• AFRICA JUMPS UP THREAT LIST
• ‘CARRIERS’ WITHOUT AIRCRAFT?
• SHADES OF CUBA ‘62
• GROWING PAINS OF BOLIVAR’S NAVY
• AUSTRALIA’S SUB GAP DILEMMA
• RISE OF THE DRONES
• THEY WANT MORE RAS POWER
• TO BATTLE THE BREEZE
• GUARDIAN IN THE INVULNERABLE DEEP
• BATTLE OF MIDWAY 70
• HMS PLYMOUTH & THE STORY OF BRITAIN

AFRICA JUMPS UP THREAT LIST

Despite the shift in American strategic focus away from Europe and the Atlantic to the Pacific and Asia, there is another corner of the world where there has been a lot of turbulence. Africa is also causing great concern.

Photo: US Navy.

‘CARRIERS’ WITHOUT AIRCRAFT?

The US Navy has already spent billions of dollars on its forthcoming America Class of aviation vessels, specifically designed to carry the Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35B. It has experienced serious challenges and there remain significant hurdles to overcome, potentially denying the new carriers their tailor-made fighter.

Photo: US Navy.

SHADES OF CUBA ‘62

Iain Ballantyne, Dave Sloggett & Usman Ansari look at implications of recent arms shipments to the Damascus regime, especially helicopters that could be used to slaughter the Syrian people.

Photo: US DoD.

GROWING PAINS OF BOLIVAR’S NAVY

Santiago Rivas & Juan Carlos Cicalesi consider the current status of the Venezuelan Navy, which has not benefited overly from investment in recent years despite big plans.

Photo: Via Rivas & Cicalesi.

AUSTRALIA’S SUB GAP DILEMMA

Warnings that Australia faces a submarine capability gap are ringing ever louder. Despite that the way forward from the Collins Class era to a new undersea warfare platform appears no clearer. Chief Analyst Usman Ansari examines the latest developments in Australia’s Collins Class submarine replacement programme.

Photo: RAN.

RISE OF THE DRONES

Rarely a day passes without the media reporting an attack on terrorists by Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, as they are also known. In the land domain they are now well established as part of the military’s tool kit, albeit a controversial element. Dr Dave Sloggett explores their wider use in a maritime environment. He asks if they promise to be a benefit or a hindrance for naval commanders.

Photo: US Navy.

THEY WANT MORE RAS POWER

Continuing his series on the replenishment vessels of leading global fleets, Usman Ansari examines the ships fielded by three ambitious Asian maritime forces.

Photo: Royal Navy.

TO BATTLE THE BREEZE

The end of this month (July) will see the former naval air station at Portland, HMS Osprey, begin to host Olympic sailing events. Royal Naval Sailing Association (RNSA) General Secretary Michael Shrives, a former naval aviator, provides a potted history, showing the remarkable pedigree of an organisation that embraces a large number of sailing enthusiasts.

Photo: Nigel Andrews.

GUARDIAN IN THE INVULNERABLE DEEP

John Coker of the UK’s Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower concludes his two-part look at Britain’s Polaris nuclear deterrent.

Illustration: Dennis Andrews.

BATTLE OF MIDWAY 70

Continuing his occasional series, Robert Farley considers the myths and reality surrounding key events in WW2. He explores the truths relating to the epic Battle of Midway, long regarded as a major turning point of the war in the Pacific.

Images: USNHHC.

HMS PLYMOUTH & THE STORY OF BRITAIN

Ian Annand begins a two-part biography of HMS Plymouth, last of the Type 12 frigates. Here he charts the Plymouth’s story from conception in the 1950s to the brink of conflict during the 1980s.

Photo: Jonathan Eastland/AJAX.