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In part two of the discussion, Steve relates details of his time as Fleet Robotics Officer in the Royal Navy and then provides insider insights into the challenges of making the ‘hybrid navy’ a reality. Iain asks if the ‘hybrid navy’ option is being pushed so hard due to the UK Government’s desire not to spend more on Defence. Steve explains how it is complicated topic and not  a case of politicians and bean counters against the Royal Navy. While welcoming the development, and concurring with the inevitability of such a hybrid path, Steve stressed that there must be some serious thinking up front about how it will operate - and be sustained on operations - in an innately hostile maritime environment. He poses some key questions and suggests some answers, providing key perspectives that government, defence industry and senior naval decision-makers should take on board. It is a compelling break down of various aspects of the big autonomous systems gamble being taken by a nation and its navy. • The September 2026 edition of Warships IFR is published on 21.8.26 in the UK and also deployed globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow the mag on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR There’s also Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  To subscribe visit https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ •Steve Prest is a former Commodore in the Royal Navy who had a varied career that included a tour in Afghanistan, an exchange with the French Navy and being Weapon Engineer Officer in HMS Westminster during that warship’s operations off Libya. Steve was also Commander Weapon Engineer in the carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, bringing the ship out of build in 2017. His other jobs in the navy included being Programme Director of the Type 31 frigate programme and the RN’s first Fleet Robotics Officer. Leaving the RN in 2023, Steve, who is an Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, now has a portfolio career in the Defence sector and beyond. This includes working as an independent consultant, advisor and lecturer, all of it aiming to fulfil his stated mission of helping ‘brilliant people to do amazing things.’ For more from Steve Prest check out his occasional blog https://fightingsailor.wordpress.com/ and follow him on X @fightingsailor  •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 the award-winning ‘Killing the Bismarck (Pen & Sword) and the novel ‘Martin’s Eyes’ (Chiselbury). 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 Iain’s web site www.iainballantyne.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn at https://bsky.app/profile/iainballantyne.bsky.social and/or Insta https://www.instagram.com/iballantyn/

Our guest for a fascinating two-part discussion is Steve Prest, a former Commodore in the Royal Navy who had a varied career that included a tour in Afghanistan, an exchange with the French Navy and being Weapon Engineer Officer in HMS Westminster during that warship’s operations off Libya.  In part one of his chat with podcast host Iain Ballantyne, Steve provides insights into his naval career. Steve was also Commander Weapon Engineer in the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, bringing the ship out of build in 2017. His other jobs in the navy included being Programme Director of the Type 31 frigate programme and the RN’s first Fleet Robotics Officer.  Leaving the RN in 2023, Steve, who is an Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, now has a portfolio career in the Defence sector and beyond. This includes working as an independent consultant, advisor and lecturer, all of it aiming to fulfil his stated mission of helping ‘brilliant people to do amazing things.’ • The September 2026 edition of Warships IFR is published on 21.8.26 in the UK and also deployed globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow the mag on: X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR  There’s also Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  To subscribe visit https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/•For more from Steve Prest check out his occasional blog https://fightingsailor.wordpress.com/ and follow him on X @fightingsailor  •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 the award-winning ‘Killing the Bismarck (Pen & Sword) and the novel ‘Martin’s Eyes’ (Chiselbury). 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 Iain’s web site www.iainballantyne.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn at https://bsky.app/profile/iainballantyne.bsky.social and/or Insta https://www.instagram.com/iballantyn/

Returning guest David Murrin begins by considering US President Donald Trump’s gambits in the Middle East as he seeks to prevail over Iran. In a discussion with host Iain Ballantyne - recorded before Iran and the USA reverted to a state of war (in July) - David reflected on the Trump pattern of seeking peace deals followed by more bombing. These are the US President’s ‘peace bombs,’ as David describes them, with the Iran War and struggle for the Strait of Hormuz turning out like ‘Suez on steroids.’ The consequences of President Trump’s approach to allies, his treatment of foes and overall strategy are also covered, before turning to Europe’s laziness in defence and the military spending laggard that is the United Kingdom. David also explains what he learned about modern warfare during a recent visit to Ukraine and how Kyiv’s forces have chosen a lateral response to the Russian aggressors rather than linear.  According to David a future threat for Europeans to be concerned about will be China’s navy in the High North and he cautions that - whatever the threat is in the great waters of the Atlantic and Arctic - drones are not the entire solution. In the meantime, so David contends, Britain and other NATO nations are already at war with Russia but only now are they waking up to that fact.  Turning to Royal Navy, David weighs up the push for the ‘hybrid navy’ and ‘evolution’ versus ‘revolution’ at a difficult time in which the UK appears to have lost touch with its naval identity. He considers the British fleet has been destroyed by politicians since the late 1990s, and that they have let down both the nation and NATO.  During this lively episode David also gives his perspective on what China has learned from the Iran War and more. • The August 2026 edition of Warships IFR is published on 17.7.26 in the UK and also deployed globally. Visit the magazine web sitehttp://bit.ly/wifrmagFollow the mag on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR There’s also Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  To subscribe visit https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/• 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 Foundatio

