Thin Pinstriped Line

  The Royal Navy has named the newest vessel to join its fleet. The XV Patrick Blackett , an experimental vessel intended to support trials and technology demonstration was formally named in Portsmouth on 29 July. Flying a blue ensign (denoting a Government owned vessel), and with a Royal Navy crew embarked, the ship will help take forward the next stage in trialling equipment that will form the basis of the future fleet. This is a significant move forward, not least because she is the first Government vessel to operate a ‘QR’ code on the side explaining what she does! Technological change is at the forefront of what the Royal Navy is all about, yet sometimes it causes concern to those comfortable with ‘the good old days’. Look to the history of the RN over many centuries and it is a story of people spotting new ideas, being willing to trial them and then take the next step in pushing them forward to give the fleet another battle winning advantage. From the iron hull of HMS WARRI...

    Few things can get the Internet world of #miltwitter riled up more than the suggestion of changing / reducing / removing standards. The merest hint of doing something differently attracts a legion of online comments, ranging from people who are involved in the issue to those long retired or never served who still see themselves as ‘gatekeepers’ for the cause. The latest mini-outrage was the eminently sensible suggestion by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) that it may be worth looking at physical standards of recruits to see whether those with niche skills necessarily need to pass a fitness test. This idea, merely floated in a speech and not of itself formal policy has whipped the internet up into a frenzy, with all manner of people moaning about standards, values and conjuring up ever more unlikely scenarios where the person may find themselves at risk as a result. It all feels a little bit hyperbolic for what seems like a rather sensible suggestion. Image by Ministry ...

  It is an old adage that sending a gunboat is a remarkably effective form of diplomacy. It is a means of building influence, sending a message and helping maintain a presence and interest in events around the world. Gunboat diplomacy is a favoured tool of many nations who possess capable navies and are keen to use them as a key tool in their national toolbox of influence. The Indo Pacific ‘region’ (in reality an area that comfortably takes up more than 50% of the Earths surface) is where gunboat diplomacy really comes into its own. With dozens of nations separated by huge distances, maritime power is vital as a means of travelling between islands, and helping provide assistance, support and diplomatic reach. For the UK, the Integrated Review of 2021 set a clear direction to help improve the military presence in this region as part of a wider ‘Indo-Pacific tilt’ that will see British policy makers take an increasingly deep interest in this region. HMS SPEY at Pitcairn Island -Ima...