Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · 17h

Squadron of the Blue by 18th century maritime artist Dominic Serres

Showing Royal Navy officers, including the commanding admiral, returning to their ships from shore.

#MaritimeArt #RoyalNavy #Ageofsail

5 23

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · 3d

In 1794, British privateers captured French scientist Joseph Dombey sailing to the US. He was coming at the invitation of Thomas Jefferson with kilogram and meter standards to introduce the newly developed metric system there, but never arrived.

#USA #FrenchNavy #RoyalNavy

4 7 47

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · 8d

HMS King George V on arctic duty in WW2. Churchill called the convoy route to Murmansk in the Soviet arctic the “worst journey on earth,” with good reason. U-boats, air attack, surface raiders and of course the cold.

My novel 'The Wolves in Winter' is set here.

#Arctic #WW2 #RoyalNavy

2 5 32

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · 14d

Photo taken within the wreck of HMS Terror. She was part of Franklin’s doomed last expedition to find the Northwest Passage in the 1840s, and was rediscovered off King William Island by Parks Canada ten years ago.

I have the same plates on my dresser

#Arctic #Canada #RoyalNavy #PolarExploration

3 4 40

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · 17d

Born on this day in 1758, Horatio Nelson

This portrait by Lemuel Francis Abbott was done shortly after he lost his arm – temporary black ribbons can be seen securing the seam of his right sleeve to permit access to the wound.

#Nelson #Ageofsail #RoyalNavy #Trafalgar

1 6 33

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · 21d

Farewell to England - HMS Victory leaving St. Helen's at dawn, 15 September 1805.

A new picture by Geoff Hunt

#Nelson #Ageofsail #RoyalNavy #Trafalgar

13 89

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Sep 1

Trimming the sails by British marine artist Montague Dawson

Born in 1890, he was a keen sailor who served in the Royal Navy during WW1. His firsthand experience of ships and the sea gives his work a gritty authenticity.

#Tallships #Ageofsail #Sea

2 7 54

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Aug 26

Lone Wolf is now out on Audio Book

Read once more by Symon Sweet, the action moves into American waters as the US enters the Battle of the Atlantic

“Naval historical fiction doesn’t get much better than this fantastic book.”

Editor’s Pick by the Historical Novel Society

#WW2 #RoyalNavy #USNavy

Lone Wolf: The Wolves WW2 Series, Book 3

Amazon.com: Lone Wolf: The Wolves WW2 Series, Book 3 (Audible Audio Edition): Philip K. Allan, Symon James Sweet, Philip Allan: Books

www.amazon.com

2 13

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Aug 22

Damage to the conning tower of U-37 sustained from a depth charge after being attacked by Royal Navy destroyers HMS Keppel and HMS Watchman in October 1939.

The image has been colourised.

#WW2 #BattleoftheAtlantic #RoyalNavy #GermanNavy

3 6 34

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Aug 18

Chittagong in Bangladesh – where ships go to die.

#Ships #Pollution #Sea

2 3 17

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Aug 5

Escaping Smuggler by Montague Dawson

‘Brandy for the Parson, 'Baccy for the Clerk.’

High import duty on luxury goods during the 18th century resulted in violent battles between smugglers and the Excise service in British coastal waters.

#Ageofsail #smuggling #sea

1 8 38

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Aug 3

Wonderful review for Lone Wolf has just been posted by the Historical Novel Society

“Naval historical fiction doesn’t get much better than this fantastic book.”

You can see it in full below.

#WW2 #RoyalNavy #UBoats

Lone Wolf (The Wolves WW2 Series) - Historical Novel Society

At the beginning of 1942, the United States is logistically unprepared to participate in another world war. In an example reflecting the themes of Barbara Tuchman’s A Distant Mirror, its industrial an...

historicalnovelsociety.org

2 15

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jul 31

Midshipman Blockhead Finding things not exactly what he expected by George Cruikshank

One of a series of cartoons by Cruikshank showing how some ashore imagined the Regency navy.

#Ageofsail #RoyalNavy #Satire

1 2 25

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jul 28

Cutting out of the Curieux by marine artist Mark Myers

She was a French corvette launched in 1800 and operated as a commerce raider. On a night in 1804, the British 74 HMS Centaur sent in her boats to successfully cut her out from Fort Royal harbour, Martinique.

#Ageofsail #RoyalNavy #FrenchNavy

2 4 33

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jul 21

Two Clippers at night by Montague Dawson

#Ageofsail #MerchantNavy #Tallships

1 5 48

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jul 15

Corner of a hand-stitched sail from the 1800s. Every warship had a sailmaker who played a vital role in making and maintaining the huge number of sails required to power the ship in all weathers.

#Ageofsail #RoyalNavy #Tallships

3 37 200

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jul 11

Last night I was in Newcastle giving a talk to the Collingwood Society. What a splendid gathering, a really good audience of well-informed and hospitable people. The admiral’s memory is in safe hands.

#trafalgar #ageofsail #royalnavy

2 2 19

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jul 8

You're welcome

1

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jul 7

Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin on the set of The Hunt for Red October

#Coldwar #Submarines #Movies

3 6 59

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jun 30

Musket ball found lodged in the timbers of HMS Victory during her ongoing restoration. Probably fired during the battle of Trafalgar from the French ship Redoubtable.

#Nelson #Trafalgar #RoyalNavy

1 9 49

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jun 20

The Summer edition of Quarterdeck Magazine is out – with a nice review of Lone Wolf

“Lone Wolf surges with crisp prose and palpable
page-turning tension.”

#AmReading #AlexanderClay #RoyalNavy

Summer Quarterdeck 2025 - Globe Pequot

In this Summer 2025 edition of Quarterdeck, you’ll enjoy By George about author Richard Bolitho, a piece by Cynthia Barrett, a feature about Midshipman Charles Haring, a feature about Italy... READ MO...

www.globepequot.com

4 13

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jun 19

The bark Europa in the Arctic.

Perhaps it’s the heatwave currently engulfing Western Europe that made this appeal to me.

#Arctic #Tallships #Ageofsail

2 6 55

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jun 9

Right now, tech billionaires are stealing the work of authors to create AI programs so they can become richer.

Storytelling is part of us, from when we first gathered by a campfire to books, films and TV today. This will go

If you object please sign this petition

#AI #Copywritetheft

Sign the Petition

Protect authors’ livelihoods from the unlicensed use of their work in AI training

www.change.org

2 38 77

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · Jun 2

Lynx helicopter leaving Leander-class frigate HMS Minerva in heavy seas, taken c1989.

Landing it again looks a challenge.

#Helicopter #Storm #RoyalNavy

2 5 50

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · May 27

On this day in 1941 – The Bismarck was sunk. Crippled by air attack from the carriers Ark Royal and Victorious, she was sunk by gunfire, revenging the loss of the battlecruiser Hood 3 days earlier. Out of her crew of over 2,200 men, only 114 survived.

#WW2 #GermanNavy #RoyalNavy

4 9 39