Welcome to the second part of a Warships Pod special, with returning guest Lee Pilgrim and host Iain Ballantyne diving into the state of the Royal Navy today, its decline since the 1990s and where next. Also in this episode, Iain and Lee consider the failure of strategic vision in the UK when it comes to its navy. They ask what can be learned from a crucial oceanic struggle during the Second World War. The future of Britannia Royal Naval College (BRBC) Dartmouth – the officers’ training academy of the Royal Navy - is discussed along with a shake-up in training for both officers and ratings. Among other topics tackled is a decision to commit a British destroyer to operations East of Suez during a time of war between the USA, Israel and Iran. *For more on navies and their activities worldwide, get the magazine! Web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  The June 2026 edition of Warships IFR is now out and among its features are: the Black Sea mine menace; Australia’s naval boost; the Royal Navy countering Russian intrusions into seas off the UK; the Iran War and its global consequences; the second part of a series on the ill-fated Dardanelles-Gallipoli campaign on WW1. To ensure you get the magazine in hard copy and/or digital subscribe now!  https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ •Lee Pilgrim has worked in defence and intelligence - for government and industry - for over 30 years, in the UK and overseas, so has some useful insights into a broad spectrum of topics. His social media posts on X are well worth a read, so follow him on there @MtarfaL He has also written numerous articles for Warships IFR and contributed to its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy 2026’. •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’ (both 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 onX @IBallantyn Instagram.com/iballantynBluesky iainballantyne.bsky.social

In the first instalment of a two part discussion host Iain Ballantyne talks to returning guest Lee Pilgrim about the State of the Royal Navy and its decline over the past 20-30 years. Topics they tackle in this initial helping include: the shortage of Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers; Britain’s enduring dependency on the sea; seablindness that sees governments good at lawfare but poor at wielding military, and especially naval, power; the habit of reacting to events that need a naval/military response, rather than forward planning to handle them; whether or not the hybrid navy concept will be the RN’s saviour. Does it run the risk of focusing on autonomous systems that are years away from being full-fledged capabilities while the current fleet perishes? They discuss how the UK needs to focus on the now, not the tomorrow when it comes to defence. Also commented on is the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP). It is seemingly another example of a government dodging hard decisions in boosting defence and kicking the can down the road. Iain and Lee also discuss the disease of defence short-termism and the UK taking capability holidays and expecting allies to fill in gaps torn in sovereign defence - something those allies may not always be willing to do. *For more on navies and their activities worldwide, get the magazine! Web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  The June 2026 edition of Warships IFR is now out and among its features are: the Black Sea mine menace; Australia’s naval boost; the Royal Navy countering Russian intrusions into seas off the UK; the Iran War and its global consequences; the second part of a series on the ill-fated Dardanelles-Gallipoli campaign on WW1. To ensure you get the magazine in hard copy and/or digital subscribe now!  https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ •Lee Pilgrim has worked in defence and intelligence - for government and industry - for over 30 years, in the UK and overseas, so has some useful insights into a broad spectrum of topics. His social media posts on X are well worth a read, so follow him on there @MtarfaL He has also written numerous articles for Warships IFR and contributed to its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy 2026’. •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’ (both 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 onX @IBallantyn Instagram.com/iballantyn Bluesky iainballantyne.bsky.social

