Marcus Faulkner
@marcusfaulkner.bsky.social
Naval and intelligence historian. Familiar with the Second World War, knows about War Studies and has an amateur understanding of Space. PhD, MA etc. Senior Lecturer, Department of War Studies @ King's College London
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
Wow. The things you stumble upon when looking for something completely different. This picture, taken during Operation Pedestal, shows HMS Nelson or Rodney using 16in guns with HE shells timed to explode in front of approaching torpedo bombers! IWM A11205 #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
November 26, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Wow. The things you stumble upon when looking for something completely different. This picture, taken during Operation Pedestal, shows HMS Nelson or Rodney using 16in guns with HE shells timed to explode in front of approaching torpedo bombers! IWM A11205 #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
More frigates for the Baltic, and the largest ones 🇸🇪 has operated to date might not quite be the top priority for the theatre.
“We re looking what frigates there are that are available, that would also suit our quite ambitious timeline,” Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said.
Sweden sees frigate decision early next year as France touts 2030 date
“We re looking what frigates there are that are available, that would also suit our quite ambitious timeline,” Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said.
www.defensenews.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
More frigates for the Baltic, and the largest ones 🇸🇪 has operated to date might not quite be the top priority for the theatre.
This end to the Constellation-class underlines the real problem the USN has in being able to conceive, design and build smaller, more limited role warships. A proven design was chosen to over come one set of issues only to require a redesign creating others.
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program - USNI News
This post has been updated with a statement from Fincantieri The Navy is walking away from the Constellation-class frigate program to focus on new classes of warships the service can build faster, Sec...
news.usni.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:28 AM
This end to the Constellation-class underlines the real problem the USN has in being able to conceive, design and build smaller, more limited role warships. A proven design was chosen to over come one set of issues only to require a redesign creating others.
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
Latest news commentary:
Carrier Strike – just how full is Full Operating Capability?
www.navylookout.com/carrier-stri...
Carrier Strike – just how full is Full Operating Capability?
www.navylookout.com/carrier-stri...
November 25, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Latest news commentary:
Carrier Strike – just how full is Full Operating Capability?
www.navylookout.com/carrier-stri...
Carrier Strike – just how full is Full Operating Capability?
www.navylookout.com/carrier-stri...
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
🔱 Catch of the Day:
„A team of 🇬🇧litter-picking scuba divers have recovered what is believed to be a 🇷🇺Russian tracking device off the Welsh coast.
An independent defence analyst said he was "confident" the recovered object was an imploded Russian RGB-1A sonobuoy.”
„A team of 🇬🇧litter-picking scuba divers have recovered what is believed to be a 🇷🇺Russian tracking device off the Welsh coast.
An independent defence analyst said he was "confident" the recovered object was an imploded Russian RGB-1A sonobuoy.”
Suspected Russian sonobuoy discovered off Pembrokeshire coast
A submarine expert says he is "confident" the recovered object is an imploded Russian sonobuoy.
www.bbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:20 AM
🔱 Catch of the Day:
„A team of 🇬🇧litter-picking scuba divers have recovered what is believed to be a 🇷🇺Russian tracking device off the Welsh coast.
An independent defence analyst said he was "confident" the recovered object was an imploded Russian RGB-1A sonobuoy.”
„A team of 🇬🇧litter-picking scuba divers have recovered what is believed to be a 🇷🇺Russian tracking device off the Welsh coast.
An independent defence analyst said he was "confident" the recovered object was an imploded Russian RGB-1A sonobuoy.”
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
#OTD in 1969: HS-4 from the USS Hornet (CV-12) recovered Apollo 12’s all-Navy crew after their Moon mission—Gordon, Conrad, and Bean. More on the Navy’s Apollo role:
usni.org/magazines/n...
usni.org/magazines/n...
When the Navy Flew to the Moon | Naval History Magazine - December 2023, Volume 37, Number 6
Apollo 12 featured the only all Navy crew of the Apollo program.
www.usni.org
November 24, 2025 at 11:00 PM
#OTD in 1969: HS-4 from the USS Hornet (CV-12) recovered Apollo 12’s all-Navy crew after their Moon mission—Gordon, Conrad, and Bean. More on the Navy’s Apollo role:
usni.org/magazines/n...
usni.org/magazines/n...
Now available in Japanese. 13 years after it was first published the Second World War naval atlas now has another language edition - very telling also of how maritime affairs have come to the forefront in parts of the world today. This version is also ever so slightly updated.
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Now available in Japanese. 13 years after it was first published the Second World War naval atlas now has another language edition - very telling also of how maritime affairs have come to the forefront in parts of the world today. This version is also ever so slightly updated.
