The German Navy @deutschemarine K130 Braunschweig Class corvette FGS Oldenburg inbound to @HMNBDevonport Plymouth (8.5.26). Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
The Royal Netherlands Navy @kon_marine Combat Support Ship (CSS) HNLMS Den Helder seen inbound to @HMNBDevonport Plymouth last Friday afternoon (8.5.26). Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
The Royal Norwegian Navy @Forsvaret_no Fridtjof Nansen Class frigate HNoMS Otto Sverdrup inbound to @HMNBDevonport Plymouth on Friday (8.5.26) afternoon. Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship (MROSS) @RFAProteus is seen inbound to @HMNBDevonport Plymouth early this morning. Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
#RFAProteus
Can British naval vessels like these be spared doing things on the other side of the world when the Russian threat is rising in seas around the UK, Royal Navy frigate numbers are rapidly declining and other patrol ships are reportedly about to be axed and sold to foreign fleets
Here's the @RoyalNavy River Class (Batch 2) Offshore Patrol Vessel @HMSTrent inbound to @HMNBDevonport early this morning. Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
1/5 Odin’s Eye take: The Royal Navy’s Decline and What Must be Done?
The Royal Navy has become a political football. The Labour govt claims to be boosting defence spending already (and in reality doing a poor job of preserving what’s left of the active Fleet, which is…very
4/5 Plus there needs to be massive, and urgent, investment in the unwisely neglected Royal Fleet Auxiliary support flotilla. Then there’s the pressing need for new expeditionary sea base ships for the Royal Marines (the current ones either being laid up, in maintenance, diverted
5/5 If other nations have firm, well articulated plans for properly balanced navies, why on earth can’t the UK manage it? Australia has an active, ambitious plan for its maritime defence investment, while Canada is planning up to 20 multi-role corvettes and is currently going to
Here's the @RoyalNavy River Class (Batch 2) Offshore Patrol Vessel @HMSTrent inbound to @HMNBDevonport early this morning. Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
A word or two on Type 26 frigates from our Editor @IBallantyn 👇
Once the UK Govt drank the elixir of drones - a way to do without those expensive Type 26 warships, their seemingly too-hard-to-recruit people and costly weapons - and the Ukrainians 'beat a navy without a navy', it seized upon the 'hybrid navy' as the latest 'silver bullet' to
Sending the currently unemployed Ukrainian mine-hunters working out of Portsmouth in the UK - because they cannot get through the Turkish Straits to operate in the Black Sea - to help tackle the Strait of Hormuz mine menace (at some stage) is a sensible move, if today's reports
Here's some imagery via US @CENTCOM relating to USS Spruance @USNavy intercepting and stopping (via use of several rounds from the destroyer's 5-inch gun and hits on the engine room area) the Iran-bound and cargo vessel M/V Touska. It was part of the American-imposed blockade.
Sub Lieutenant Sean Neiuwenhoven of the @Australian_Navy jumps into the ocean to complete routine inspections and maintenance on the hull of the frigate HMAS Toowoomba. The ship was in the Philippine Sea as part of her current 2026 Regional Presence Deployment. Photo: LSIS Zac
An Ecuadorian Air Force Embraer A-29 Super Tucano flies alongside a F/A-18E Super Hornet above @USNavy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during a bilateral maritime engagement in the Pacific Ocean. Photo: Lieutenant William Shortal/US Navy.
Today saw the launch of NRP D. João II, a Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) 10720 constructed for the Portuguese Navy at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. Sea trials are scheduled to take place later this year. Photo: Damen.
As the world waits to see if the USA will really pile on the firepower to 'end Iranian civilisation', here's our latest podcast to while away the time: 'Iran War Special - Not-so-Grand Strategy Shocker' Host @IBallantyn talks to guests Gary Blackburn
Warships Pod: 48: Iran War Special - Not-so-Grand Strategy Shocker
Host Iain Ballantyne talks to guests Gary Blackburn and James Bosbotinis about the Iran War, including the Strait ...
