Dr. James W.E. Smith @James_WE_Smith Twitter profile

Pinned Tweet

Dr. James W.E. Smith

3 months

Extended abstract of: “Deconstructing the Seapower State: Britain, America and Defence Unification” is available. Book forthcoming. Web:

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 years

2021 I delivered my PhD thesis: “DECONSTRUCTING THE SEAPOWER STATE: BRITAIN, AMERICA AND DEFENCE UNIFICATION 1945-1964”, towards a Doctorate in War & Strategic Studies. Grateful to my supervisor Prof. A. Lambert. Examiners: Prof. John B. Hattendorf & Prof. G. H. Bennett.

0

3

42

2

6

29

Last Seen Profiles

@BinorRaja

@IniSleman

@esaigivens

@KittyD_uk

@alexsorandom

@stw_pdg

@gantae

@YukonSteph

@lanonyme069

@MubarakOwen

@UrbanLePharaon

@KJHorn2

@m00nc4lf

@RMU_ID

@YungKurry_

@statlost1

@_theurbanafro_

@lvgadzana

@huges_hu

@galery_basah10

@LEXX444X

@syuri_ci_e

@ChetosNot

@__cyxm11

@G1ozyu

@JAAKUNAKORI

@daddymalibog33

@thetaxpayer1

@86Zq4gr8L7nJsA

@nicoli_fox

@moliymusic

@annikasmethurst

@NESN

@GrillPillMax

@bvvst

@arshnus

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

4 months

@NavyLookout I’m not sure how many times this has to be flagged with Parliament by myself and others as an issue but I am sure many are thankful to the Malaysian Government for working so diligently on the matter in a complex legal matter but a clear moral and ethics issue.

3

25

704

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

The #FalklandsWar remains an epitome of the British Way of War post-1945, thousands of miles away or closer to home. A bespoke highly capable global navy with a professional expeditionary army—not one obsessed with sandy places or European plains—& both working together. Why so

33

62

656

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

2 months

Britain isn’t serious about being a seapower. A stunning reality, discarding 5 centuries of tough lessons and hard graft to develop a bespoke national strategy that now lays in the gutter. You cannot escape seablindness of government but you can combat it.

Navy Lookout

@NavyLookout

3 months

New in-depth article: Royal Navy frigate strength to get worse before it gets better

29

35

273

15

49

306

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

The fact is that there has been a complete collapse of understanding of the Navy, seapower, maritime strategy and realities of being an island. Partly, because an MoD created was never intended to support seapower, the other, the rise of a misguided voice which devalued the sea

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

10 months

Stop overthinking it. BLUF: the ruining of British defence and the Royal Navy has been long in the making. Any understanding of strategic experience gained over centuries was thrown away by those who could never comprehend it. Generations of civil servants, academics and officers

11

18

135

8

27

159

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

How many hulls the Royal Navy has doesn’t matter and won’t change when first and foremost high-level decision makers have not been educated to know why Britain has a navy and why its national strategy was and should be maritime at its core.

Penny Mordaunt

@PennyMordaunt

9 months

The Royal Navy and its partners must keep pace with the growing capabilities of other nations. If not Britain’s interests cannot be secured.

571

161

988

9

27

160

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

7 months

A quick note about Russia and British defence planning: Continental commitments and war are ruinous for maritime powers like Britain–losing the essential ability to focus on the sea in exchange for dubious and unrealisable benefits. Even, the Duke of Wellington understood the

20

26

159

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

10 months

Stop overthinking it. BLUF: the ruining of British defence and the Royal Navy has been long in the making. Any understanding of strategic experience gained over centuries was thrown away by those who could never comprehend it. Generations of civil servants, academics and officers

Navy Lookout

@NavyLookout

10 months

Bad news stories for the RN just keep on coming in 2024... UK amphibious capability into terminal decline as both HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark to be permanently laid up as not enough sailors to crew even one of them.

