Dr Tim Benbow, Defence Studies Department There has long been a tendency to understate and misunderstand the role of the Royal Navy’s capital ships in the Second World War.  A few years ago, I wrote an article (naturally with an associated blog on Defence in Depth) that explored the role of aircraft carriers in supporting… Read More Battleships, D-Day and Naval Strategy

Dr Frank Foley, Department of War Studies, King’s College London The UK looked set to undermine the international prohibition against torture, but stiff opposition, including from former senior officers and prominent defence figures, forced a change.  The UK’s Overseas Operations Bill passed into law at the end of April following a long debate on whether… Read More Britain’s U-turn on torture – how defence figures defended human rights

Wing Commander Phil Holdcroft, Defence Studies Department MA Student “Reflecting on 18 years’ service as an officer and helicopter pilot, I don’t believe I’ve ever formally received dedicated psychological resilience training. Furthermore, I don’t think I’m in the minority. I’m not for a moment suggesting that the rigours of aircrew selection, pressures of flying training,… Read More Psychological Resilience — the missing golden thread?