. More details here https://iainballantyne.com/hunter killers/

We continue our occasional series talking to Cold War undersea warriors with the first installment of a two-episode dive into the submarine career of Commander Rob Forsyth. Entering the Royal Navy in the 1950s, after a brief excursion into the surface fleet, Rob found himself aboard the submarine HMS Auriga, undertaking a patrol during the Cuban Missile Crisis of late 1962. With Warships Pod host Iain Ballantyne, Rob also discusses a submerged transatlantic transit in the same diesel-electric boat, which turned out not to be the record-breaking voyage everybody hoped for (due to a messy technical difficulty). After succeeding on the notorious Perisher- the Royal Navy's very demanding submarine command course - we learn how Rob in the early 1970s took command of the famous HMS Alliance. The Alliance is today preserved at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire. Aside from learning how HMS Alliance battled stormy seas on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, in this podcast episode we also hear how a rather smelly jumper received a burial at sea. The chat then moves into the nuclear submarine world, with Rob as second-in-command of the Polaris ballistic missile boat HMS Repulse, one of the UK's strategic deterrent vessels. In the next episode Rob tells us about how Repulse was forced to conduct a ‘crash dive' by a rather persistent Soviet spy vessel; the Perisher from the perspective of running the course; being CO of the hunter-killer submarine HMS Sceptre while pursuing a Russian aircraft carrier across the Mediterranean. • Follow Rob Forsyth on Twitter @RStanleyForsyth • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine. For more details on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Warships IFR is a monthly naval news magazine, also packed with commentary and analysis and offering a dash of naval history and culture. Available from shops and direct. Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and Facebook @WarshipsIFR Iain Ballantyne can be found on Twitter @IBallantyn • To find out more about the Royal Navy's submarines and submariners during the Cold War ate sea, including the exploits of Cdr Forsyth, read the book ‘Hunter Killers' by Iain Ballantyne. More details here https://iainballantyne.com/hunter-killers/

In part two of a discussion by Mark Grove and Dr Gary Blackburn with host Iain Ballantyne, the tasty and varied menu includes naval aspects of the Ukraine War and whether or not a new Battle of the Atlantic is shaping up as Russia seeks to win its so-called ‘special military operation' in Ukraine it has sought to establish stronger links with China, so this begs the question, which Iain puts out there: what does Moscow have to offer Beijing? Does the answer possibly lie in naval technology? After also touching on Russia reinforcing its submarine forces in the Pacific, the chat turns to the Ukraine War itself. Among the topics touched on are Moscow effort's to impose a distant blockade in the Black Sea and the use of drones, plus implications for the Royal Navy as it struggles to achieve critical mass in aerial capabilities. The discussion turns to the new contest in the Atlantic between Russia and the West. Bearing in mind this is the 80 th anniversary year of the Allies gaining a decisive upper hand in the WW2 struggle for that vast and strategically vital ocean, does naval history offer anything relevant to where we are now? Would convoys of merchant vessels need to make a comeback if the 21 st Century Atlantic contest turns hot? And, as a worthwhile digression, what about the importance of safeguarding seabed infrastructure - especially in the wake of the Nord Stream sabotage attack - and how to avoid dangerous escalation? The expert analysis and commentary of Mark and Gary on all the above subjects is well worth a listen. Also touched on in this episode is China seeking to exert sea control in oceans off its shores, via land-based ballistic missiles, but why? The conundrum of prioritising UK army or naval expenditure is mentioned, along with the folly of the UK's notorious 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. Mark Grove is a Senior Lecturer in Strategic Studies specialising in Maritime Strategy, Warfare, and Security at the University of Lincoln's Maritime Studies Centre at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, where he has taught for 24 years, originally working directly for the Ministry of Defence. Mark has written on amphibious warfare, the naval history of the Second World War, and the Falklands. Over the last decade or more has spent most of his research time examining the threats posed by the Russian and Chinese navies, on which he has provided briefings for several UK and NATO Headquarters and Government Departments. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJGrove Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull, which seeks to enhance understanding on the nature of war and strategy while also providing guidance on best practice in war and strategy to professional stakeholders. Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on Twitter @gjb70 • For more on Warships IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR • Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR. He is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, with his most recent books being ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' and ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (new editions for Canelo History). For more details on Iain and his books visit the websites http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/ Follow him on Twitter @IBallantyn