224

454

2K

11

18

135

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

11 months

Sitting back watching ‘land types’ get upset (rightfully) over the Napoleon movie while knowing it was maritime strategy, seapower and British persistence for grand alliances that beat Napoleon.

5

13

98

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

The greatest threat to the future of the Royal Navy and British national strategy, is not the Indo-Pacific, Middle East or Russia, but the failure to educate Parliament and Civil servants about maritime strategy and the fundamentals of what it means to be an island. Time to

7

14

96

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

What we are seeing in Britain is decades of failing to first communicate why the nation even has a navy. There are lots of reasons why ground zero was achieved, but it’s all coming home now. If you can’t communicate the fundamental mission to protect trade to taxpayers and

Navy Lookout

@NavyLookout

9 months

This article is twaddle. You can't argue aircraft carriers are vulnerable/obsolete while saying we should send ours to the Red Sea (where the American carrier is performing admirably). There are elements of UK carrier strike that are sub-optimal but HMS Queen Elizabeth is at

44

46

481

2

15

81

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

5 months

Digitalisation of all of Sir Julian Corbett’s records are now complete. Been a pleasure to work with Prof. Andrew Lambert on this. This will serve as a backup so that the IP of record holders are protected while in the worst case a digital database preserved for research.

8

15

83

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

5 months

Progress, book one on its way...

6

79

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

If the Government and people of an island nation have to ask: ‘why do we have a Navy?’ Then you really are lost and it’s ‘game over’.

Jim Ferguson

@JimFergusonUK

9 months

Royal Marines launch a blistering attack on Grant Shapps as Defence Secretary asks top brass to 'justify their existence' and demands a 'performance review' Senior Royal Marines made a blistering attack on the Defence Secretary last night after he asked top brass to justify the

422

733

2K

9

11

70

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

Great #wargaming research trip today & fitting to be visiting during Battle of the Atlantic 80 events @kclwargaming —I’ll always have the view that WATU is the home of British #Wargaming not ‘Kriegspiel’. I’ll be talking about this at Kings Wargaming week in a few weeks time.

3

6

68

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 month

Sir Julian Corbett was thinking about more than navies, military force, seapower and what happens through the sea. His future work would have further explored strategy and power. ––The exclusion of him from things like ‘Makers of Modern Strategy’ is a misstep by others.

5

12

70

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 months

The UK MoD is a continental construct obsessed with land-think with little interest in national maritime strategy. It was created with the direct intent to throw away centuries of bespoke British defence solutions in favour of narrow minded ones. I wrote a whole PhD on this…

MtarfaLee

@MtarfaL

3 months

@JamesBosbotinis @ConGeostrategy @edwardstrngr @JohnHealey_MP @James_WE_Smith The MoD can help create a new narrative. We have just had the Falklands anniversary which was a maritime activity. We also have to remember we have a “land fatigue”, the last two “conflicts” we have been involved in has resulted in strategic defeat.

1

5

15

69

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

7 months

Islands (who can't choose their strategy like America can) like Britain have some history of being unprepared for the future or preparing for the last war: limited physical and financial resources often drive this. It's why a maritime national strategy (with all service

Deborah Haynes

@haynesdeborah

7 months

This @mortenmorland cartoon is genius. It comes after two serving ministers broke cover to push for increased defence spending at a time of growing threats

12

152

786

2

9

64

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 months

Britain’s greatest post-1945 naval leader: Sir Caspar was ostracised on retirement as 1SL by the UK Government and defence establishment because he stood up to the continentalist mindset taking grip of defence & showed Mountbatten for what he really was. I was very fortunate to

On This Day RN

@OnthisdayRN

3 months

#OnThisDay 1984 Admiral of the Fleet Sir Caspar John died at Hayle in Cornwall at the age of 81. He joined @RoyalNavy in 1916 aged 13 and rose to become the first naval aviator to reach @FirstSeaLord

1

23

221

2

64

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

Knowledge, awareness and understanding of Britain's maritime past and the Royal Navy is completely evaporating from UK national memory and will only worsen. The public have also been purposefully misguided to 'boil down' military history to several military skirmishes. I’ve

The Royal Mint

@RoyalMintUK

6 months

The sacrifice and achievements of our armed forces past and present have been recognised on British coinage. These 50ps were designed to mark the Battle of Britain, D-Day and the Victoria Cross. Have you seen any in your change?

