Wavell Room – The Royal Navy (RN) has the Maritime Reserve (MR), a 1* led Fighting Arm1 (FA), however, it could be argued that it is not taken seriously as a capability and is therefore not value for money. If the RN were to take the Maritime Reserve seriously, the MR would require a directed operational output, a ‘head mark’, a thought-out function, in conjunction with regular cadre of personnel who are taught the necessary knowledge and experience on how to employ it to enhance naval power. This article offers options for the output the MR should have in supporting the RN operationally.

Council on Geostrategy – Similarly to the previous administration, the new Labour government has pledged to embrace a ‘North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-first’ defence posture. A Strategic Defence Review is now underway to reappraise and determine the shape of the United Kingdom’s (UK) future defences. Given British dependence on the sea for economic growth and prosperity, as well as the Net Zero agenda, the sea power remains central to the national effort. Britain is situated at the centre of the Euro-Atlantic world, a perspective it should embrace and promote. As it looks to boost investment in defence to 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and move towards greater integration between the armed forces, the new government should place sea power at the heart of its agenda.

Navy Lookout – During a recent trial, a Wildcat helicopter of 815 Naval Air Squadron shot down a Banshee target drone. The is the first time a Wildcat has detected, tracked, and engaged a drone without outside assistance, giving the aircraft an important air-air capability.

Navy Lookout – Here we examine the recent exercise Strike Warrior, which served as a certification exercise for the UK Carrier Strike Group and a valuable training opportunity. While there were some notable achievements, this exercise also highlighted some underlying concerns about the state of the force.

Navy Lookout – A recent article in The Sun newspaper suggests that submariners were almost “starved’ while on an epic six-month patrol because the boat could not be resupplied with food as planned. Here, we briefly consider the implications of this report.

Navy Lookout – While the main attention has been focused on the core issue of pay for Royal Fleet Auxiliary sailors, the long-running dispute between the Maritime Trade Unions (MTUs) and the MoD is more complex than has been presented in the media.

Navy Lookout – While the RFA is struggling to get ships to sea, the most active vessel in its fleet, RFA Tidesurge has been sustaining allied warships in the Atlantic and High North.

Navy Lookout – A recent paper produced by the Council on Geostrategy suggested that the RN should buy at least one additional Dreadnought-class submarine reconfigured as an SSGN to launch conventionally armed missiles. Here we consider this proposal and other options for increasing the submarine force strength.

Navy Lookout – Work has started on the third and final phase of the project to dismantle ex-HMS Swiftsure. As the demonstrator project for the dismantling programme, she will be the first former RN SSN to be fully disposed of.

War on the Rocks – After almost 59 years of controversial existence, the last vestige of the British Empire in the Indian Ocean, the British Indian Ocean Territory, is set to be wound up. On Oct. 3, Britain and Mauritius released a joint statement detailing a historic agreement via which sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, will be transferred to Mauritius. The sun is setting on the British Indian Ocean Territory and borders in the Indian Ocean are set to shift.

Navy Lookout – A Wildcat Helicopter has conducted a single successful test-firing of the Sea Venom missile at a barge anchored off the Aberporth Range in Wales. This trail marks a major step forward in the much-delayed integration of this important capability onto the Wildcat. Sea Venom has been in development since the late 1990s as the replacement for Sea Skua light anti-ship missile which was retired in 2017. It was supposed to go into service in 2023 but instead this capability has been gapped for almost a decade with FOC due in 2026.

Navy Lookout – An Astute Class submarine left HMNB Clyde this afternoon and is likely to be involved in the carrier strike group exercise Strike Warrior. She is the first Royal Navy SSN to go to sea since HMS Triumph returned to Devonport on 3rd July this year.

Navy Lookout – The sole UK solid stores support ship RFA Fort Victoria is being prepared to be laid up for at least a year, joining RFA Tiderace and RFA Wave Ruler in Seaforth Docks, Liverpool in long-term reserve.

Navy Lookout – Like all navies, the RN is seeking to reduce the number of sailors needed to operate its warships as qualified people are expensive and in short supply. While putting fewer people in harm’s way, a small crew can have limitations. In this article, we look at how the designers of the Type 31 frigate have balanced lean crewing with effective operation.

Navy Lookout – RFA Cardigan Bay arrived in Portland in early September after more than two years away from the UK. Due to crew shortages, the RFA is currently unable to move her from Portland to Falmouth to begin a planned refit.

RUSI – With the growing threat posed by Russia’s Northern Fleet and increased demand in the Indo-Pacific, the Royal Navy must overcome its submarine challenges to remain relevant.

Navy Lookout – The Type 26 frigate programme achieved another milestone last week with two ships now in the fitting out phase. HMS Cardiff joined the first class, HMS Glasgow in dry dock at Scotstoun.

(Thanks to Alain)

Navy Lookout – In this guest article, Robert Moyse argues that the RN should take inspiration from the US Marine Corps and consider cheaper, smaller and more numerous vessels to meet the MRSS requirement.

UK Defence Journal – HMS Bulwark, one of the Royal Navy’s two amphibious assault ships, has spent a significant amount of time out of active service, accumulating over 2,730 days in port, according to data from Open Source Intelligence analyst @TBrit90.

Navy Lookout – Today officers and crew serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are holding further strikes. As previously reported,the RFA that provides the Royal Navy’s critical afloat logistic support is in steep decline as it is increasingly unable to find people to crew its ships.

Navy Lookout – Early in 2023, the MoD purchased two former commercial vessels for the Naval Service. Despite their procurement ‘at pace’, RFA Proteus has yet to conduct any useful operations and RFA Stirling Castle is being laid up or ‘paused’ temporarily mainly due to a lack of qualified people to operate her.

Policy Exchange – The balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region is changing. How should the UK respond?

Navy Lookout – Following her return to the UK in July (and some well-deserved leave for her ship’s company), we were invited on board HMS Diamond to speak to the Commanding officer, Cdr Pete Evans. Here provide some more details about what was arguably the RN’s most intense warship deployment in more than a decade.

Navy Lookout – Almost a year ago we reported that none of the RN’s attack submarines (SSNs) were at sea. There has been only limited SSN activity since but here we summarise the current situation and look forward to improving future availability.

Defence Post – The Royal Navy has tested the upgraded Spearfish torpedo from a Vanguard-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.

(Thanks to Alain)