In part one of a two-part special, guests Dr Gary Blackburn and Mark Grove discuss an array of hot topics with host Iain Ballantyne. Iain asks Gary and Mark to give their perspectives on submarine aspects of the Australia- United Kingdom-USA (AUKUS) defence pact following the recent big announcement on the way ahead in San Diego. They consider the implications, along with the scale and nature of the challenge, both industrially and strategically. The UK's Integrated Review 23 Refresh' (IR23) comes under scrutiny to assess what we know so far and what may be to come, including naval cuts/or reshaping that will be revealed in the forthcoming Command Paper. How the UK might weight its defence forces is considered. Britain's much-vaunted Pacific Tilt in relation to China v. West tensions is also discussed, along with the prospect of a retreat from major naval commitments in Indo-Pacific - under a possible new Labour Government - as the Army lobbies for a return to a focus on a new ‘Central Front' on land against Russia. • Part two will look at naval aspects of the Ukraine-Russia War and what a future Battle of the Atlantic may be like. It is an apt topic in the 80th anniversary year of the culmination in the WW2 struggle for the Atlantic. Mark Grove is a Senior Lecturer in Strategic Studies specialising in Maritime Strategy, Warfare, and Security at the University of Lincoln's Maritime Studies Centre at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, where he has taught for 24 years, originally working directly for the Ministry of Defence. Mark has written on amphibious warfare, the naval history of the Second World War, and the Falklands. Over the last decade or more has spent most of his research time examining the threats posed by the Russian and Chinese navies, on which he has provided briefings for several UK and NATO Headquarters and Government Departments. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJGrove Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull, which seeks to enhance understanding on the nature of war and strategy while also providing guidance on best practice in war and strategy to professional stakeholders. Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on Twitter @gjb70 • For more on Warships IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR • Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR. He is also the author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld &  Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, with his most recent books being ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' and ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (new editions for Canelo History). For more details on Iain and his books visit the web sites http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/ Follow him on Twitter @IBallantyn

Michael G. Welham is our guest, talking to host Iain Ballantyne about the mysterious world of undersea warriors known as ‘combat divers'. Michael has been involved with diving, both military and civilian, for some 40 years. He was a Royal Marines Commando, with skills in diving, canoeing, and parachuting. Mike was also a member of 21 Special Air Service Regiment and of 95 Commando Naval Gunfire Support Royal Artillery, both British elite Reserve units.  To start things off, Iain asks Mike to provide a definition of a combat diver. Who can be described as such? What is it that attracts a certain kind of person to what is a highly demanding and very dangerous job, even within the risk-taking world of Special Forces? The origins of combat diving - WW2's Italian and British ‘frogmen' - are discussed, including the legendary Lieutenant Commander Lionel ‘Buster' Crabb and also the exploits of the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment, the famed ‘Cockleshell Heroes'. The often overlooked role of Royal Marine specialists and other Allied frogmen in enabling troops to get ashore in Normandy on D-Day 6 June are mentioned, as are the origins of the famous US Navy SEALS during WW2 and their evolution in the Vietnam War.  The activities of Russian combat divers and submersibles in Scandinavian waters during the Cold War - along with recent suspected intrusions into Swedish and Norwegian waters - are discussed, along with last year's Nord Stream gas pipeline sabotage act. Bringing things right up to date is some expert analysis by Mike of the possible role of Ukrainian combat divers in the sinking of the Russian Navy landing ship RFS Saratov, in the occupied port of Berdyansk, on the Sea of Azov.  He also provides insights into the role of Ukrainian combat divers, including their use of Swimmer Delivery Vehicles during the fight for Zmiinyi Island (Snake Island) in the northwest Black Sea. Mike reveals how, during a daring operation across the River Dnieper, they also saved the lives of hundreds of civilians by enabling their escape from Russian oppression. •‘Combat Divers' by Michael G. Welham, is published by Osprey, at £35.00 hardback. In addition to Mike's expert analysis it is packed with photos and other illustrations. It is available from online retailers and via book shops. • For more on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR  On Facebook @WarshipsIFR • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of Warships IFR magazine. He is also the author of the books ‘Hunter Killers', ‘The Deadly Trade' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom'. For more details on Iain and his books visit his web sites http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/ Follow him on Twitter @IBallantyn