Quite a substantive interview on the introduction of the P-8 into the German navy:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K7N...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K7N...
Nachgefragt: Kapitän Ottmüller über das neue Flugzeug der Deutschen Marine | Bundeswehr
YouTube video by Bundeswehr
www.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Quite a substantive interview on the introduction of the P-8 into the German navy:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K7N...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K7N...
A short, though important piece because the dynamics of naval losses aren't examined or discussed much.
"information today is instantly disseminated; the loss of a ship could quickly sway international and domestic opinion."
www.usni.org/magazines/pr...
"information today is instantly disseminated; the loss of a ship could quickly sway international and domestic opinion."
www.usni.org/magazines/pr...
Preparing for Mass Casualties at Sea
For the first time in more than 80 years, the U.S. Navy could face one or more peer competitors who seek the destruction of U.S. maritime forces.
www.usni.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
A short, though important piece because the dynamics of naval losses aren't examined or discussed much.
"information today is instantly disseminated; the loss of a ship could quickly sway international and domestic opinion."
www.usni.org/magazines/pr...
"information today is instantly disseminated; the loss of a ship could quickly sway international and domestic opinion."
www.usni.org/magazines/pr...
"30% rise in Russian vessels threatening UK waters"
The what, how and timeframes are vague, but its clear incursions are up. The 🇬🇧🇳🇴🇩🇪 P8 cooperation, well its shaping up to be more than that and there is a direction of travel towards close integration, is good.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The what, how and timeframes are vague, but its clear incursions are up. The 🇬🇧🇳🇴🇩🇪 P8 cooperation, well its shaping up to be more than that and there is a direction of travel towards close integration, is good.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
UK defence secretary sends warning to Putin over submarines
John Healey says the UK is hunting Russian submarines as BBC News joins him on board a new RAF aircraft.
www.bbc.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM
"30% rise in Russian vessels threatening UK waters"
The what, how and timeframes are vague, but its clear incursions are up. The 🇬🇧🇳🇴🇩🇪 P8 cooperation, well its shaping up to be more than that and there is a direction of travel towards close integration, is good.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The what, how and timeframes are vague, but its clear incursions are up. The 🇬🇧🇳🇴🇩🇪 P8 cooperation, well its shaping up to be more than that and there is a direction of travel towards close integration, is good.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
A good read on 212CDs for Canada, 🇩🇪🇳🇴 offering up a lot here and it would make sense on many levels.
This small detail does stand out a bit 'TKMS, says it will be able to build around three to four boats per year from 2027.'
That would be quite a pipeline.
www.twz.com/sea/submarin...
This small detail does stand out a bit 'TKMS, says it will be able to build around three to four boats per year from 2027.'
That would be quite a pipeline.
www.twz.com/sea/submarin...
Submarine Partnership Pitched By Germany And Norway To Canada
The offer for Canada to join the Type 212CD program comes as NATO looks to expand its underwater activities in the Atlantic and the High North. The offer for Canada to join the Type 212CD program come...
www.twz.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:49 AM
A good read on 212CDs for Canada, 🇩🇪🇳🇴 offering up a lot here and it would make sense on many levels.
This small detail does stand out a bit 'TKMS, says it will be able to build around three to four boats per year from 2027.'
That would be quite a pipeline.
www.twz.com/sea/submarin...
This small detail does stand out a bit 'TKMS, says it will be able to build around three to four boats per year from 2027.'
That would be quite a pipeline.
www.twz.com/sea/submarin...
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
In joint anti-submarine warfare drills during the Joint Sea-2025 exercises near Vladivostok, 🇨🇳CHN and 🇷🇺 RUS forces “linked their communications & shared hydro-meteorological and air-sea tracks in real time. The goal, according to 🇨🇳 state media, was to leave deep-diving subs with nowhere to hide.”
China’s burgeoning undersea sensor net aims to turn the ocean transparent
The PLA is building a self-healing “kill web” to surpass today’s brittle kill chains.
www.defenseone.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:59 PM
In joint anti-submarine warfare drills during the Joint Sea-2025 exercises near Vladivostok, 🇨🇳CHN and 🇷🇺 RUS forces “linked their communications & shared hydro-meteorological and air-sea tracks in real time. The goal, according to 🇨🇳 state media, was to leave deep-diving subs with nowhere to hide.”
Copenhagen was a verb as much as a noun.
While 1807 does have an indelible impact on Prusso-German thinking about Britain and the sea down to 1914 the practical implications and steps taken to deal with the threat haven't really featured in extensive newer politico-naval scholarship of the era.
