No. 264 February 2017

February 2017

Front cover

The aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush in the Atlantic Ocean conducting a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPUTEX).

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael B Zingaro/US Navy

Contents

NEWS

IS DRONE SEIZURE A FORETASTE? – P2

USN TIPS BALANCE IN FORGOTTEN WAR – P3

NAVIES – P4 & P10
• Iranian weaponry still fuelling Yemen war.
• Russia’s nuclear drone.
• New RN carriers to patrol South China Sea.
• Second new Egyptian submarine named.

NAVIES SAIL TO THE RESCUE – P16/17

FINAL CURTAIN FOR ‘LUSTY’ – P24/25

GERMAN NAVAL NEWS – P26/28

DE GAULLE STANDS DOWN – P30

CARIBBE FORCE CLAMP-DOWN – P38/39

COMMENTARIES

TURNING PLOUGHSHARES INTO WARSHIPS – P5
Odin feels the Peace Dividend must be reclaimed.

WHY DOES THE UK GOVT IGNORE RISK? – P14/16
Cutting of naval capabilities seems not to concern the British political leadership as much as it should.

THREATS AT SEA & GOVT NEGLECT – P15
Odin’s Eye Extra on RN capability gaps.

FEATURES & ANALYSIS

SUNSET ON THE USA’S BIG STICK – P6/9
Will the Trump presidency see an end to the current pattern of USN global strike carrier deployments?

RN REVIVAL ROADMAP PRESENTED – P12/13
A National Shipbuilding Strategy suggests solutions to solve the stasis embedded in British procurement.

FACING EAST & WEST – P18/19
Pakistan looks two ways for naval partnerships.

KREMLIN CARRIER AMBITIONS ENDURE – P20/22
Russia’s big deck aviation plans go back decades.

WORLD’S ‘BEST SMALL NATION NAVY’ – P32/35
Interview with the head of the Royal New Zealand Navy and also the CO of HMNZS Canterbury.

IRON LADY ‘HORRIFIED’ – P36
Polaris blunder revealed in previously secret documents.

GLOBAL NAVAL FLAG OF UNITY – P42
The potential Brexit impact on the White Ensign.

LAST OF THE BRAVE ‘FEW’ – P44/45
Obituary of a famous WW2 naval aviator.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – P46

BOOK REVIEWS – P47/48