In this podcast our guest is a legend of the Submarine Service. He is Doug Littlejohns, who had a remarkable career in the Royal Navy, both as a submarine captain and in command of an intelligence-gathering warship during the Cold War. Across a fascinating podcast discussion with our host Iain Ballantyne, we hear from Doug about his exciting time on the famed Perisher submarine command course; daring surveillance missions against Russian naval vessels in the diesel submarine HMS Osiris; how he brought the badly damaged nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Sceptre (and that boat's crew) back to fighting efficiency. Doug also relates how, after reading Tom Clancy's novel ‘The Hunt for Red October' during a visit to the USA, he met the blockbuster author and ended up inspiring a character in the master story-teller's next bestseller, ‘Red Storm Rising'. Revealed also are Doug's adventures in command of the Type 22 frigate HMS London, which included forcing a Russian submarine to surface and staging a mock funeral to prank a shadowing Soviet surface ship (both in the Baltic). Doug and HMS London also went eyeball-to-eyeball with the Iranians in the Arabian Gulf during the Tanker War. Doug reveals how he introduced a special premiere of the Hollywood movie of the ‘Hunt for Red October' in London and, after leaving the Navy, worked with Clancy. They founded the famous computer games firm Red Storm Entertainment, becoming pioneers of strategy and also tactical-shooter genres, via ‘Rainbow Six' and others. For more on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of this magazine. He is also the author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' and ‘HMS London' which, among other things, tell the story of Doug Littlejohns' exploits as an undersea warrior and also as a surface warship captain. For more details on Iain and his books visit his websites http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/ Follow him on Twitter @IBallantyn

In this episode host Iain Ballantyne talks to Andy Benford, a Cold War undersea warrior who saw service in diesel ‘dirty boats' of the British and Australian navies and aboard nuclear submarines, not only in hunter-killers but also the UK's Polaris deterrent force. Aside from Andy's brush with death during a notorious 1972 hovercraft accident in the Solent, they also discuss what inspired him to join the Royal Navy and become a submariner. Starting with service aboard the HMS Finwhale in 1970 - operating out of Singapore, including an exciting encounter with the Special Boat Service (SBS) - by 1977 Andy had graduated to the nuclear navy. As a young officer in HMS Sovereign, he played a key role in Operation Agile Eagle in the late 1970s. This was reputedly the longest trail of a Soviet Submarine in the Cold War, with nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine HMS Sovereign stealthily following a Yankee Class ballistic missile submarine for weeks in the Atlantic.  After that, in 1980 came the famed, and ruthless, Perisher submarine command course - also discussed - after which Andy was posted ashore to work in a nuclear blast-proof bunker at the Fleet HQ of the Royal Navy. Next Andy commands the Australian diesel submarine HMAS Oxley, with his exploits including taking part in a Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise off Hawaii in 1984, during which his boat ‘sank' a US Navy carrier. After all that excitement in diesels and attack submarines, Andy became second-in-command of a Polaris missile submarine, deploying in HMS Revenge for five nuclear deterrent patrols between 1986 and 1990. Overall Andy provides a deeply fascinating insight into the life in a steel tube packed with cutting-edge tech and weapons. In addition, our guest has distinguished himself in recent times by devising a board game inspired by his life under the sea, called ‘They Come Unseen', prototypes of which were ‘road-tested' under the sea on submarine patrol. • Andy Benford is on Twitter @Perisher80 • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review  magazine. He can be found on Twitter @IBallantyn • For more details on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR

In this episode of the Warships Pod, host Iain Ballantyne is joined by two long-time and highly valued contributors to Warships IFR magazine and also to the “Guide to the US Navy.” They are Dr Robert Farley, who currently teaches at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, University of Kentucky and David Axe, a journalist, author and filmmaker based in South Carolina. Topics discussed include: the general ‘State of the US Navy' today and if it is still able to enforce Pax Americana; whether the USN is adequately coping with the here and now while getting ready for the future; the nature of threat (and level of competition) it faces from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China and Vladimir Putin's maritime forces (especially in light of the Russian Navy's performance in the Ukraine War). Other topics touched on include: the strange saga of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS); confusion over the future of the so-called Gator Navy (the amphibious warfare forces of the USN and the US Marine Corps); whether or not the new Constellation Class frigate will plug the surface combatant gap; the plus and minus points of the modern American fighting fleet. For more details on WARSHIPS IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on https://www.facebook.com/WarshipsIFR/ To buy the ‘Guide to the US Navy 2023' https://bit.ly/gusn2023 • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of Warships IFR magazine and the author of numerous naval and military history books, including ‘HMS London', ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' and ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron.' He also contributes commentaries on naval and Defence topics to various media outlets. Twitter @IBallantyn • In addition to teaching at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky, Robert Farley writes extensively about an array of Defence issues. They include airpower, sea power and military innovation. He is a Senior Editor of ‘Lawyers, Guns and Money' and manager of the LGM podcast. Twitter @drfarls • David Axe writes for ‘Forbes', ‘The Daily Beast' and ‘Rolling Stone.' His most recent book is ‘Drone War: Vietnam' (Pen & Sword Military). Twitter @daxe

Our guest for this episode of the Warships Pod is Dr. Philip Weir, a much esteemed naval historian who specialises in the history of the Royal Navy in the first half of the 20th Century. His most recent book is ‘Dunkirk and the Little Ships'.  Discussing that famous event is the major topic during his chat with podcast host Iain Ballantyne. In looking at the ‘miracle of Dunkirk' of May and June 1940 - a story that still grips peoples' imaginations even more than 80 years later – Iain asks Phil if it is just another example of the British turning a military disaster into some kind of triumph? Or a bona fide victory in the face of impossible odds? Iain also asks if the role of the famed ‘little ships', in what was called Operation Dynamo, is misunderstood. What impact did they really have on the evacuation effort? And what exactly were ‘the Little Ships'? Also, has the Royal Navy's major contribution to (and sacrifice in) Operation Dynamo been overlooked? Among the other things Iain and Phil discuss is the greater role of the Royal Navy in that so-called ‘Spitfire summer' of 1940. Has the Royal Navy's major part, in deterring a cross-Channel invasion by the Germans while fighting the U-boats in the Atlantic, been unjustly consigned to the shadows of our collective memory? The career of the remarkable Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay - the man who commanded Operation Dynamo - is also discussed. Aside from also chatting about notable movie depictions of the Dunkirk evacuation Iain asks Phil if he was given the chance to save and preserve any warship from the past, which vessel would it be and why? The answer may be a surprise… •For more details on Phil Weir's book about the heroic Dunkirk evacuation https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/dunkirk-and-the-little-ships-9781784423759/ Follow him on Twitter @navalhistorian • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine. For more details on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR Iain Ballantyne can be found on Twitter @IBallantyn

In this special episode, as the United Kingdom and the world says farewell to Her Majesty The Queen, Queen Elizabeth II, host Iain Ballantyne talks to long-time WARSHIPS IFR contributor Richard Johnstone-Bryden. Richard is the author of several books that highlight the strong connection between the Royal Navy and The Queen. When writing ‘The Royal Yacht Britannia - The Official History,' Richard worked under the close direction of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen's late husband, and also interviewed members of the Royal Family. During the podcast, Iain and Richard consider links between the Royal Navy and the monarchy, especially via special connections to various notable vessels and events. In addition to discussing the role of the Royal Navy in the state funeral of Her Majesty in London, Iain and Richard talk about how the Royal Family will carry on its close relationship with the Navy, in which some of its members have at various times seen combat service. • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine. For reports and features on global navies, including the naval side of events connected to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II get the November edition of WARSHIPS IFR, due out on 21.10.22. Check out the website http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow the magazine on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR • Among other books written by Richard Johnstone Bryden are: ‘Britain's Greatest Warship - HMS Ark Royal (IV)'; ‘HMS Illustrious (V) 1982 – 2014'; ‘HMS Ocean (VI) 1998-2018', ‘HMS Bulwark (VII) 2005-2017', ‘HMS Prince of Wales (VI) 2019', ‘HMS Belfast Cruiser 1939'; and ‘HMS Cavalier Destroyer 1944'. For more information on his work visit: https://www.richardjohnstone-bryden.co.uk

