Iain Ballantyne
@iainballantyne.bsky.social
Editor Warships IFR magazine and its associated guides to the US Navy and Royal Navy. Author of books, including 'Hunter Killers', 'The Deadly Trade', 'Killing the Bismarck', plus the novel 'Martin's Eyes', out 10.4.26.
Cover reveal day for my forthcoming novel, 'Martin's Eyes'. Billed by publisher Chiselbury as 'an enthralling historical thriller of conscience and survival - where the line between hero and villain is sometimes blurred by the ashes of war.' And more! Out 10.4.2026. #novel #historicalfiction #ww2
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Cover reveal day for my forthcoming novel, 'Martin's Eyes'. Billed by publisher Chiselbury as 'an enthralling historical thriller of conscience and survival - where the line between hero and villain is sometimes blurred by the ashes of war.' And more! Out 10.4.2026. #novel #historicalfiction #ww2
'Battleships Reborn!?' is the latest Warships Pod episode pod.fo/e/357416 with Dr James Bosbotinis & myself discussing the prospect of latter-day battleships - a topic James returns to in our forthcoming Jan 2026 edition, which is in production right now. Current Dec ed also looks at battleships.
November 26, 2025 at 3:26 PM
'Battleships Reborn!?' is the latest Warships Pod episode pod.fo/e/357416 with Dr James Bosbotinis & myself discussing the prospect of latter-day battleships - a topic James returns to in our forthcoming Jan 2026 edition, which is in production right now. Current Dec ed also looks at battleships.
BANG! A new edition of Warships IFR magazine is now deployed in shops and avail direct warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ Cover star is US Navy battleship USS Wisconsin firing a broadside. Courtesy NHHC/USN.
#navies #magazine #digitalpublishing #publishing #newedition #battleship #usswisconsin
#navies #magazine #digitalpublishing #publishing #newedition #battleship #usswisconsin
November 21, 2025 at 11:47 AM
BANG! A new edition of Warships IFR magazine is now deployed in shops and avail direct warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ Cover star is US Navy battleship USS Wisconsin firing a broadside. Courtesy NHHC/USN.
#navies #magazine #digitalpublishing #publishing #newedition #battleship #usswisconsin
#navies #magazine #digitalpublishing #publishing #newedition #battleship #usswisconsin
Amid headlines about the Yantar spy ship & recent submarine Novorossiysk incident our latest podcast episode sees Dr James Bosbotinis & myself discuss Russian Navy reality. Plus the air of uncertainty over US commitment to NATO creating potential for catastrophic miscalculatio pod.fo/e/3534b7
November 20, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Amid headlines about the Yantar spy ship & recent submarine Novorossiysk incident our latest podcast episode sees Dr James Bosbotinis & myself discuss Russian Navy reality. Plus the air of uncertainty over US commitment to NATO creating potential for catastrophic miscalculatio pod.fo/e/3534b7
It's that aggravating Russian spy ship Yantar up to no good again off the British Isles. Thermal image courtesy of the UK MoD. The MoD says Yantar has been targeting Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPAs) of the RAF with light lasers. Could potentially blind pilots.
November 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM
It's that aggravating Russian spy ship Yantar up to no good again off the British Isles. Thermal image courtesy of the UK MoD. The MoD says Yantar has been targeting Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPAs) of the RAF with light lasers. Could potentially blind pilots.
Warships IFR magazine Assistant Editor Stephen Jagger was at Portsmouth recently & captured some video footage of this historic vessel, MGB 81, which saw combat in the Channel & North Sea during WW2. Looking good! Sounding great too - a satisfying purr of her powerful engines audible. #ww2 #history
October 24, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The cows of Countess Wear: encountered on a walk from Exeter to Topsham. The spot where Airborne infantry of the Ox & Bucks rehearsed the D-Day attack on 'Pegasus Bridge'. Wrote about that assault for the prologue of my 'Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' @canelobooks.bsky.social
#ww2 #history
#ww2 #history
October 18, 2025 at 9:59 AM
The cows of Countess Wear: encountered on a walk from Exeter to Topsham. The spot where Airborne infantry of the Ox & Bucks rehearsed the D-Day attack on 'Pegasus Bridge'. Wrote about that assault for the prologue of my 'Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' @canelobooks.bsky.social
#ww2 #history
#ww2 #history
Deployed now! The new edition of Warships IFR magazine, with Indian Navy warship INS Tamal (pic by Michael Nitz) on the cover. Get it in shops or direct digital, hard copy direct from the publisher sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/subscribe/wa...
