The Blue Ridge Class @USNavy command ship USS Mount Whitney inbound to @HMNBDevonport Plymouth yesterday evening. Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
Action this day! During the second part of their latest fascinating discussion for the Warships Pod @MtarfaL and @IBallantyn have cause to chat about 'the vision thing' - and how it seems to be lacking in today's UK's politicians when it comes to maritime defence, comparing
The Portuguese Navy frigate NRP Bartolomeu Dias inbound to @HMNBDevonport Plymouth this morning. Video courtesy of @StephenJagger4
The @RoyalNavy Astute Class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) HMS Anson is seen here inbound to @HMNBDevonport Plymouth this afternoon. Deploying to Australia at the beginning of 2026, she was ordered to somewhere in the Indian Ocean (it is presumed) after the Iran War
The article in which Andrew Livsey @AL34495737 outlined how future frigates and uncrewed vessels could work with each other to flush out, see off or destroy hostile submarines was in our April 2026 edition 👇
@PVHaltonOBE Suspect most people do not disagree with the direction of travel, nor the need. It is the political super hype that is putting cart before horse. And the suspicion that a goverment is deploying smoke and mirrors to dodge painful decisions on public spending priorities, via
'THE ROYAL NAVY - ITS DECLINE
AND STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE PT1'
With suggestions of a future '1,000-ship' Royal Navy (mainly composed of drones) here's a timely Warships Pod discussion for you.
https://podfollow.com/warships-pod/episode/fe223b49eb95b3d8e1d291808cc615497671479e/view
In the first instalment of this two part discussion @IBallantyn
1/6 The mania for ever bigger warships may be peaking with plans for US Navy battleships. But, even if the Trump Class don't happen, the USN will likely end up with smaller (but still pretty big) 'escort' vessels...such as 15 000 tons cruisers, in addition to an autonomous fleet.
5/6 So, warship admirers will have plenty to salivate over - China's, the USA's, France's, and possibly even the UK's, supercarriers will still be here in 2070s, with more in the works. Unless a war causes an accelerated extinction.
6/6 Submarines are getting big too and will be so for decades to come, with SSNs already doubling in displacement from some of those in the Cold War.
Argentine Navy destroyers ARA La Argentina and ARA Sarandi (nearest) with the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during a bilateral maritime engagement in the Atlantic Ocean recently. Nimitz was conducting Southern Seas 2026, which, according to the US Navy, 'seeks to enhance
Out there now in shops is the June 2026 edition of our magazine. On the cover is the Russian Navy guided-missile corvette RFS Soobrazitelniy, at sea last month not long after escorting a sanctioned tanker through the English Channel. Photo: Michael Nitz, Naval Press Service. To
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