We have as our guest this time David Larter, a noted commentator on US Navy matters and also global naval developments. First up for discussion will be the naval side of Ukraine War, with David giving his perspective on the Russian blockade, plus growing realisation of the global impact of Ukrainian grain shipments being blocked. Podcast host Iain Ballantyne asks what can be done. Can it be broken by force? If so, who would do it? Iain and David discuss the ‘War by Hunger' that is potentially about to inflict starvation on some of the world's poorest countries. Their chat also touches on echoes of what happened when the British imposed a sea blockade on Germany in WW1 and were themselves victims of U-boat attacks against maritime trade.  The overall Russian strategy today - and how it is driven by President Vladimir Putin's urge to ensure Russia is not cut off from the sea - along with his desire to emulate Tsar Peter the Great in establishing his nation as a great imperial power, is also a topic of discussion. Turning to other aspects of the Ukraine War at sea, and indeed the entire conflict, Iain suggests that the most important battle on land and sea is in fact for possession of Odessa… Iain asks if David agrees that, if the Ukrainians get cut off from the sea and lose Odessa, it is ‘game over'? The USA of course is deeply involved in leading the West's effort on Ukraine, but it also has a world of troubles to look out for, not least the rise of an aggressive China. And so in the vanguard of all that is the US Navy, with Iain asking David: How mighty is the USN these days? Is it being pushed to its limits and beyond by the world of troubles? WARSHIPS POD likes to also touch on history and culture in addition to current naval topics and geopolitics, which sees the discussion segue to an ancient movie history artifact - namely ‘Top Gun' and its sequel ‘Top Gun: Maverick.' Spoiler alert for this section of the podcast! Iain and David reveal they have both seen it and so discuss their reactions to ‘Top Gun: Maverick'. Does it fly or crash and burn?  • In addition to being a well-established Navy reporter David Larter is a US Navy veteran, - now working in the aerospace industry in Los Angeles, but who still engages on naval issues. His comment on the podcast are in a personal capacity as a navalist and not reflective of any organisation's opinions. David can be found on Twitter @DavidLarter  • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine. For more details on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR Iain Ballantyne can be found on Twitter @IBallantyn 

Host Iain Ballantyne is joined by two of the UK's big thinkers on naval strategy, namely Dr Gary Blackburn and Mark Grove, for a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion of hot topics. The subjects they tackle include who is winning the Ukraine War at sea, plus its implications for navies long and short term, not least a worrying lack of lethality in British warships and the mystifying absence of urgency in doing anything about it. The chat also looks at the lessons provided by the Falklands War of 1982 and how they remain ultra-relevant to today.  Whether or not the UK is maximising the potential of its new aircraft carriers is discussed. Are split priorities between maritime defence needs and the RAF's land-based air aims undermining the carriers' ability to act as a proper deterrent to Russian aggression?  Then there's the matter of whether or not British politicians who are bogged down in Westminster Village squabbling - over the so-called cakegate, beergate and currygate scandals - are paying attention to threats like the long reach of Russia's cruise missile-armed submarines.  The expanding fire power of the Chinese Navy is touched upon in the podcast too, while the discussion also weighs up where we are in the new Cold War - and asks if the West has the luxury of time to hang around in bolstering its defences. • Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull, which seeks to enhance understanding on the nature of war and strategy while also providing guidance on best practice in war and strategy to professional stakeholders.  Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively. He has written for ‘Defence Studies' and ‘The Critic', and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. He can be found on Twitter @gjb70 • Mark Grove is Senior Lecturer in Strategic Studies specialising in Maritime Strategy, Warfare, and Security at the University of Lincoln's Maritime Studies Centre at the Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth, where he has taught for 24 years, originally working directly for the Ministry of Defence. Mark has written on amphibious warfare, the naval history of the Second World War and the Falklands War. Over the last decade or more he has spent most of his research time examining the threats posed by the Russian and Chinese navies, on which he has provided briefings for several UK and NATO Headquarters and Government Departments. Mark is also on Twitter @MarkJGrove • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine and the author of numerous naval history books. These include ‘Hunter Killers' and ‘The Deadly Trade', both of which include chapters on the Cold War, Falklands War and naval operations today.  • For more details on WARSHIPS IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag   Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR   