#warships #navies #naval #military #defence #maritime
#warships #navies #naval #military #defence #maritime
October 18, 2025 at 9:55 AM
The so-called 'gift' of drone footage 😢 Something on a much bigger scale, but which this video footage reminds me of very much (in all its horrifying detail) was the sinking of HMS Hood (from the POV of the 3 survivors) and as I conveyed in my book 'Killing the Bismarck' - relevant extract below.
October 18, 2025 at 9:46 AM
The so-called 'gift' of drone footage 😢 Something on a much bigger scale, but which this video footage reminds me of very much (in all its horrifying detail) was the sinking of HMS Hood (from the POV of the 3 survivors) and as I conveyed in my book 'Killing the Bismarck' - relevant extract below.
The Duke Class (Type 23) frigate HMS Somerset has conducted the first ever Royal Navy firing of a Naval Strike Missile (NSM), on the Andøya range off Norway. It was part of Aegir 25, an exercise that also saw missile firings using land-based launch systems. #hmssomerset #royalnavy #warship #naval
September 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The Duke Class (Type 23) frigate HMS Somerset has conducted the first ever Royal Navy firing of a Naval Strike Missile (NSM), on the Andøya range off Norway. It was part of Aegir 25, an exercise that also saw missile firings using land-based launch systems. #hmssomerset #royalnavy #warship #naval
Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Explorer at Portsmouth earlier in September, seemingly acting as drone mothership. Video by Stephen Jagger. For articles on the UK fleet's use of autonomous systems see the Warships IFR 'Guide to the Royal Navy 2026' sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/produc... #royalnavy
September 22, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Explorer at Portsmouth earlier in September, seemingly acting as drone mothership. Video by Stephen Jagger. For articles on the UK fleet's use of autonomous systems see the Warships IFR 'Guide to the Royal Navy 2026' sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/produc... #royalnavy
Here's Russian Navy intel-gathering ship RFS Vasiliy Tatishchev, returning from the Norwegian Sea to Baltic Sea, after shadowing US Navy's USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. Also check out our next Warships IFR mag (in production). Photo: Michael Nitz, Naval Press Service. #russian #spyship
September 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The Warships IFR team maintained a high speed of advance July - September to produce two mags while also turning out the latest 'Guide to the Royal Navy' special edition. BZ all.
Both are in UK shops & globally or direct warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ or sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/produc...
Both are in UK shops & globally or direct warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ or sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/produc...
September 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
The Warships IFR team maintained a high speed of advance July - September to produce two mags while also turning out the latest 'Guide to the Royal Navy' special edition. BZ all.
Both are in UK shops & globally or direct warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ or sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/produc...
Both are in UK shops & globally or direct warshipsifr.com/subscriptions/ or sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/produc...
Lt Jeff Noble, aged 20, Medium Machine Gun Platoon CO in the 156th Para Bn, has his 39 men split across two Dakotas for the 18.9.44 drop, but the aircraft turns back after the parachute on one of two containers underneath deploys. This sees an interesting attempt to ditch it...
#ww2 #history #Arnhem
#ww2 #history #Arnhem
September 18, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Another 1st for the Royal Navy clocked up during the UK Carrier Strike Group 2025 deployment. A Malloy T-150 octo-copter flew ‘critical supplies...from ship to ship,’ said the RN. Here we see the drone flying between destroyer HMS Dauntless & carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
September 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Another 1st for the Royal Navy clocked up during the UK Carrier Strike Group 2025 deployment. A Malloy T-150 octo-copter flew ‘critical supplies...from ship to ship,’ said the RN. Here we see the drone flying between destroyer HMS Dauntless & carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
A milestone for the UK's Type 31 frigate programme was installation of the first ship's mainmast by Babcock as seen in this video. Btw there's a feat on future Royal Navy frigates in our forthcoming 'Guide to the Royal Navy'. Pre-order sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/produc...
#royalnavy
#royalnavy
August 30, 2025 at 8:27 AM
A milestone for the UK's Type 31 frigate programme was installation of the first ship's mainmast by Babcock as seen in this video. Btw there's a feat on future Royal Navy frigates in our forthcoming 'Guide to the Royal Navy'. Pre-order sundialmedia.escosubs.co.uk/store/produc...
