No. 332 January 2023

January 2023

Front cover

First of the new City Class (Type 26) frigates, the future HMS Glasgow on a barge at the BAE Systems yard on the Clyde, Scotland. See P12/15.

Photo by Gary Davies/Maritime Photographic.

Contents

NEWS

MACRON SLAMS AUKUS FOR STIRRING UP TENSION WITH CHINA – P2 NAVIES-IN-BRIEF – P3, P4, P6, P14 & P36
Black Sea drone war hots up.
• Ukraine crowd-funds attack drones.
• RN frigates & destroyers get Naval Strike Missile.
• Russian fighters buzz NATO warships in the Baltic.
• Suspected spy ship off UK air base.
• Five NATO strike carriers deployed at once.
• More UK Type 26 frigates ordered.
• Three new ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
• Buenos Aires seeks a ‘new’ submarine.
• Iran sends warships to Indonesia.
• Israel working on ‘Naval Iron Dome.’

NAVIES NEWS IN FOCUS – P8/9

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH VISITS OSLO – P10

TRIO OF ANZAC CLASS FRIGATES IN REFIT – P24/25

HMS SPEY ON THE CUTTING EDGE – P31

JAPAN TAKES LEAD FOR LATEST MALABAR – P34/35

 

COMMENTARY

ODIN’S EYE – P5
The Price of Admiralty in a Turbulent Era.

 

FEATURES

SWARM THREAT WILL STING NAVIES – P11
A looming drone danger and moves to counter it.

ROYAL NAVY’S FUTURE CAPITAL SHIP – P12/15
The British fleet’s new Type 26 goes in the water.

IN AN OLD COLD WAR BATTLEGROUND – P16/17
A fresh confrontation is shaping up in the Arctic.

INTO THE ICE ZONE – P18/22
Part two of our voyage into the High North aboard HMCS Margaret Brooke.

JAPAN CELEBRATES MARITIME FORCES – P26/30
A spectacular Fleet Review is staged by the JMSDF.

JETS BACK ABOARD BRITISH FLEET FLAGSHIP – P32/33
F-35Bs flying from HMS Queen Elizabeth again.

BALLISTIC MISSILE FUEL COMPONENTS FOUND – P37/39
A weapons intercept, RN ships guard the FIFA World Cup, HMS Montrose hands over to HMS Lancaster & a kamikaze drone attack.

NAVAL OFFICER WHO AIMS TO BOLDLY GO – P40/42
An interview with the admiral at the helm of the International Hydrographic Organisation.

OBITUARIES – P43/46
Admiral of the Fleet Lord Boyce & a naval lobbyist who battled ‘sea blindness’ in the UK.

BOOK REVIEWS – P47/48
Galeotti’s ‘Putin’s Wars’, Beevor’s ‘Russia’ and a reissue of the techno-thriller ‘Firefox.’