While 1807 does have an indelible impact on Prusso-German thinking about Britain and the sea down to 1914 the practical implications and steps taken to deal with the threat haven't really featured in extensive newer politico-naval scholarship of the era.
Tangentially inspired by it being Trafalgar Day.
One of my favourite history journal articles is this from Steinberg in 1966.
On Imperial Germany’s fear of a preemptive British attack.
(You can get access to Jstor articles for free if you register).
www.jstor.org/stable/259934
One of my favourite history journal articles is this from Steinberg in 1966.
On Imperial Germany’s fear of a preemptive British attack.
(You can get access to Jstor articles for free if you register).
www.jstor.org/stable/259934
October 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Copenhagen was a verb as much as a noun.
While 1807 does have an indelible impact on Prusso-German thinking about Britain and the sea down to 1914 the practical implications and steps taken to deal with the threat haven't really featured in extensive newer politico-naval scholarship of the era.
While 1807 does have an indelible impact on Prusso-German thinking about Britain and the sea down to 1914 the practical implications and steps taken to deal with the threat haven't really featured in extensive newer politico-naval scholarship of the era.
Okay.. 25 systems how would this be paid for, produced and missiles be kept flowing. Additionally would 🇺🇦 really want such deep commitment to a single system given its issues. Priority production has been promised to certain NATO allies precisely to enable..
united24media.com/latest-news/...
united24media.com/latest-news/...
US to Equip Ukraine With 25 Patriot Systems in Multi-Year Air Defense Deal
Kyiv is working on a contract to secure 25 Patriot air defense systems from the US, according to President Zelenskyy, for improved national defense.
united24media.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Okay.. 25 systems how would this be paid for, produced and missiles be kept flowing. Additionally would 🇺🇦 really want such deep commitment to a single system given its issues. Priority production has been promised to certain NATO allies precisely to enable..
united24media.com/latest-news/...
united24media.com/latest-news/...
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
German missile manufacturer Diehl has demonstrated a successful launch of a navalized Iris-T SLM from a German F125 frigate. My commented cover of the related press release, on @navalnews.com:
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Diehl Demonstrates Navalized Iris-T SLM On German F125 Frigate
Diehl Defence has released information on a successful launch using a navalized Iris-T SLM from German F125 frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg.
www.navalnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:36 AM
German missile manufacturer Diehl has demonstrated a successful launch of a navalized Iris-T SLM from a German F125 frigate. My commented cover of the related press release, on @navalnews.com:
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
The reminder that there is no such thing as a cheap modern conventional boat nor one that can be built quickly. Only a standardised type/family with substantial production pipeline might allow for some economies of scale.
Four years ago I wrote a long text on the Swedish A26 Blekinge-class that ended with the phrase:
"The A26 is great, but that doesn’t mean it’s a great choice for Sweden."
"The A26 is great, but that doesn’t mean it’s a great choice for Sweden."
Sunken Costs and Good Enough – the A26 Blekinge-class
Let me start by being absolutely clear: everything points to that the A26 Blekinge-class submarine will be a stellar piece of engineering, highly adept at its mission, and by quite a margin the sub…
corporalfrisk.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The reminder that there is no such thing as a cheap modern conventional boat nor one that can be built quickly. Only a standardised type/family with substantial production pipeline might allow for some economies of scale.
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
📜 2025 Sir Michael Howard Annual Lecture - Resistance: The Underground War in Europe, 1939-1945
📅 03 Dec | 📍Bush House
Dr Halik Kochanski will explain how and why all across Nazi-occupied Europe some people decided to resist the Third Reich.
🎟️ RSVP: ow.ly/Bbne50X5C5l
📅 03 Dec | 📍Bush House
Dr Halik Kochanski will explain how and why all across Nazi-occupied Europe some people decided to resist the Third Reich.
🎟️ RSVP: ow.ly/Bbne50X5C5l
October 14, 2025 at 11:33 AM
📜 2025 Sir Michael Howard Annual Lecture - Resistance: The Underground War in Europe, 1939-1945
📅 03 Dec | 📍Bush House
Dr Halik Kochanski will explain how and why all across Nazi-occupied Europe some people decided to resist the Third Reich.
🎟️ RSVP: ow.ly/Bbne50X5C5l
📅 03 Dec | 📍Bush House
Dr Halik Kochanski will explain how and why all across Nazi-occupied Europe some people decided to resist the Third Reich.