Host Iain Ballantyne talks to guests Gary Blackburn and James Bosbotinis about the Iran War, including the Strait of Hormuz struggle, how the conflict could shatter NATO plus what it has revealed about the state of the Royal Navy. Topics also touched on in their lively chat include the American decision to try and coerce the Tehran regime with the use of airpower alone, conceptual confusion at the heart of the campaign’s strategy and the problem of tactical prowess (as demonstrated in the Venezuelan raid) not transferring into realising strategic ends in the Iran War (so far). Gary and James provide their perspective on other matters, such as: the pivotal nature of the Strait of Hormuz battle in shaking up the global order; the falling out between the USA and key allies over a refusal to commit naval forces to opening up the Strait; and its impact on the future of NATO. Is the Alliance dead or might it survive? The United Kingdom’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP) paralysis is considered, along with the necessity for the Royal Navy to remain at the heart of defence for island nation, imports-dependent Britain. However, also highlighted is seablindness and a failure at the highest levels of government to understand the how to wield a navy to perform a vital role in reassuring allies and safeguarding national interests. *For more on navies and their activities worldwide, get the magazine! Web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  *The Iran War is a major element in the May edition of Warships IFR, which is published in the UK on 17.4.26 and rolling out globally. Available in shops and supermarkets hard copy and also as a digital edition available here: https://surl.li/ljyxbt •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 •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 visithttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbosbotinisHe 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’ (both 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 host Iain Ballantyne talks to guest Steve Kershaw, a former Royal Navy submarine officer, about his amazing career under the sea and his work today helping to bring about the UK’S ‘Hybrid Navy’ transformation. Iain kicks off by asking Steve to explain what led him to choose a naval career in the mid-1980s and why it was the engineering side of the Senior Service that appealed most. After talking about his time undergoing Initial Sea Training and being ‘streamed’ to the Submarine Service as an engineer, Steve relates how for a short period he returned to the Surface Fleet. He spent time in HMS London, including a foray to Berlin as the infamous Wall dividing East and West came down in late 1989. Steve served in several Royal Navy nuclear-powered hunter killer submarines (SSNs) of the Trafalgar Class, including during the 1991 Gulf War. That boat spent 13 weeks dived in the Mediterranean watching Libya to ensure it did not come into the conflict on the side of Saddam Hussein. Steve also went to sea in the Upholder Class diesel-electric submarine HMS Unicorn for a marathon voyage from the UK to the Indian Ocean and Gulf and back. He reveals to Iain how he found the ‘dirty boat’ world aboard Unicorn to be somewhat different to the nukes. While away the UK Government decided to take the four (fairly new) Upholders out of commission, which was a blow. Steve reveals the impact that had on Unicorn’s crew. A deployment involving Steve, which hit the headlines for the wrong reasons was that of HMS Tireless as part of Naval Task Group 2000, and which saw a circumnavigation of the world cancelled. The SSN was ‘trapped’ in Gibraltar for a year due to serious technical problems and Steve returned home rather than going around the world. Among other things Iain and Steve discuss is his time with Naval Sea Trials Party 30 (NSTP 30) and its work to ensure RN submarine sensors remained on the cutting edge during a continuing contest under the sea. Steve and Iain also discuss how the ‘Hybrid Navy’ aims to provide a solution to giving the British fleet of today and tomorrow more mass and presence at sea as part of the new Atlantic Bastion concept. *For more on navies and their activities worldwide, get the magazine! Web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  • Steve Kershaw served 21 years in the UK submarine service and has spent the rest of his career consulting in Defence and Security. He has been at PwC for over 15 years and a partner for 11 of them. His primary role is to lead consulting teams working in the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). He is also PwC’s Global Security and Defence Sector leader, helping individual territories and multi-national accounts such as NATO to develop and utilise the best that PwC has to offer. He specialises in improving military programmes and procurements and also enterprise-wide transformation. •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’ (both 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

