No. 309 January 2021

January 2021

Front cover

In the South China Sea, the Australian frigate HMAS Ballarat at speed with her embarked helicopter in the back­ground. Inset: King Charles II visiting the Tyger on her first voyage. See P34/37.

Photo by MCS2C Markus Castaneda/US Navy Inset: Artwork by Richard Endsor

Contents

NEWS

DEVIL IN THE DETAIL OF NEW UK FRIGATE – P2 & P6

NAVIES-IN-BRIEF – P3, P4, & P8
• Hypersonic missiles for USN destroyers.
• Red Sea hub for Russia.
• Iran’s ‘sea base’
• Greece to buy American frigates?
• High speed intercept as commandos train.
• Taiwan starts its own submarine build.
• Egypt procures patrol boats.
• Italy takes on pirates off West Africa.
• French action group in Med.

RUSSIANS OUT IN STRENGTH OFF UK – P3 & P9

UK NAVY PROVIDES DISASTER RELIEF – P15

KEEPING THE LID ON A ROGUE STATE – P32

LATEST BRITISH ATTACK SUBMARINE – IBC

 

COMMENTARIES

ODIN’s EYE – P5
Boris Johnson’s Navy ‘boost’ may see ships cut.

 

FEATURES & ANALYSIS

‘MALABAR’ AND ‘SWORD’ EXERCISES – P10/13
A busy time for allied navies in Indo-Asia-Pacific.

LATEST ICBM SHOOT DOWN – P14
A US Navy destroyer pushes the envelope.

INDIAN OCEAN FACE OFF – P16/19
Part three of our naval future wars series.

STRIKE CARRIER CAPABILITY ‘DEBILITATED’ – P20/21
Hard-hitting Parliamentary report slams the UK Govt.

CORVETTE HEADS FOR ISRAEL – P22
A German-built warship makes the voyage home.

CANADIAN FUTURE FRIGATE SHAPES UP – P23
Part one of a look at the RCN’s T26 surface combatant.

RNZN TAKES AN AXE TO MULTI-TASKING – P24/27
Profile of New Zealand’s new fleet support ship.

EGYPT’S NAVY GETS ACTIVE – P28/29
Cairo sends its warships out and about.

LONG SWANSONG OF FOSSIL FUEL- P30/31
New security challenges look for the RN.

 

FIGHTING SAIL

UNRAVELLING THE SECRETS OF A WARSHIP – P34/37
The curious case of a King’s vessel revived via ‘repair’.

VOYAGE BACK IN TIME ON DRAKE’S SHIP – P38/41
A notorious naval hero’s world-girdling exploits.

TINKERS, TAILORS, SOLDIERS, SAILORS – P42/43
Britain’s Georgian era espionage network.

UNDERSTANDING THE RN THROUGH DEFEAT – P44/45
How Americans taught Britons a lesson or two.

BOOK REVIEWS – P46/48
Some factual & fictional Age of Fighting sail titles.