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
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
The capability should come equipped as standard.
Latest news commentary:
Royal Navy considering deploying OPV to Middle East with Peregrine RWUAS flight
www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-c...
Royal Navy considering deploying OPV to Middle East with Peregrine RWUAS flight
www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-c...
September 26, 2025 at 10:59 AM
The capability should come equipped as standard.
So about the need for maritime domain awareness..... Jumping to conclusions is unwise as much of the context is unknown, it's as possible the ship was under some form of surveillance. Nonetheless a more comprehensive and integrated approach to domain awareness in
www.newsweek.com/russia-drone...
www.newsweek.com/russia-drone...
Russian Navy Ship Caught Lurking Off Denmark's Coast as Drones Attack
The vessel had its tracking equipment deactivated, indicating the vessel wished to avoid detection by Danish authorities.
www.newsweek.com
September 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM
So about the need for maritime domain awareness..... Jumping to conclusions is unwise as much of the context is unknown, it's as possible the ship was under some form of surveillance. Nonetheless a more comprehensive and integrated approach to domain awareness in
www.newsweek.com/russia-drone...
www.newsweek.com/russia-drone...
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
This does look rather good.
@yalebooks.bsky.social have outdone themselves with the cover of my new book. Out in January for anyone interested.
September 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
This does look rather good.
Reposted by Marcus Faulkner
„From satellite images we can determine that they are around 40-42m long, do not appear to have traditional submarine sails, and have X-form rudders. Strong circumstantial evidence links one of the two vessels to the 705 Research Institute, part of 🇨🇳China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSSC).“
New information reveals that the Chinese Navy (PLAN) is testing its uncrewed submarines on Hainan in the South China Sea. The two underwater drones, by far the world’s largest, have not been publicly revealed by Beijing 🇨🇳
Story by @covertshores.bsky.social
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Story by @covertshores.bsky.social
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
China Moves Two Super-Sized 'XXL' Uncrewed Submarines To South China Sea - Naval News
New information reveals that the Chinese Navy (PLAN) is testing its uncrewed submarines on Hainan in the South China Sea. The two underwater drones, by far the world's largest, have not been publicly ...
www.navalnews.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
„From satellite images we can determine that they are around 40-42m long, do not appear to have traditional submarine sails, and have X-form rudders. Strong circumstantial evidence links one of the two vessels to the 705 Research Institute, part of 🇨🇳China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSSC).“
Similar in concept to the RN's thinking around uncrewed vessels accompanying major surface units to increase magazine depth and breadth.
Large Remote Missile Vessels – German Navy plans to procure unmanned arsenal ships 🇩🇪
Via @hartpunkt.bsky.social
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Via @hartpunkt.bsky.social
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Large Remote Missile Vessels – German Navy plans to procure unmanned arsenal ships - Naval News
The German Navy has been planning for some time to procure 18 unmanned surface vessels, known as Future Combat Surface Systems (FCSS), to supplement its corvettes, as well as at least 12 Large Unmanne...
www.navalnews.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Similar in concept to the RN's thinking around uncrewed vessels accompanying major surface units to increase magazine depth and breadth.
Likely the future of offensive minelaying.
China unveiled its AJX002 underwater minelaying drone, signalling a significant expansion and modernization of its capabilities. The dedicated platform enhances blockade potential, particularly around Taiwan. 🇨🇳
By @covertshores.bsky.social
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
By @covertshores.bsky.social
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
China’s New Giant Underwater Drone Increases Naval Mine Threat Around Taiwan - Naval News
China unveiled its AJX002 underwater minelaying drone, signalling a significant expansion and modernization of its capabilities. The dedicated platform enhances blockade potential, particularly around...
www.navalnews.com
September 18, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Likely the future of offensive minelaying.