Warships Pod

Warships Pod
  • 5.0 (8)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Bimonthly

WARSHIPS POD aims to put a spotlight on the world’s navies and features warships past, present, and future. We’ll cover current defense issues alongside interviews and commentary on the Royal Navy, US Navy, and all other navies across the globe, as well as looking back at historical events. This is the podcast for WARSHIPS International Fleet Review, a monthly magazine.

  1. 5d ago

    Steve Prest Pt2 - Britain’s Hybrid Navy And Thinking Up Front

    In part two of the discussion, Steve relates details of his time as Fleet Robotics Officer in the Royal Navy and then provides insider insights into the challenges of making the ‘hybrid navy’ a reality. Iain asks if the ‘hybrid navy’ option is being pushed so hard due to the UK Government’s desire not to spend more on Defence. Steve explains how it is complicated topic and not  a case of politicians and bean counters against the Royal Navy. While welcoming the development, and concurring with the inevitability of such a hybrid path, Steve stressed that there must be some serious thinking up front about how it will operate - and be sustained on operations - in an innately hostile maritime environment. He poses some key questions and suggests some answers, providing key perspectives that government, defence industry and senior naval decision-makers should take on board. It is a compelling break down of various aspects of the big autonomous systems gamble being taken by a nation and its navy. • The September 2026 edition of Warships IFR is published on 21.8.26 in the UK and also deployed globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow the mag on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR There’s also Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  To subscribe visit https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ •Steve Prest is a former Commodore in the Royal Navy who had a varied career that included a tour in Afghanistan, an exchange with the French Navy and being Weapon Engineer Officer in HMS Westminster during that warship’s operations off Libya. Steve was also Commander Weapon Engineer in the carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, bringing the ship out of build in 2017. His other jobs in the navy included being Programme Director of the Type 31 frigate programme and the RN’s first Fleet Robotics Officer. Leaving the RN in 2023, Steve, who is an Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, now has a portfolio career in the Defence sector and beyond. This includes working as an independent consultant, advisor and lecturer, all of it aiming to fulfil his stated mission of helping ‘brilliant people to do amazing things.’ For more from Steve Prest check out his occasional blog https://fightingsailor.wordpress.com/ and follow him on X @fightingsailor  •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR’ magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy’ (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy’ (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade’ (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus the award-winning ‘Killing the Bismarck (Pen & Sword) and the novel ‘Martin’s Eyes’ (Chiselbury). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom’s dependence on the sea and seafarers.  Visit Iain’s web site www.iainballantyne.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn at https://bsky.app/profile/iainballantyne.bsky.social and/or Insta https://www.instagram.com/iballantyn/

  2. Aug 6

    Steve Prest Pt1 - French Exchange, at War off Libya

    Our guest for a fascinating two-part discussion is Steve Prest, a former Commodore in the Royal Navy who had a varied career that included a tour in Afghanistan, an exchange with the French Navy and being Weapon Engineer Officer in HMS Westminster during that warship’s operations off Libya.  In part one of his chat with podcast host Iain Ballantyne, Steve provides insights into his naval career. Steve was also Commander Weapon Engineer in the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, bringing the ship out of build in 2017. His other jobs in the navy included being Programme Director of the Type 31 frigate programme and the RN’s first Fleet Robotics Officer.  Leaving the RN in 2023, Steve, who is an Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, now has a portfolio career in the Defence sector and beyond. This includes working as an independent consultant, advisor and lecturer, all of it aiming to fulfil his stated mission of helping ‘brilliant people to do amazing things.’ • The September 2026 edition of Warships IFR is published on 21.8.26 in the UK and also deployed globally. Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow the mag on: X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR  There’s also Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  To subscribe visit https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/•For more from Steve Prest check out his occasional blog https://fightingsailor.wordpress.com/ and follow him on X @fightingsailor  •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR’ magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy’ (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy’ (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade’ (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus the award-winning ‘Killing the Bismarck (Pen & Sword) and the novel ‘Martin’s Eyes’ (Chiselbury). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom’s dependence on the sea and seafarers.  Visit Iain’s web site www.iainballantyne.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn at https://bsky.app/profile/iainballantyne.bsky.social and/or Insta https://www.instagram.com/iballantyn/