Guest Roger Moorhouse and host Iain Ballantyne discuss the German submarine threat in WW2 in a lively and engrossing chat. Roger is the author of several acclaimed books, including ‘Killing Hitler’ and ‘First to Fight’ and now ‘Wolfpack’, an excellent single volume deep dive into the submarine arm of the Kriegsmarine - Hitler’s navy - and which was reviewed in the November 2025 edition of Warships IFR.Topics touched on in this episode include pondering why the Germans placed their bets on the U-boat again, for the second time in a quarter of a century, despite having seen a similar strategy fail in WW1.Also discussed is the quality and character of the U-boat captains – cool, leather jacket, lumber jack shirt-wearing heroes or villains? Nazis to a man and fanatical supporters of the regime, of just Good Germans doing their best for their country?Iain asks Roger if ‘the U-boat peril’ truly was the only thing that ever really frightened Winston Churchill in WW2 - or was the wartime British Prime Minister deploying his usual emotive characterisation to frame his own later record more valiantly?The term Wolfpack reeks of lethality, provoking a shiver of fear, but how effective were the U-boats really once the Allies improved tactics, weaponry and training? Roger provides his perspective on that topic in addition to considering the strategies of Karl Dönitz, the U-boat force boss.Looking at the moral dimension of the conflict, Roger and Iain ponder whether of not it is possible  to set aside the horror of the Nazis and what they did and feel empathy for the tens of thousands of young men in German submarines who died under a hail of Allied depth charges, bombs and gunfire. Both host and guest offer a dose of common sense about the fantasy in some quarters of Hitler escaping in a U-boat to live out the rest of his days in South America. Finally, Iain asks Roger what he feels might be lessons for today in dealing with the Russian threat, which includes submarines.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 the mag https://warshipsifr.com/The new (January 2026) edition of Warships IFR magazine hits the streets on 19.12.25 and is available hard copy in shops and supermarkets, plus direct in hard and digital variants from publisher Sundial Magazines https://sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/subscribe/warships.htm Roger Moorhouse is a historian and author specialising in modern German and Central European history, with particular interest in Nazi Germany, the Holocaust and World War Two in Europe. Follow Roger on X @Roger_Moorhouse Visit his web site https://www.rogermoorhouse.com For more information on his ‘Wolfpack: Inside Hitler’s U-Boat War’ (William Collins ) https://www.rogermoorhouse.com/wolfpack 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’ (both 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

During the second part of a fascinating chat with host Iain Ballantyne, guest Dr James Bosbotinis things kick off by addressing how a future battleship might shape up following President Donald Trump’s call for a new generation of the fighting steel behemoths.James suggests that, rather than following a WW2 pattern, such a 21st Century capital ship could be armed with a huge number of missiles and an electromagnetic railgun – and be more along Russian nuclear-powered cruiser lines than inspired by the US Navy’s Iowa Class battlewagon of WW2 and the Cold War.Also discussed in this episode is the global reach of China’s navy, which may soon make its presence felt in European waters, including sending an aircraft carrier group to seas off the UK.Finally, how can the world avoid the ‘Axis of bother’ versus the democratic West becoming a hot conflict? Iain proposes an ‘Axis of Amity’ is better than a massive war, though James worries the presence of nuclear weapons means the world is on a knife-edge. And so he recommends Western deterrence must remain strong and also credible.By the way…The December edition of Warships IFR is out now in the UK and also being deployed globally. It includes an article by James Bosbotinis on the North Korean threat and how it might be defanged without provoking a nuclear exchange. There is a five-page special on what a future battleship might look like in the same edition. The main article by Lee Pilgrim gives his take on the shape of such vessels. An accompanying piece by Dr Robert Farley explains why the majority of the battlewagons of WW2 were soon discarded when the fighting stopped.James Bosbotinis is to offer his opinion on how 21st Century battleships might shape up in a future edition of Warships IFR magazine, while Iain Ballantyne will also contribute to the series.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 the magazine https://warshipsifr.com/• 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 visithttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbosbotinisHe 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’ (both 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