    Host Iain Ballantyne and guest Dr Robert Farley reconvene for another podcast chat, this time looking at the sinking of the Russian Navy cruiser Moskva.    In addition to unpicking the event - for example, was the Black Sea Fleet flagship hit by Ukrainian missiles, or was she destroyed by an accidental explosion? – They assess the incident's impact on the Russian Navy's campaign.    The discussion includes how the Moskva may have opened herself up to attack and other topics such as comparisons with missile attacks in the 1982 Falklands War on British warships and in the 1991 Gulf War against an American battleship off Kuwait damage control (or lack of it) aboard the Russian warship; the sheer shock to the system for a Russian Navy lacking experience in high-intensity warfare.    Also, did the Moskva go down carrying nuclear weapons, creating a ‘broken arrow' incident?   The arc of the wider conflict is considered. With the launch of the Kremlin's bid to conquer the Donbas is the war nearing its end? Beyond the Black Sea is a major confrontation between the NATO and Russian naval forces shaping up, with the advent of a new Battle of the Atlantic? Aspects of naval history in the Black Sea are touched upon, including the strange (but true) stories of Tsarist battleships that became capital vessels of the Bolsheviks in 1917 before ending up in surprising places (and ownership).   Also discussed is the human cost of the Moskva's destruction and how the aftermath bears similarities to the tragic loss of the submarine Kursk more than 20 years ago, at the beginning of Vladimir Putin's reign as Russian leader.    • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine. For more details on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR • In addition to teaching at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky, Rob Farley writes extensively about an array of defense issues. They include airpower, sea power, and military innovation. He is a Senior Editor of ‘Lawyers, Guns and Money' and manager of the LGM podcast. He's available on Twitter at @drfarls

In this episode host, Iain Ballantyne talks to Dr Robert Farley, a long-time US-based contributor to WARSHIPS IFR magazine, who currently teaches at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, University of Kentucky. They begin with a survey of the Russia-Ukraine War, looking at how the West has handled a major conflict in Europe both diplomatically and military, including aspects of the struggle at sea. Iain and Rob go on to discuss the following: the practicality of a NATO No-Fly Zone; how such a move could see a clash at sea between Russia and Ukraine; the Russian-imposed Black Sea blockade of Ukraine; the prevention of wheat shipments; a possible amphibious assault on Odessa by Moscow's naval forces (and its viability). Among other things Iain and Rob talk about is how the West can best assist Ukraine if it is confronted with a long struggle. They also weigh up whether or not, beyond its current military blunders, the Kremlin has a long game. Might Vladimir Putin be playing ‘11th-dimensional chess'? In addition to touching on the continuing spectre of nuclear weapons use by Moscow, Iain and Rob discuss whether or not there are useful parallels between the 1982 Falklands War and today's conflict in Ukraine. They also chat about the possibility of China invading Taiwan and whether Beijing would be able to achieve an element of surprise. In addition to considering where the US Navy stands today in terms of handling its global commitments - and its recent missteps in warship building programmes - the discourse includes how the Russia-China strategic partnership may or may not evolve. Adding a dash of naval history, Iain and Rob nominate some noteworthy battleships, namely Japan's Kongo Class (Rob) and the UK's Warspite and Rodney (Iain). Finally, Rob gives his view on how the new Cold War between East and West may evolve in years to come. • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine.  For more details on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR • In addition to teaching at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky, Rob Farley writes extensively about an array of defence issues. They include airpower, sea power and military innovation. He is a Senior Editor of ‘Lawyers, Guns and Money' and manager of the LGM podcast. He's available on Twitter at @drfarls

Host Iain Ballantyne and returning special guest James Bosbotinis, who has deep insight into Russia's strike capabilities and strategy, in this episode discuss the naval side of the Ukraine conflict and attempt to clear away some of the fog of war. In a wide-ranging chat they look at how things have unfolded so far, with attention paid to the following aspects: the shape of the overall offensive on land and from the sea; missile-firings by Russian warships and submarines from the Black Sea against targets in Ukraine; the Snake Island episode in which Russian warships bombarded a Ukrainian garrison that showed heroic defiance; merchant vessels being hit by missiles; the likely amphibious assaults by Russian forces and a looming blockade of Ukrainian ports. Iain and James compare the scale of Russia's land-attack missile firings to those by the US Navy and allies in previous wars. They also discuss the capacity of Russian missile-firing vessels compared to American warships.  Among the other topics covered are: the urgent need for European NATO nations to close the land-attack missile gap with Moscow's naval strike forces; Russia's ‘aircraft carriers' in Syria and the Kaliningrad enclave; the thorny subject of the Turkish Straits and whether or not they should be closed to Russian warships. Iain and James also talk about the risk of tensions between the Kremlin and NATO escalating into the use of tactical nuclear weapons (or even other kinds of attacks). There are also reflections on the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 when the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war plus today's risk of a miscalculation at sea in the heat of the moment.  • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine.  For more details on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Twitter: @WarshipsIFR Iain Ballantyne on Twitter: @IBallantyn • For more information about Dr. James Bosbotinis visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbosbotinis  Twitter: @JamesBosbotinis