  3. Jul 15

    Suez on Steroids And Britain’s Naval Identity Crisis

    Returning guest David Murrin begins by considering US President Donald Trump’s gambits in the Middle East as he seeks to prevail over Iran. In a discussion with host Iain Ballantyne - recorded before Iran and the USA reverted to a state of war (in July) - David reflected on the Trump pattern of seeking peace deals followed by more bombing. These are the US President’s ‘peace bombs,’ as David describes them, with the Iran War and struggle for the Strait of Hormuz turning out like ‘Suez on steroids.’ The consequences of President Trump’s approach to allies, his treatment of foes and overall strategy are also covered, before turning to Europe’s laziness in defence and the military spending laggard that is the United Kingdom. David also explains what he learned about modern warfare during a recent visit to Ukraine and how Kyiv’s forces have chosen a lateral response to the Russian aggressors rather than linear.  According to David a future threat for Europeans to be concerned about will be China’s navy in the High North and he cautions that - whatever the threat is in the great waters of the Atlantic and Arctic - drones are not the entire solution. In the meantime, so David contends, Britain and other NATO nations are already at war with Russia but only now are they waking up to that fact.  Turning to Royal Navy, David weighs up the push for the ‘hybrid navy’ and ‘evolution’ versus ‘revolution’ at a difficult time in which the UK appears to have lost touch with its naval identity. He considers the British fleet has been destroyed by politicians since the late 1990s, and that they have let down both the nation and NATO.  During this lively episode David also gives his perspective on what China has learned from the Iran War and more. • The August 2026 edition of Warships IFR is published on 17.7.26 in the UK and also deployed globally. Visit the magazine web sitehttp://bit.ly/wifrmagFollow the mag on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR There’s also Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  To subscribe visit https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/• David Murrin is a Global Forecaster, investor, polymath and author of ‘Breaking the Code of History’ (2011). He has a talent for spotting and analysing deep-seated patterns in history and using them to try and understand the present and also where we might be going in today’s turbulent geopolitical scene. His other books are ‘Lions Led by Lions’ (2018), ‘Now or Never’ (2021) and ‘Red Lightning’ (2021). The latter is a work of faction that depicts China winning a world war. David Murrin’s web site is https://www.davidmurrin.co.uk/about Find him on X @GlobalForecastr •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR’ magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy’ (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy’ (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade’ (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron’ and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom’ (published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundatio

  4. May 29

    The Royal Navy - Its Decline and Struggle to Survive Pt2

    Welcome to the second part of a Warships Pod special, with returning guest Lee Pilgrim and host Iain Ballantyne diving into the state of the Royal Navy today, its decline since the 1990s and where next. Also in this episode, Iain and Lee consider the failure of strategic vision in the UK when it comes to its navy. They ask what can be learned from a crucial oceanic struggle during the Second World War. The future of Britannia Royal Naval College (BRBC) Dartmouth – the officers’ training academy of the Royal Navy - is discussed along with a shake-up in training for both officers and ratings. Among other topics tackled is a decision to commit a British destroyer to operations East of Suez during a time of war between the USA, Israel and Iran. *For more on navies and their activities worldwide, get the magazine! Web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  The June 2026 edition of Warships IFR is now out and among its features are: the Black Sea mine menace; Australia’s naval boost; the Royal Navy countering Russian intrusions into seas off the UK; the Iran War and its global consequences; the second part of a series on the ill-fated Dardanelles-Gallipoli campaign on WW1. To ensure you get the magazine in hard copy and/or digital subscribe now!  https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ •Lee Pilgrim has worked in defence and intelligence - for government and industry - for over 30 years, in the UK and overseas, so has some useful insights into a broad spectrum of topics. His social media posts on X are well worth a read, so follow him on there @MtarfaL He has also written numerous articles for Warships IFR and contributed to its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy 2026’. •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR’ magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy’ (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy’ (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade’ (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron’ and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom’ (both published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom’s dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him onX @IBallantyn Instagram.com/iballantynBluesky iainballantyne.bsky.social

