The Naval Review

The Nation Needs a Shipbuilding Revolution The U.S. Navy is in a fight for survival—one that extends from the Pentagon to boardrooms and Capitol Hill. The question is not just what kind of Navy the nation needs, but how to build it. Without enough shipyards and skilled workers, debates over fleet composition are meaningless. History offers lessons. In the early 20th century, Britain’s Royal Navy underwent a shipbuilding revolution under Churchill and Fisher, securing maritime dominance for decades. Today, the U.S. faces a similar challenge as China’s naval expansion outpaces American shipbuilding capacity. Decades of underinvestment—$1.3 trillion in forgone spending since 1989—have weakened the industry. Growing the fleet requires leadership, vision, and strategic investment. Recent bipartisan efforts, like the SHIPS for America Act, aim to rebuild U.S. maritime strength by expanding shipbuilding, revitalizing the merchant fleet, and fostering workforce development. A strong Navy ensures national security and economic prosperity, but it cannot be sustained without a robust commercial fleet. Time is not on our side. Immediate action—policy reform, investment, and public-private collaboration—is critical to restore deterrence and maintain global maritime leadership. See https://lnkd.in/gNwJNS5v #AUKUS Michael Sharpe

As Chair of the Royal Navy Race Diversity Network (RNRDN), it gives me great pleasure to announce that existing Royal Navy (RN) cultural mess dress policy has just been updated to include wider forms of British cultural identity. The RNRDN’s initiative, coined the Cultural Equivalent, initially began over 2 years ago. The Network canvased opinions from ethnic minority service personnel to understand how widening existing policy on cultural mess dress would made them feel able to celebrate both their RN and cultural heritage. Existing policy (BR3) already allowed for Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Cornish and Manx heritage to be represented through the wearing of kilts and tartan dresses. The update in policy now widens that to be inclusive of other British cultures that serve within the RN. I owe a great deal of thanks to the members of the committee, advocates and allies who continue to support and champion the work that we undertake, without whom we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this outcome. In particular, I’d like to offer my heart felt thanks to Martin Connell, Jude Terry, Robert G Pedre, Marcus Hember, Adrian Visram, Manish Tayal (muh-NEESH TY-uhl) MBE, Ryan Sookoo, Graham Kerr and Fai Lee. Lastly, thank you to those that supported us throughout the Cultural Equivalent project including the RN D&I Team, Tin Trousers Limited, Jo Valentine / The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Lucky Haque, Durdana Ansari OBE and Amina Art Ansari. For more information, please check out RNTM 01-010/25.

'If the Russian navy loses access to Tartus, it will not cease to be a regional player, but its presence will be far more diluted' write Commander Edward Black and Dr Sidharth Kaushal in the latest RUSI Commentary.

What does a warming Arctic mean for national security and policy? As the Polar Regions face unprecedented environmental changes, the Royal Navy's role grows in strategic importance. A recent conference at Royal Holloway - hosted by Klaus Dodds - underscored the need for robust Arctic strategies addressing climate change, geopolitical competition, and environmental sustainability. Key takeaways include the urgency of international collaboration, investment in Arctic-ready capabilities, and sustainable practices to balance security with stewardship. Policy professionals must advocate for adaptive strategies to navigate this complex and evolving frontier. How is your organization preparing for a changing Arctic? #ArcticPolicy #ClimateChange #SecurityStrategy