During the first part of a fascinating discussion with host Iain Ballantyne, returning guest Dr James Bosbotinis provides insights into the naval significance of a big military parade in China. Also considered is the current status of the Russian threat and the scale of danger being faced by NATO.More specifically, Iain asks if a recent incident involving the allegedly broken down diesel-electric Kilo Class submarine RFS Novorossiysk indicates - as the head of NATO has contended - that the Russian Navy of today is less ‘Hunt for the Red October’ and more like ‘the Hunt for a mechanic.’James explains the strengths and weaknesses of the Russian Navy, not least as embodied by its powerful Northern Fleet based in and around the Kola Peninsula in the Arctic.Moving on, Iain and James discuss the current defence posture of the USA, whose apparently hesitant commitment to NATO possibly creates an element of uncertainty that could prompt miscalculations…leading to the long-feared ‘Third World War’.Also on the topics list is the ‘Axis of bother’ – Russia’s global disruptor mission in concert with like-minded rogue states such as North Korea and Iran.When it comes to China, James offers an assessment on what was shown off during the recent military parade in Beijing and how it relates to naval forces and growing Chinese military power, a subject he also tackled in an article for the November edition of Warships IFR magazine.The December edition of Warships IFR is published on 21.11.25 in the UK and also deployed globally. It includes an article by James Bosbotinis on the North Korean threat and how it might be defanged without provoking a nuclear exchange.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 the magazine https://warshipsifr.com/• 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 visithttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbosbotinisHe 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’ (both 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 and final part of their discussion defence expert Lee Pilgrim and host Iain Ballantyne resume their survey of the Royal Navy and how to fix it.They ponder the need for a new ‘Dreadnought moment’ under a leader as radical as the legendary Admiral Jacky Fisher who introduced war-winning tech and a new mindset.Fisher pushed through construction of the all-big-gun, steam turbine powered HMS Dreadnought, which in 1906 made all other battleships obsolete.Lee suggests it will also require a latter-day Julian Corbett, the civilian naval visionary who helped Britain forge a strategy for the immensely powerful Royal Navy of the early 20th Century.In their lively chat, Lee and Iain weigh up the worth of the UK’s new Atlantic Bastion concept, and the part uncrewed systems will play in it, along with the need to keep humans in the kill chain if drones are to be a major part of policing the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap. The latter is the main gateway to the broader Atlantic used by Russian submarines since the Cold War, but Iain and Lee wonder if a less passive, more forward leaning strategy is needed.Also touched on in the discussion is the utility of drones as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group and the  F-35B jet as a fighter-bomber compared to how the Royal Navy used to do things the last time it had big carriers (in the 1970s).•Lee Pilgrim has worked in defence and intelligence - for government and industry - for over 30 years both in the UK and overseas, so has some useful insights into a whole load of interesting things. His social media posts on X are well worth a read. Follow him on that platform @MtarfaL He has also written several articles for Warships IFR and contributed to our forthcoming ‘Guide to the Royal Navy 2026.’•Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy’ (since 2002) 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 @IBallantynThe new (October) edition of Warships IFR is out 19.9.25 in the UK and also being deployed globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow us on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 To subscribe to the magazine’s digital and/or hard copy variants https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/The ‘Guide to the Royal Navy 2026’ mentioned in this podcast episode is published on 18.9.25 and can be ordered here https://sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/products,guide-to-the-royal-navy-2026_640.htm

In the first of a two-part discussion, defence expert Lee Pilgrim provides some common sense, but possibly provocative, suggestions on how to sort out the mess in which the Royal Navy currently finds itself.In this wide-ranging part one chat Lee considers the current state of the RN - underperforming against the budget given to it - and recommends some radical cures for what ails the Naval Service. These include getting rid of surface warships and submarines that never go to sea in order to ensure the rest of the Fleet is out there being more active.In this discussion Lee highlights the need to return the Royal Navy to being a proper fighting force. That was a desire expressed by the new First Sea Lord when he took office recently. In light of that Lee also outlines some of the risks that are being stacked up due to key naval capabilities being hollowed out.Lee provides numerous robust opinions, not least about MoD inefficiency, and the crucial need for a new kind of Submarine Service that mixes conventional boats with nuclear-powered ones to properly tackle its tasks. He also mentions the decline of UK amphibious warfare forces - and a whole lot more!It is fascinating discussion with podcast host Iain Ballantyne and there will be more prescriptions offered by Dr Lee in part two, which will be out soon.•Lee Pilgrim has worked in defence and intelligence - for government and industry - for over 30 years both in the UK and overseas, so has some useful insights into a whole load of interesting things. His social media posts on X are well worth a read. Follow him on that platform @MtarfaL He has also written several articles for Warships IFR and is contributing to our forthcoming ‘Guide to the Royal Navy 2026.’•Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy’ (since 2002) 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 @IBallantynThe new (Sept) edition of Warships IFR is out this week in the UK and also being deployed globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow us on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 To subscribe to the magazine’s digital and/or hard copy variants https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/The ‘Guide to the Royal Navy 2026’ mentioned in this podcast episode will be published later this year.

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 @IBallantynFor 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