12

16

82

11

12

58

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

4 months

Operation Neptune/Overlord 1944 ( #DDay80 ) was a maritime campaign only made possible when the general condition of the war at sea was sufficiently advanced and relative power at sea in favor of the allies to permit a full land war to take place. A pertinent reminder to this day.

5

8

55

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

As Britain has moved away from a 'British Way of War', the more defence 'reviews' have happened. This is what happens when an Island tries to 'fake' it as a continental power. In short, to justify more nonsense, you must keep finding ways to reinforce it to try and make it stick.

Dr Emma Salisbury

@salisbot

8 months

I had an intuition that British defence reviews have become more common over the past couple of decades. So I made a timeline and... yup.

40

24

203

7

13

52

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 months

I’ll never regret arguing for ‘cats and traps’ and a single island superstructure no matter what the naysayers attack with. I could say much more, but that’s the tweet! ( I can’t find the graphics of the OG 1998/1999 variant with the above shown.)

Navy Lookout

@NavyLookout

3 months

The design aspects of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are covered in a series of article here:

4

36

219

13

2

53

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

You are lost if you can't comprehend national strategy being maritime at its core or the harsh realities of being an island. Educating on seapower and maritime strategy is the issue, but no doubt you'll hear the same old waffle and bluster by technocrats & accountants making

3

5

52

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

"English seapower was the expression and acknowledgement of what would become a bespoke Royal Navy and British way of war. Equally it was a warning to reject contiental ways of thinking about seapower. It is the experience of English seapower that came to haunt land-centric think

1

7

51

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

You'll be hearing a lot of discussion about #Napoleon (1769-1821) over the coming months from land-thinkers but remember it was the bespoke British Way of War, with maritime strategy and the quality of the Royal Navy at its core that defeated him.

3

11

48

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

It's no coincidence that British defence has been in turmoil since continental ideas of war, conflict, doctrine & policy, etc replaced that of an island. Islands that adopt policy, doctrine & strategy along land-centric concepts, lose & keep on losing.

4

5

44

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

For those watching FX’s new TV adaption of James Clavell’s book ‘Shogun’, pay close attention to when English Pilot (sailor) Blackthorne explains the world beyond 🇯🇵Japan to Lord Toranaga. With the year set as 1600, you can begin to observe the beginning of maritime strategy (+

4

9

43

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

An island not serious about sea trade protection isn't serious about its future or national defence. Continental countries not serious about protecting global sea trade do not understand how that mindset eases the path to conflict & war––which is in their interest to deter.

1

8

37

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 years

2021 I delivered my PhD thesis: “DECONSTRUCTING THE SEAPOWER STATE: BRITAIN, AMERICA AND DEFENCE UNIFICATION 1945-1964”, towards a Doctorate in War & Strategic Studies. Grateful to my supervisor Prof. A. Lambert. Examiners: Prof. John B. Hattendorf & Prof. G. H. Bennett.

0

3

42

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

7 months

After 1945, navies were considered less relevant; now, they have a portfolio seabed to space. The seabed wars have finally fully begun. The internet––its infrastructure––all lay within the maritime domain or its influence. We depend on it more than space. The rich digital flows

Navy Lookout

@NavyLookout

7 months

US officials say that undersea cables were cut in the Red Sea on Monday affecting 25% of the data traffic between Asia and Europe.

14

89

350

1

13

40

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

5 months

British seapower post-1964 has been about convincing Gov when understanding of the sea was set to near zero. You cannot convince when you have not provided a basic education in which to convince from. It’s like two different languages with no framework to translate with. This is

1

12

40

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

History bites: the irony in Britain of those asking to rearm are from the same school who disarmed the country over decades through a narrow view of what and where national defence is while throwing away strategic experience, stripping naval strength and remodelling the army.