🎟️ RSVP: ow.ly/Bbne50X5C5l
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
How well could the US track Soviet mobile ICBMs in the cold war through SIGINT/ELINT satellites? A good debate here. "...it is more clear now that NSA tested the idea and had resources to pursue it." strategicsimplicity.substack.com/p/sigint-and...
SIGINT and SRTs in the Cold War
A Response to Aaron Bateman
strategicsimplicity.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 8:08 AM
How well could the US track Soviet mobile ICBMs in the cold war through SIGINT/ELINT satellites? A good debate here. "...it is more clear now that NSA tested the idea and had resources to pursue it." strategicsimplicity.substack.com/p/sigint-and...
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
There is much talk of AI in warfare, but rather less progress in applying it usefully to naval tactics. In this short piece for The Naval Review I reviewed a recent German effort. There is some way to go yet...
www.naval-review.com/book-reviews...
www.naval-review.com/book-reviews...
Thinking Before Sinking: Red and Blue AI Tactics for Naval Combat - The Naval Review
40 pages
www.naval-review.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:46 AM
There is much talk of AI in warfare, but rather less progress in applying it usefully to naval tactics. In this short piece for The Naval Review I reviewed a recent German effort. There is some way to go yet...
www.naval-review.com/book-reviews...
www.naval-review.com/book-reviews...
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
Boeing handed over the first German P-8A for Marineflieger naval aviation to the Bundeswehr procurement office, at an event in Seattle. No information on when the aircraft will transfer to Germany, but presumably soon.
www.hartpunkt.de/boeing-liefe...
www.hartpunkt.de/boeing-liefe...
Boeing liefert ersten deutschen Seefernaufklärer P-8A aus
Der US-Flugzeughersteller Boeing hat das erste Seeaufklärungsflugzeug P-8A Poseidon im Rahmen einer feierlichen Zeremonie in Seattle im US-Bundesstaat
www.hartpunkt.de
October 2, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Boeing handed over the first German P-8A for Marineflieger naval aviation to the Bundeswehr procurement office, at an event in Seattle. No information on when the aircraft will transfer to Germany, but presumably soon.
www.hartpunkt.de/boeing-liefe...
www.hartpunkt.de/boeing-liefe...
No. Sheer cost, crew requirements, lack of parts, maintenance & ops experience etc.. A good read on future combatants though.
President Trump's specific mention of how he liked the Victory at Sea series is an odd reminder of how impactful the series was at the time.
www.twz.com/sea/is-trump...
President Trump's specific mention of how he liked the Victory at Sea series is an odd reminder of how impactful the series was at the time.
www.twz.com/sea/is-trump...
Is Trump’s Call For Putting Battleships Back In The Navy's Fleet Even Feasible?
Trump wants battleships back in the Navy's inventory, and that may be far-fetched, but his remarks do highlight real deliberations around the future of surface combatants.
www.twz.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:30 AM
No. Sheer cost, crew requirements, lack of parts, maintenance & ops experience etc.. A good read on future combatants though.
President Trump's specific mention of how he liked the Victory at Sea series is an odd reminder of how impactful the series was at the time.
www.twz.com/sea/is-trump...
President Trump's specific mention of how he liked the Victory at Sea series is an odd reminder of how impactful the series was at the time.
www.twz.com/sea/is-trump...
Genuine question here beyond, how would the Tomahawks be launched by 🇺🇦? A Typhon battery? Given the availability of missiles, let alone launchers, any transfer would be an exceedingly expensive and limited one. Those resources might have better impact elsewhere.
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
What are Tomahawk missiles and why does Ukraine want them?
The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile is typically launched from sea.
www.reuters.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Genuine question here beyond, how would the Tomahawks be launched by 🇺🇦? A Typhon battery? Given the availability of missiles, let alone launchers, any transfer would be an exceedingly expensive and limited one. Those resources might have better impact elsewhere.
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
Working on a Memories of War edit focused on Seafires over Salerno. Sorting out the Order of Battle for Operation Avalanche's carrier units...
Also first (and abandoned) operation for the Barracuda I. Last operation for Albacore.
#NavalHistory #ww2 #History
Also first (and abandoned) operation for the Barracuda I. Last operation for Albacore.
#NavalHistory #ww2 #History
September 29, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Working on a Memories of War edit focused on Seafires over Salerno. Sorting out the Order of Battle for Operation Avalanche's carrier units...
Also first (and abandoned) operation for the Barracuda I. Last operation for Albacore.
#NavalHistory #ww2 #History
Also first (and abandoned) operation for the Barracuda I. Last operation for Albacore.
#NavalHistory #ww2 #History