#royalnavy
#royalnavy
As this is the official #VJDay 80 let's not forget the so-called 'Forgotten Fleet' & its part. Here's a photo of sailors of the British Pacific Fleet - led by & mainly Royal Navy units - on the flight-deck of one carrier studying a vista containing two others. #ww2 #history #navy #naval #JVDay80
August 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
What can be done to save the Royal Navy? Lee Pilgrim recommends radical surgery of a Daring kind & some Astute decisions. 'Dr Lee' outlines excisions that may be be necessary in this latest Warships IFR #podcast chat pod.fo/e/312331 with myself. First of two doses from Mr Pilgrim. #defence #navy
August 14, 2025 at 8:51 AM
What can be done to save the Royal Navy? Lee Pilgrim recommends radical surgery of a Daring kind & some Astute decisions. 'Dr Lee' outlines excisions that may be be necessary in this latest Warships IFR #podcast chat pod.fo/e/312331 with myself. First of two doses from Mr Pilgrim. #defence #navy
To follow an earlier post - a video starting with HMS Prince of Wales, surrounded by vessels of the UK Carrier Strike Group (USK CSG) and those of US & Japanese groups, during an exercise in the Northern Philippine Sea. Next we see a UK F-35B land on JS Kaga and warships Yokosuka.
#japan #ukcsg25
#japan #ukcsg25
August 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The UK Carrier Strike Group has arrived at the naval support facility, Yokosuka, Japan. Seen here is the aircraft carrier (UK CSG flagship) HMS Prince of Wales sailing in to the base. Photo: Yoshiharu Fukushima for Warships IFR mag. #japan #ukcsg25 #aircraftcarrier #hmsprinceofwales #royalnavy #news
August 12, 2025 at 10:42 AM
The UK Carrier Strike Group has arrived at the naval support facility, Yokosuka, Japan. Seen here is the aircraft carrier (UK CSG flagship) HMS Prince of Wales sailing in to the base. Photo: Yoshiharu Fukushima for Warships IFR mag. #japan #ukcsg25 #aircraftcarrier #hmsprinceofwales #royalnavy #news
Following on from the post of a Russian frigate contributor photo, here's two from Yoshiharu Fukushima in Japan, of Spanish frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez. Yoshiharu went aboard & has produced a report plus super pics for the Warships IFR edition after next (Oct, out Sept). Btw Sept ed out next week 😃
August 9, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Following on from the post of a Russian frigate contributor photo, here's two from Yoshiharu Fukushima in Japan, of Spanish frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez. Yoshiharu went aboard & has produced a report plus super pics for the Warships IFR edition after next (Oct, out Sept). Btw Sept ed out next week 😃
Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich caught by Warships IFR magazine contributor Michael Nitz in the Baltic recently. A Krivak V type warship - one of the Black Sea Fleet exiles, unable to return home base due to war in the region causing closure of the Turkish Straits to vessels of combatants.
August 9, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich caught by Warships IFR magazine contributor Michael Nitz in the Baltic recently. A Krivak V type warship - one of the Black Sea Fleet exiles, unable to return home base due to war in the region causing closure of the Turkish Straits to vessels of combatants.
As the debate over what ails the Submarine Service of the Royal Navy rumbles on - allegedly with 0 SSNs currently at sea & SSBN refits backed up - here's part of a deep dive into an aspect of it. From the latest, August edition of Warships IFR magazine - four pages in all.
July 26, 2025 at 9:06 AM
As the debate over what ails the Submarine Service of the Royal Navy rumbles on - allegedly with 0 SSNs currently at sea & SSBN refits backed up - here's part of a deep dive into an aspect of it. From the latest, August edition of Warships IFR magazine - four pages in all.
Mine warfare vessel Stirling Castle transferred from Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) to Royal Navy (RN). A significant change that will happen soon: Stirling Castle will be repainted warship grey, tho' poss of 'dazzle' mooted. No need to turn this one the 'right way up' @covertshores.bsky.social 😆
July 25, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Mine warfare vessel Stirling Castle transferred from Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) to Royal Navy (RN). A significant change that will happen soon: Stirling Castle will be repainted warship grey, tho' poss of 'dazzle' mooted. No need to turn this one the 'right way up' @covertshores.bsky.social 😆
UK Carrier Strike Group flagship HMS Prince of Wales has sailed into Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia - the first visit by a Royal Navy aircraft carrier to Australia since HMS Illustrious in 1997. The UKCSG has been taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre #UKCSG25 #royalnavy #darwin #news
July 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
UK Carrier Strike Group flagship HMS Prince of Wales has sailed into Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia - the first visit by a Royal Navy aircraft carrier to Australia since HMS Illustrious in 1997. The UKCSG has been taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre #UKCSG25 #royalnavy #darwin #news