  5. May 22

    The Royal Navy - Its Decline and Struggle to Survive Pt1

    In the first instalment of a two part discussion host Iain Ballantyne talks to returning guest Lee Pilgrim about the State of the Royal Navy and its decline over the past 20-30 years. Topics they tackle in this initial helping include: the shortage of Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers; Britain’s enduring dependency on the sea; seablindness that sees governments good at lawfare but poor at wielding military, and especially naval, power; the habit of reacting to events that need a naval/military response, rather than forward planning to handle them; whether or not the hybrid navy concept will be the RN’s saviour. Does it run the risk of focusing on autonomous systems that are years away from being full-fledged capabilities while the current fleet perishes? They discuss how the UK needs to focus on the now, not the tomorrow when it comes to defence. Also commented on is the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP). It is seemingly another example of a government dodging hard decisions in boosting defence and kicking the can down the road. Iain and Lee also discuss the disease of defence short-termism and the UK taking capability holidays and expecting allies to fill in gaps torn in sovereign defence - something those allies may not always be willing to do. *For more on navies and their activities worldwide, get the magazine! Web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  The June 2026 edition of Warships IFR is now out and among its features are: the Black Sea mine menace; Australia’s naval boost; the Royal Navy countering Russian intrusions into seas off the UK; the Iran War and its global consequences; the second part of a series on the ill-fated Dardanelles-Gallipoli campaign on WW1. To ensure you get the magazine in hard copy and/or digital subscribe now!  https://warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ •Lee Pilgrim has worked in defence and intelligence - for government and industry - for over 30 years, in the UK and overseas, so has some useful insights into a broad spectrum of topics. His social media posts on X are well worth a read, so follow him on there @MtarfaL He has also written numerous articles for Warships IFR and contributed to its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy 2026’. •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR’ magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy’ (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy’ (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade’ (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron’ and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom’ (both published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom’s dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him onX @IBallantyn Instagram.com/iballantyn Bluesky iainballantyne.bsky.social

  6. Apr 4

    Iran War Special - Not-so-Grand Strategy Shocker

    Host Iain Ballantyne talks to guests Gary Blackburn and James Bosbotinis about the Iran War, including the Strait of Hormuz struggle, how the conflict could shatter NATO plus what it has revealed about the state of the Royal Navy. Topics also touched on in their lively chat include the American decision to try and coerce the Tehran regime with the use of airpower alone, conceptual confusion at the heart of the campaign’s strategy and the problem of tactical prowess (as demonstrated in the Venezuelan raid) not transferring into realising strategic ends in the Iran War (so far). Gary and James provide their perspective on other matters, such as: the pivotal nature of the Strait of Hormuz battle in shaking up the global order; the falling out between the USA and key allies over a refusal to commit naval forces to opening up the Strait; and its impact on the future of NATO. Is the Alliance dead or might it survive? The United Kingdom’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP) paralysis is considered, along with the necessity for the Royal Navy to remain at the heart of defence for island nation, imports-dependent Britain. However, also highlighted is seablindness and a failure at the highest levels of government to understand the how to wield a navy to perform a vital role in reassuring allies and safeguarding national interests. *For more on navies and their activities worldwide, get the magazine! Web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  *The Iran War is a major element in the May edition of Warships IFR, which is published in the UK on 17.4.26 and rolling out globally. Available in shops and supermarkets hard copy and also as a digital edition available here: https://surl.li/ljyxbt •Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull. He has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK’s 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on X at @gjb70 •Dr James Bosbotinis is a freelance specialist in defence and international affairs and the Book Reviews Editor of ‘The Naval Review’. He has written widely on issues including: development of maritime strategy, long-range strike technologies (including hypersonic weapons) and their impact on strategy; Russian naval and wider military modernisation; China’s evolving strategy and naval force development. Dr Bosbotinis contributes to various international media outlets. He is also an Associate Member of the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies, King’s College London. For more information about Dr Bosbotinis visithttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbosbotinisHe is on X @JamesBosbotinis •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR’ magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy’ (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy’ (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade’ (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron’ and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom’ (both published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom’s dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