pod.fo
Our new podcast episode has been unleashed: 'Iran War Special - Not-so-Grand Strategy Shocker' https://pod.fo/e/3ed082 Host @IBallantyn talks to guests Gary Blackburn @gjb70 and @JamesBosbotinis about the Iran War, including the Strait of Hormuz struggle, how the conflict could
The @RoyalNavy Duke Class (Type 23) frigate HMS Sutherland inbound to @HMNBDevonport Plymouth yesterday morning. Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
Here's the @RoyalNavy River Class (Batch 1) Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Severn inbound to @HMNBDevonport Plymouth yesterday afternoon. Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
UK SUBMARINE IN THEATRE OF WAR
According to a report by the @DailyMail the @RoyalNavy Astute Class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) HMS Anson, armed with Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM), is now lurking somewhere in the Arabian Sea. Basing its claim on 'military
Here is the Royal Netherlands Navy @kon_marine Holland Class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) HNLMS Groningen seen inbound to @HMNBDevonport Plymouth yesterday afternoon. Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
A @USNavy warship used an SM-3 interceptor against an Iranian ballistic missile aimed at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. According to the @WSJ two Intermediate-range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM) were reportedly fired by Tehran at the UK-owned, but US operated, island airbase and
Speaks volumes on the Navy's failure to penetrate the public consciousness despite the work of the Senior Service being fundamental to the security and prosperity of the nation. More Greens like the Army than the Navy or RAF - v. interesting. Reform seem very Army Barmy, the Lib
Which do you think is the most important branch of the armed forces for UK national security?
Royal Air Force: 22%
The Army: 21%
Royal Navy: 16%
Don't know: 41%
Results link in replies
Odin says: with the reported '£10 billion of savings' and delays to the Defence Investment Plan, the verdict is in on the current @GOVUK when it comes to protection of the nation - its home seas, skies and territory. And on its lack of interest in preserving and properly
1/9 As part of an alleged £10 billion in @GOVUK defence savings - amid major wars in the Ukraine (with the Russians having the UK high on their current & future hit list) and in the Middle East (exposing the poor state of the Royal Navy) - it has been reported, the RN will suffer
8/9 The future HMS Cardiff, seen here shortly before being floated off. She is currently fitting out on the Clyde, second of what is meant to be eight new City Class (Type 26) frigates being built for the Royal Navy. However, the current UK government will, under a £10 billion
9/9 If you want to check out the considerable fleet of ex @RoyalNavy vessels that continue to sail on and give good service for foreign fleets after being discarded in UK Government defence cuts since the 1990s check out a four-page feature in our 'Guide to the Royal Navy 2026'
The Royal Navy has been monitoring the Russian Navy corvette RFS Soobrazitelny and sanctioned oil tanker MV Anatoly Kolodkin as they sailed through the English Channel. The task was carried out by the patrol ship HMS Mersey and a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron
On the roof of the world, despite the discord over opening the Strait of Hormuz far to the south, allied naval forces are co-operating in order to safeguard mutual defence and security, during Operation Ice Camp Boarfish. It is 'a three-week operation designed to research, test,
During the Australian-hosted Exercise KAKADU 2026 dolphins came out to play, and are seen here in company with the Philippine Navy guided-missile frigate BRP Diego Silang and from above the bulbous bow of Royal @Australian_Navy landing ship HMAS Choules. Both images by SMNIS
Someone has suggested to us that the Iranian merchant ship converted into 'drone carrier' Shaihid Bagheri was not actually sunk by US forces earlier in March. The vessel (seen below) seems now to be combat ineffective, and likely burned out. Its civilian origins were possibly
Odin observes: the sheer lack of awareness in some quarters - amid a naval war in the Middle East - on what modern warships (and navies) are about is extraordinary. There sometimes seems to be no clue ref what warships need to be like in order to survive modern combat. There are
Odin observes: the sheer lack of awareness in some quarters - amid a naval war in the Middle East - on what modern warships (and navies) are about is extraordinary. There sometimes seems to be no clue ref what warships need to be like in order to survive modern combat. There are
For those, including @johnredwood and other politicians/people who find themselves trying to work out what navies are about all of a sudden - plus if they fancy news, commentaries and analysis on global combat fleets - here's what the current edition of our mag, as mentioned by
@johnredwood With respect, this is the kind of 1990s thinking that got the Navy where it is today. If I may shed a little ligh...Do merchant vessels have to be armed with guided missiles, guns, torpedo launch systems, operate anti-submarine weapons, possess speed thanks to powerful