This is a tough one to take. 😫 • Aaby explains that due to the conditions this year, the team are going to be out there for considerably longer than they hoped. 😩 • This has nothing to do with the effort put in, it's down to the conditions they're facing out there. 🌬️ • In many ways it's what's brilliant about ocean rowing; you cannot 'conquer' the Atlantic, you can merely move in the best possible way, with the conditions that you're facing. 🌊 • It's very difficult to compare years to prove this point, but if we look at Mark Slats' team, who are currently leading the race - in 2017/18 Mark completed this race in a mind boggling 30 days, as a SOLO. This year, he put together a hugely strong team of FOUR and they're on for a 37 day crossing, 7 days slower than his solo time. Yet 37 days in a year like this, is blisteringly fast, it's possible they will be the ONLY team to get under 40 days this year. 🏎️ • This row then, is essentially a dance with the Atlantic; make the right moves, and you'll advance more quickly, but the maximum pace of the dance is entirely controlled by the elements. 💨 • It's been an absolutely Herculean effort to get this far - and the crew are keeping good spirits in spite of it all. DIG DEEP, TEAM - YOU'VE GOT THIS! 💪 • As the team take on this incredible challenge they are raising money for Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and Young Women's Trust - if you can support, please donate today at https://lnkd.in/e9AVeAJa  • The team are sponsored by: Amentum Specialist Data Solutions Babcock International Group NSSLGlobal BAE Systems Skyral GE Vernova Rolls-Royce Resilient Nutrition Gill Marine Team Forces JVAT China Fleet Country Club Endace Slimstock Ansaldo Nuclear Maxar Technologies SunGod • We are very proud to be working with our incredible outreach partners to inspire the next generation:  Reach the World Sir Thomas Lipton Foundation SeaCadets Never Such Innocence Young Women's Trust • Proud affiliates of HELP and rowing in loving memory of Captain Jim Simpson • #HMSOardacious #atlantic2024 #extremesports #atlanticcampaigns #submariner #worldstoughestrow #oceanrowing #oceanrowers #atlantic #rowing #adventure #mentalhealth #royalnavy #womeninsport #womenindefence #womeninadventure Royal Navy

Twenty years ago today (Boxing Day) I was filming for the BBC on HMS Chatham. We’d stopped in Dubai for a well deserved run ashore after a gruelling Christmas patrol in the Gulf on the lookout for gun runners. I was planning to fly home whilst the exhausted sailors enjoyed their new year ashore. But then Captain Steve Chick, a natural born leader, called me to his cabin to say "Chris, you might want to stay with us". The Boxing Day tsunami had struck with a vengeance further south and he’d received orders to cancel all leave and head for the east coast of Sri Lanka without delay. I did stay and watched in amazement as the Royal Navy frigate set sail almost immediately and, en route, transformed from a ship of war to a ship of mercy. This was named Operation Garron and, because Steve Chick didn’t spare the horses, we were the first on the scene where death and destruction were widespread. Over the next two weeks I filmed with emotional pride as the men and women of HMS Chatham did all they could for the people of Baticoloa & Kellar, the coastal area which had taken the brunt of the wave. We were soon joined by RFA Diligence and the two ship's companies faced up to the huge task ahead in perfect harmony and coordination. Burly stokers and Royal Marines joined with chefs, writers and gunners to set about the grizzly task of burying bodies but also making buildings safe, powering up generators, distributing rations and, above all, boosting morale of the local population, especially the children. I’ll never forget the charismatic, ever cheerful chaplain Tommy Goodwin encouraging the children to play and laugh again after the shock of the tsunami. The helicopter crews flew continuously taking in urgent medical stores and I well recall flying with Lt Toby Clay and Lt Jonathan Turner who were unstinting in their efforts to deliver life saving supplies. One of my most enduring memories relates to the determined efforts of Surgeon Lt Alison Dewynter who, with the help of a dedicated army of sailors, cleared the ruins of the local hospital to get it running again in less than a week. It had seemed like an impossible task but, when the chips are down, 'impossible' is not a word that seems to feature in Jack and Jenny's dictionary. I have had good reason to be proud of the work of the Royal Navy over the last 30 years as I’ve filmed with them on numerous operational deployments but Op’ Garron was a pinnacle: it helped me show the world exactly what our navy is capable of, not only in the face of an enemy but in the face of Mother Nature at her most ferocious. Well done the ship's company of HMS 'Up and at em' Chatham. You should still be very proud of what you achieved in Sri Lanka 20 years ago for you proved, above all, that the Navy’s most effective and potent resource is its sailors. #royalnavy #royalmarines #rnrmc Link to the film I made about HMS Chatham responding to the tsunami - called "After the Wave" https://lnkd.in/ewwavyys

First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, shares a personal message to Royal Navy personnel as he reflects on all that’s been achieved in 2024 and recognises the valuable support of family, friends and loved ones. “It has been an extraordinarily, busy and demanding period. But you have all risen to those challenges that it's presented with fortitude, with professional skill, with energy, commitment and cheerfulness and we have achieved a huge amount, often in very difficult circumstances.”