  7. Feb 22

    Cold War & 1990s Submarines & the Hybrid Navy

    In this episode host Iain Ballantyne talks to guest Steve Kershaw, a former Royal Navy submarine officer, about his amazing career under the sea and his work today helping to bring about the UK’S ‘Hybrid Navy’ transformation. Iain kicks off by asking Steve to explain what led him to choose a naval career in the mid-1980s and why it was the engineering side of the Senior Service that appealed most. After talking about his time undergoing Initial Sea Training and being ‘streamed’ to the Submarine Service as an engineer, Steve relates how for a short period he returned to the Surface Fleet. He spent time in HMS London, including a foray to Berlin as the infamous Wall dividing East and West came down in late 1989. Steve served in several Royal Navy nuclear-powered hunter killer submarines (SSNs) of the Trafalgar Class, including during the 1991 Gulf War. That boat spent 13 weeks dived in the Mediterranean watching Libya to ensure it did not come into the conflict on the side of Saddam Hussein. Steve also went to sea in the Upholder Class diesel-electric submarine HMS Unicorn for a marathon voyage from the UK to the Indian Ocean and Gulf and back. He reveals to Iain how he found the ‘dirty boat’ world aboard Unicorn to be somewhat different to the nukes. While away the UK Government decided to take the four (fairly new) Upholders out of commission, which was a blow. Steve reveals the impact that had on Unicorn’s crew. A deployment involving Steve, which hit the headlines for the wrong reasons was that of HMS Tireless as part of Naval Task Group 2000, and which saw a circumnavigation of the world cancelled. The SSN was ‘trapped’ in Gibraltar for a year due to serious technical problems and Steve returned home rather than going around the world. Among other things Iain and Steve discuss is his time with Naval Sea Trials Party 30 (NSTP 30) and its work to ensure RN submarine sensors remained on the cutting edge during a continuing contest under the sea. Steve and Iain also discuss how the ‘Hybrid Navy’ aims to provide a solution to giving the British fleet of today and tomorrow more mass and presence at sea as part of the new Atlantic Bastion concept. *For more on navies and their activities worldwide, get the magazine! Web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668  • Steve Kershaw served 21 years in the UK submarine service and has spent the rest of his career consulting in Defence and Security. He has been at PwC for over 15 years and a partner for 11 of them. His primary role is to lead consulting teams working in the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). He is also PwC’s Global Security and Defence Sector leader, helping individual territories and multi-national accounts such as NATO to develop and utilise the best that PwC has to offer. He specialises in improving military programmes and procurements and also enterprise-wide transformation. •Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR’ magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy’ (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy’ (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade’ (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron’ and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom’ (both published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom’s dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

  8. 12/09/2025

    Churchill’s Peril: U-boat Wolfpacks

    Guest Roger Moorhouse and host Iain Ballantyne discuss the German submarine threat in WW2 in a lively and engrossing chat. Roger is the author of several acclaimed books, including ‘Killing Hitler’ and ‘First to Fight’ and now ‘Wolfpack’, an excellent single volume deep dive into the submarine arm of the Kriegsmarine - Hitler’s navy - and which was reviewed in the November 2025 edition of Warships IFR.Topics touched on in this episode include pondering why the Germans placed their bets on the U-boat again, for the second time in a quarter of a century, despite having seen a similar strategy fail in WW1.Also discussed is the quality and character of the U-boat captains – cool, leather jacket, lumber jack shirt-wearing heroes or villains? Nazis to a man and fanatical supporters of the regime, of just Good Germans doing their best for their country?Iain asks Roger if ‘the U-boat peril’ truly was the only thing that ever really frightened Winston Churchill in WW2 - or was the wartime British Prime Minister deploying his usual emotive characterisation to frame his own later record more valiantly?The term Wolfpack reeks of lethality, provoking a shiver of fear, but how effective were the U-boats really once the Allies improved tactics, weaponry and training? Roger provides his perspective on that topic in addition to considering the strategies of Karl Dönitz, the U-boat force boss.Looking at the moral dimension of the conflict, Roger and Iain ponder whether of not it is possible  to set aside the horror of the Nazis and what they did and feel empathy for the tens of thousands of young men in German submarines who died under a hail of Allied depth charges, bombs and gunfire. Both host and guest offer a dose of common sense about the fantasy in some quarters of Hitler escaping in a U-boat to live out the rest of his days in South America. Finally, Iain asks Roger what he feels might be lessons for today in dealing with the Russian threat, which includes submarines.Visit the magazine web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 For more on the mag https://warshipsifr.com/The new (January 2026) edition of Warships IFR magazine hits the streets on 19.12.25 and is available hard copy in shops and supermarkets, plus direct in hard and digital variants from publisher Sundial Magazines https://sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/subscribe/warships.htm Roger Moorhouse is a historian and author specialising in modern German and Central European history, with particular interest in Nazi Germany, the Holocaust and World War Two in Europe. Follow Roger on X @Roger_Moorhouse Visit his web site https://www.rogermoorhouse.com For more information on his ‘Wolfpack: Inside Hitler’s U-Boat War’ (William Collins ) https://www.rogermoorhouse.com/wolfpack Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR’ magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy’ (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy’ (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade’ (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron’ and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom’ (both published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom’s dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

WARSHIPS POD aims to put a spotlight on the world’s navies and features warships past, present, and future. We’ll cover current defense issues alongside interviews and commentary on the Royal Navy, US Navy, and all other navies across the globe, as well as looking back at historical events. This is the podcast for WARSHIPS International Fleet Review, a monthly magazine.

Information

  • Creator
    Warships Pod
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Warships IFR
  • Show Website
    Warships Pod

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