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...

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...

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...

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...

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...