Special guest for this episode is defence and international affairs analyst Dr. James Bosbotinis who is a regular contributor to WARSHIPS IFR magazine. He possesses deep insights into Russia’s naval capabilities, along with the maritime strategy and long-range strike capabilities of Moscow’s surface warships and submarines.

Topics discussed with podcast host Iain Ballantyne include the purpose of Russia deploying task groups to seas off Ireland, in the Mediterranean, and elsewhere as the Ukraine Crisis simmers; the capabilities of missiles in Russia’s ships and submarines at sea; whether or not the Russian Navy of today can sustain its global presence at the current pace; how Russia is creating a potent mix of new submarines and vessels alongside regenerated Cold War-era units.

Also touched on: what may or may not happen in the Black Sea should President Vladimir Putin decide on war with Ukraine; how Russia’s naval forces would contribute via sea-based cruise missile attacks; Russia’s wider use of its naval forces to challenge the West; NATO’ s response to Moscow’s moves at sea, including the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group of the US Navy in the Mediterranean.

The purpose of Russia assembling an amphibious assault fleet in the Black Sea is weighed up. Is it just a distraction while the Kremlin acts elsewhere, or is it actually to stage an attack from the sea against Odessa and or in the Sea of Azov? Iain and James also ponder how NATO will need to respond to Russia beyond the Ukraine Crisis, in what is shaping up as a new Cold War at sea.

• Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine. 

For more details on the magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag

Twitter: @WarshipsIFR

Iain Ballantyne on Twitter @IBallantyn

• For more information about Dr. James Bosbotinis visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbosbotinis 

Twitter @JamesBosbotinis

This episode sees WARSHIPS IFR Editor Iain Ballantyne and intelligence affairs specialist Chris Carr looking at naval aspects of the Ukraine Crisis. They ponder the prospect of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and the associated moves at sea by both Moscow’s and NATO’s task groups.

The topics include: plans for live-firing exercises by Russian warships off Ireland that may be an end in themselves - to assist the Kremlin’s diplomatic efforts - or a prelude to long-range cruise missiles strikes on Ukraine; whether or not the real objective off Ireland is to destroy the West’s undersea Internet cables; the likely purpose of a Russian amphibious warfare task group sailing across the Mediterranean and headed for the Black Sea.

The discussion touches on: China’s perspective on what is happening and whose side Beijing probably favours; how today’s situation compares to the Cuban Missile Crisis of the early 1960s; a possible new ‘Iron Curtain.’ 

Iain also tells us how, as a young journalist, he sailed into the Barents Sea at the end of the Cold War while ‘embedded’ in the British intelligence-gathering warship HMS London. It was a historic voyage that even saw the frigate sail downriver to Murmansk, into the lair of the Russian Bear.

• Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine. 

For more details on the magazine  http://bit.ly/wifrmag

• Chris Carr is a London-based film director and producer who hosts his own podcast, called “Secrets & Spies” on which he interviews authors and former spies about the world of intelligence. He is also the producer of the WARSHIPS POD. For more information on Chris and his work visit https://www.chriscarr.co.uk

In this episode of WARSHIPS POD host, Iain Ballantyne chats with Jack Lowe, who connects with the sea while working as a documentarist ‘using photography, audio, film, and words to shine a light on the greatness of others’ (as Jack himself puts it).

Jack’s main pursuit in recent times has been The Lifeboat Station Project, which he describes as a mission to ‘photograph all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations on glass.’ 

Since 2014 he has traveled in Neena, an ambulance converted into a mobile darkroom in which he weaves his magic with glass plates.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jack had managed to visit 150 of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) stations around the coast of the United Kingdom plus Ireland and hopes to resume his photographic odyssey later this year.

In this podcast episode, Iain discusses with Jack how his RNLI work has brought him into contact with an amazing Dunkirk ‘little ship’ that in the summer of 1940 - as the Second World War raged - took part in the Operation Dynamo evacuation of British and allied troops from France. 

Among other topics, Iain and Jack touch on during their lively conversation are movies about the Dunkirk evacuation; interlinked aspects of the RNLI and Royal Navy; H.M. Coast Guard’s SAR helicopters; the enduring seafaring character of Britons, whether in the RNLI or RN, along with things in common of how the two organizations train to tackle their demanding missions. 

• Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine. 

For more details on the magazine  http://bit.ly/wifrmag

• To learn more about Jack and his work visit The Lifeboat Station Project here

https://lifeboatstationproject.com

or follow it on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ProjectLifeboat

"Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom" is the epic true story of the Royal Navy’s pursuit of the

German battleship Bismarck during WW2, a production that is having its world premiere on a major TV channel in the UK this weekend.

Broadcast date: October 30th

Time: 6.55pm

Channel 4

In this podcast special, we talk to the author of the book the television programme is based on - none other than WARSHIPS International Fleet Review Editor Iain Ballantyne.

Chatting with guest host Chris Carr enables Iain to give the inside story of both the book and documentary. During the discussion, Iain introduces us to Royal Navy war veterans who saw the battle up close, and whom he interviewed on camera over several years. Their remarkable eyewitness testimony is at the heart of the powerful and spectacular production, which also features top-class CGI and dramatized scenes.

During the podcast, Iain and Chris touch on various fascinating aspects of the famous

Bismarck Action of May 1941 - one of the most dramatic episodes in naval warfare - not

least the loss of HMS Hood and how the Bismarck was lost by her pursuers for 31 hours.

They also discuss how one-time foes would after the war become firm friends.

There will be an article on the creation of ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom’ - both the book and the TV documentary (which was produced by Screen Story) - in the forthcoming December 2021 edition of WARSHIPS IFR magazine (out on November 19th).

• For more details on the book "Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom" (Agora Books)

https://www.bismarckbattle.com/bismarck-24-hours-to-doom-2/

On the second episode of WARSHIPS POD host, Iain Ballantyne welcomes two guests who have been regular contributors to WARSHIPS International Fleet Review magazine over the years. 

Commander Rob Forsyth commanded the diesel boat HMS Alliance during the Cold War, was XO of a Polaris nuclear deterrent missile submarine in the 1970s and also CO of the hunter-killer HMS Sceptre. He was, during his long career as an undersea warrior, ‘Teacher’ on the Royal Navy’s famed Perisher submarine command course.  

Dr James Bosbotinis is a highly respected defence expert with a vast knowledge of weapons systems and their part in shaping modern geopolitics along with being the books editor of the Naval Review, the professional journal of Royal Navy officers. 

During the lively chat subjects discussed include the new Australia-UK-USA (AUKUS) defence alliance and its naval implications; whether or not the UK should replace its Trident deterrent; the advent of hypersonic weapons and Anti-ship Ballistic Missiles (ASBMs) at sea; how long aircraft carriers will remain relevant; the oceans becoming ‘transparent’ and threatening to make submarines redundant; the rise of air and sea drones that may rule over the seven seas; the human element in future drone warfare; and naval superspy Commander James Bond.

Welcome to the first voyage of the WARSHIPS International Fleet Review podcast hosted by its Editor Iain Ballantyne and with the magazine’s Associate Editor Peter Hore as a special guest. They enjoy a lively discussion that ranges from UFOs buzzing warships to whether or not Britain should build a new Royal Yacht and the naval women behind the scenes who helped win WW2.

  

Subjects touched on across Iain and Peter’s wide-ranging conversation include naval interactions with UFOs; the wisdom or otherwise of building a New Royal Yacht for the UK; whether or not getting rid of the Trident nuclear deterrent would see funds poured into expanding the British fleet; the important role of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the British navy (and the danger of confusing those vessels fully-fledged warships); Danish warship designs for the Royal Navy; UK patrol vessels being sent into high threat areas; naval risks and being one step away from a maritime conflict; the Russian-UK-US (RUKUS) confidence-building efforts of the Cold War; the valiant unsung work of the British naval women who intercepted, translated and analyzed naval signals traffic in WW2 and assisted Allied victory; today’s Russian threat in the Baltic and other topics covered in the latest edition of WARSHIPS IFR.

Alongside touching on content in the August and September 2021 editions of the monthly magazine, Iain and Peter reference elements of the recently published WARSHIPS IFR ‘Guide to the Royal Navy 2021’.