Special guest for this episode is defence and international affairs analyst Dr. James Bosbotinis who is a regular contributor to WARSHIPS IFR magazine. He possesses deep insights into Russia's naval capabilities, along with the maritime strategy and long-range strike capabilities of Moscow's surface warships and submarines. Topics discussed with podcast host Iain Ballantyne include the purpose of Russia deploying task groups to seas off Ireland, in the Mediterranean, and elsewhere as the Ukraine Crisis simmers; the capabilities of missiles in Russia's ships and submarines at sea; whether or not the Russian Navy of today can sustain its global presence at the current pace; how Russia is creating a potent mix of new submarines and vessels alongside regenerated Cold War-era units. Also touched on: what may or may not happen in the Black Sea should President Vladimir Putin decide on war with Ukraine; how Russia's naval forces would contribute via sea-based cruise missile attacks; Russia's wider use of its naval forces to challenge the West; NATO' s response to Moscow's moves at sea, including the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group of the US Navy in the Mediterranean. The purpose of Russia assembling an amphibious assault fleet in the Black Sea is weighed up. Is it just a distraction while the Kremlin acts elsewhere, or is it actually to stage an attack from the sea against Odessa and or in the Sea of Azov? Iain and James also ponder how NATO will need to respond to Russia beyond the Ukraine Crisis, in what is shaping up as a new Cold War at sea. • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine.  For more details on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Twitter: @WarshipsIFR Iain Ballantyne on Twitter @IBallantyn • For more information about Dr. James Bosbotinis visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbosbotinis  Twitter @JamesBosbotinis

This episode sees WARSHIPS IFR Editor Iain Ballantyne and intelligence affairs specialist Chris Carr looking at naval aspects of the Ukraine Crisis. They ponder the prospect of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and the associated moves at sea by both Moscow's and NATO's task groups. The topics include: plans for live-firing exercises by Russian warships off Ireland that may be an end in themselves - to assist the Kremlin's diplomatic efforts - or a prelude to long-range cruise missiles strikes on Ukraine; whether or not the real objective off Ireland is to destroy the West's undersea Internet cables; the likely purpose of a Russian amphibious warfare task group sailing across the Mediterranean and headed for the Black Sea. The discussion touches on: China's perspective on what is happening and whose side Beijing probably favours; how today's situation compares to the Cuban Missile Crisis of the early 1960s; a possible new ‘Iron Curtain.'  Iain also tells us how, as a young journalist, he sailed into the Barents Sea at the end of the Cold War while ‘embedded' in the British intelligence-gathering warship HMS London. It was a historic voyage that even saw the frigate sail downriver to Murmansk, into the lair of the Russian Bear. • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine.  For more details on the magazine  http://bit.ly/wifrmag • Chris Carr is a London-based film director and producer who hosts his own podcast, called “Secrets & Spies” on which he interviews authors and former spies about the world of intelligence. He is also the producer of the WARSHIPS POD. For more information on Chris and his work visit https://www.chriscarr.co.uk

In this episode of WARSHIPS POD host, Iain Ballantyne chats with Jack Lowe, who connects with the sea while working as a documentarist ‘using photography, audio, film, and words to shine a light on the greatness of others' (as Jack himself puts it). Jack's main pursuit in recent times has been The Lifeboat Station Project, which he describes as a mission to ‘photograph all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations on glass.'  Since 2014 he has traveled in Neena, an ambulance converted into a mobile darkroom in which he weaves his magic with glass plates. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jack had managed to visit 150 of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) stations around the coast of the United Kingdom plus Ireland and hopes to resume his photographic odyssey later this year. In this podcast episode, Iain discusses with Jack how his RNLI work has brought him into contact with an amazing Dunkirk ‘little ship' that in the summer of 1940 - as the Second World War raged - took part in the Operation Dynamo evacuation of British and allied troops from France.  Among other topics, Iain and Jack touch on during their lively conversation are movies about the Dunkirk evacuation; interlinked aspects of the RNLI and Royal Navy; H.M. Coast Guard's SAR helicopters; the enduring seafaring character of Britons, whether in the RNLI or RN, along with things in common of how the two organizations train to tackle their demanding missions.  • Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine.  For more details on the magazine  http://bit.ly/wifrmag • To learn more about Jack and his work visit The Lifeboat Station Project here https://lifeboatstationproject.com or follow it on Twitter https://twitter.com/ProjectLifeboat

"Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom" is the epic true story of the Royal Navy's pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck during WW2, a production that is having its world premiere on a major TV channel in the UK this weekend. Broadcast date: October 30th Time: 6.55pm Channel 4 In this podcast special, we talk to the author of the book the television programme is based on - none other than WARSHIPS International Fleet Review Editor Iain Ballantyne. Chatting with guest host Chris Carr enables Iain to give the inside story of both the book and documentary. During the discussion, Iain introduces us to Royal Navy war veterans who saw the battle up close, and whom he interviewed on camera over several years. Their remarkable eyewitness testimony is at the heart of the powerful and spectacular production, which also features top-class CGI and dramatized scenes. During the podcast, Iain and Chris touch on various fascinating aspects of the famous Bismarck Action of May 1941 - one of the most dramatic episodes in naval warfare - not least the loss of HMS Hood and how the Bismarck was lost by her pursuers for 31 hours. They also discuss how one-time foes would after the war become firm friends. There will be an article on the creation of ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' - both the book and the TV documentary (which was produced by Screen Story) - in the forthcoming December 2021 edition of WARSHIPS IFR magazine (out on November 19th). • For more details on the book "Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom" (Agora Books) https://www.bismarckbattle.com/bismarck-24-hours-to-doom-2/

On the second episode of WARSHIPS POD host, Iain Ballantyne welcomes two guests who have been regular contributors to WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine over the years.  Commander Rob Forsyth commanded the diesel boat HMS Alliance during the Cold War, was XO of a Polaris nuclear deterrent missile submarine in the 1970s and also CO of the hunter-killer HMS Sceptre. He was, during his long career as an undersea warrior, ‘Teacher' on the Royal Navy's famed Perisher submarine command course.   Dr James Bosbotinis is a highly respected defence expert with a vast knowledge of weapons systems and their part in shaping modern geopolitics along with being the books editor of the Naval Review, the professional journal of Royal Navy officers.  During the lively chat subjects discussed include the new Australia-UK-USA (AUKUS) defence alliance and its naval implications; whether or not the UK should replace its Trident deterrent; the advent of hypersonic weapons and Anti-ship Ballistic Missiles (ASBMs) at sea; how long aircraft carriers will remain relevant; the oceans becoming ‘transparent' and threatening to make submarines redundant; the rise of air and sea drones that may rule over the seven seas; the human element in future drone warfare; and naval superspy Commander James Bond.

Welcome to the first voyage of the WARSHIPS International Fleet Review podcast hosted by its Editor Iain Ballantyne and with the magazine's Associate Editor Peter Hore as a special guest. They enjoy a lively discussion that ranges from UFOs buzzing warships to whether or not Britain should build a new Royal Yacht and the naval women behind the scenes who helped win WW2.    Subjects touched on across Iain and Peter's wide-ranging conversation include naval interactions with UFOs; the wisdom or otherwise of building a New Royal Yacht for the UK; whether or not getting rid of the Trident nuclear deterrent would see funds poured into expanding the British fleet; the important role of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the British navy (and the danger of confusing those vessels fully-fledged warships); Danish warship designs for the Royal Navy; UK patrol vessels being sent into high threat areas; naval risks and being one step away from a maritime conflict; the Russian-UK-US (RUKUS) confidence-building efforts of the Cold War; the valiant unsung work of the British naval women who intercepted, translated and analyzed naval signals traffic in WW2 and assisted Allied victory; today's Russian threat in the Baltic and other topics covered in the latest edition of WARSHIPS IFR. Alongside touching on content in the August and September 2021 editions of the monthly magazine, Iain and Peter reference elements of the recently published WARSHIPS IFR ‘Guide to the Royal Navy 2021'.