No. 278 April 2018

April 2018

Front cover

The German frigate FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on deployment. For the second part of our interview with the head of the German Navy, see P14/15.

Contents

NEWS

RUSSIAN BATTLECRUISERS AIM TO KILL CARRIERS – P2
CHINA & RUSSIA PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE WAR – P3
NAVIES – P4 & P5
• Franco-Italian warships programme gathers pace
• South Korea’s maiden delivery
• USA criticises Russia for ‘unsafe actions’
• Dutch submarines modernised
• HMS Albion deploys for first time since 2011
MIGHTY OCEAN & PLUCKY GLEANER EXIT – P10/11
TRANSATLANTIC STRIKE CARRIER WORK-UP – P13
TYPE 31e CONTEST – P17
CVN 70 FLEXES MUSCLE – P24/25
INDIA’S SUBMARINE FORCE EXPANSION – P32

COMMENTARY

ODIN’s EYE – P5
Cutting the seventh Astute Class SSN would be another sign of the UK’s weakness in Defence.
HOME SEAS CAN BE SECURED – P26/28
A pool of talent should be drawn upon.

MARITIME HERITAGE

News about some UK preserved ships & more – P35/44
• Merseyside memorial to honour WW2 sacrifice.
• Bunting out for veteran cruiser Belfast.
• Remains of submarine identified.
• Bridge to new perspective on Jutland warrior.
• Cold War SSN to be museum centrepiece.

FEATURES & ANALYSIS

SHADOW STRUGGLE TO HUNT DOWN WMDS – P6/7
A global race is on to prevent a devastating strike.
USA CONSIDERS MISSILE-ARMED ICEBREAKERS – P8/9
With the High North thawing the USCG may beef up.
POTENTIAL UK NAVY CUTS SLAMMED – P12
A Parliamentary watchdog calls any plans to cut UK amphibious forces ’militarily illiterate’.
MULTI-LAYERED CHALLENGES – P14/15
Part two of our interview with the German Navy boss.
AUSTRALIA AIMS FOR UPGRADE IN OPVS – P16
The RAN has initiated an ambitious plan.
REGAL SHOW-STOPPER STAGED BY QUEEN – P18/20
The UK’s new carrier makes her first overseas port visit.
ADRIFT IN A PERFECT STORM – P21
One of the RN’s own delivers a blistering critique.
HOW TO AVOID HAMPERING CARRIER STRIKE – P22/23
The Fleet Air Arm and RAF should diverge.
HISTORIC FRONT LINE DEPLOYMENT – P30/31
The USS Wasp will soon set sail with F-35Bs embarked.
PRICELESS POWER PROJECTION VESSELS – P34
The RN’s core amphib ships made into art.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – P46

BOOK REVIEWS – P47/48