No. 357 March 2025

March 2025

Front cover

HMS Triumph passing Plymouth Hoe as she returns to Devonport Naval Base for the last time after 33 years of Royal Navy service. See P32/36.

Photo by PO Phot Alex Ceolin/RN

Contents

NAVAL NEWS

News-in-Brief – P6 & P12

  • Royal Navy warns off Russian spy ship.
  • Future MCMV heads for the Netherlands.
  • German intel-gathering ship construction starts.
  • Pakistan tests Anti-ship Ballistic Missile.
  • AUKUS hypersonic weapons development.
  • Full speed ahead for new RNLN supply vessel – P11

Torpedoes away for French and Brazilian fleets – P22

Navies in Focus – P31

 

COMMENTARY

ODIN’S EYE – P5
Western liberal democracies must seize the day and spend more on defence or pay a terrible price.

 

NAVAL DRONES

GLOBAL DRONE CARRIERS LIFT OFF – P13/15
Big ships for operating uncrewed aerial systems.

LEATHERNECKS EQUIPPED WITH ‘NMESIS’ – P16/17
The US Marine Corps reorganises for an island-hopping war with robotic missile launchers.

NO TIME TO LOSE FOR USA – P18
The race is on to get more US Navy firepower at sea.

 

FEATURES

WORLD SAILING UPON A SEA OF TROUBLES – P2/4
A UK MoD report outlines stormy decades ahead.

BLACK SEA NAVAL BALANCE OF POWER – P8/11
Three years on in the Ukraine War Moscow is still losing the battle at sea.

AUKUS UPDATE – P19/21
Where things stand with the trilateral pact.

ADRIATIC FLEET OF MODEST MEANS – P24/30
Plans to modernise the Croatian Navy are slowed down by lack of funds, plus a Q&A with the fleet boss.

LAST OF THE LEGENDARY TRAFALGARS – P32/36
A farewell to HMS Triumph as she pays off.

LONG GOODBYE FOR THE SEA KING – P37/40
Part one of a series on a famous helicopter.

THE GREAT DREADNOUGHT RACE – P42/46
A delve into battleship rivalry between nations.

AMERICAN SEA SERVICE HONOURS ACTOR – P47/48
Superstar Tom Cruise is saluted by the US Navy.