3

4

37

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

2 months

The world should be less reliant on American sea power along with the vast burden it places on the American taxpayer: other nations should be doing more. It’s not sustainable and it’s risky to have a singular failure point let alone pressure on American service personnel.

6

5

34

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

5 months

Furthermore, I am actively exploring as part of my research––supported by the British Academy in partnership with King’s College London––a republishing/updating of the ‘Green Phamplet.’ The Green Pamphlet is arguably one of the foundational strategic studies texts of

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

5 months

Digitalisation of all of Sir Julian Corbett’s records are now complete. Been a pleasure to work with Prof. Andrew Lambert on this. This will serve as a backup so that the IP of record holders are protected while in the worst case a digital database preserved for research.

8

15

83

3

4

35

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

@john_oxenford I suspect already forgotten (and on purpose).

2

1

36

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

'Just in time' politics for defence is too risky and does not work. You need strategy and long-term investment in defence, not writing emergency last-minute cheques.

Charlie B

@supbrow

6 months

In remembering the Falklands War, each year, what lessons do we need to learn in order to be ready in the IndoPacific? @alessionaval @salisbot @cgberube @mercoglianos @graham_euan @ChongJaIan @JeffreyOrdaniel

13

4

22

2

33

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

2 months

“…I fear we [USN] do not understand what it means to now be the guarantor of freedom and liberty on the seas, I do not think my fellow sailors quite grasp the task before us nor we can we ever expect to replace the Royal Navy…” Captain (later CNO) Arleigh Burke in conversation

3

5

32

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

British strategic thought and policy after 1945 in a nutshell. 🔽

0

4

32

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

20 days

The level of posturing from the British who abandoned everything this hall represented: a unique national strategy with maritime at its core, is ‘A’ grade gaslighting. 🤦🏼‍♂️

Sophia Gaston

@sophgaston

21 days

HMG could not have chosen a more spectacular location in Greenwich for the AUKUS Defence Ministers’ Meeting. Britain pulling out the big guns for the global press.

3

7

113

2

6

32

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

@exexpat19 They tried and the cost was enormous. They were not successful at permanently securing this deceit until 1962-1966. Geography matters, the Russian’s know this, Britain has forgotten it.

1

0

31

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 months

A rare moment of anger from the last great Admiralty Secretary (who kept private diaries) in relation to UK defence policy (shortened for brevity): “Maritime is more than a naval way, it is about land, sea and air working together, all the services, it’s not a matter of rivalry

1

3

30

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

With all this talk of war in Britain, anyone would think that Britain is a great land-power or should be. History has shown for islands, its probably the most direct route to defeat. The war drum of land-centric thinking has destroyed understanding of national defence strategy.

4

6

27

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

🔊 Episode one of the Podcast now live: 'The Art of Admiralty Versus Seablindness'. In Episode 1 of the Green Pamphlet Podcast, I explore what is the ‘Art of Admiralty?’ I also challenge the future use and understanding of the term ‘seablindness’.

4

9

29

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

13 days

“Order at sea”. —How can anyone claim education has been successful when one of the key tenants of maritime strategy is to be in a position of strength of maintaining or promptly restoring order at sea? Welcome to the long march of seablindness playing out in spectacular

Navy Lookout

@NavyLookout

13 days

Houthis continue to make random attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea. Panamanian-flagged tanker MV Cordelia Moon struck by missiles and USV on 1st Oct. (No injuries to crew)

18

66

248

1

10

32

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

The most significant problem for navies and maritime strategy is not hull numbers, recruitment, finance, or a litany of other issues but one that it all spawns from: the understanding of what navies and seapower can and can not do has collapsed in most nations.

1

6

27

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

Exactly as the Admiralty predicted in the 1950s and 1960s has come to pass: The media, scholars and politicians are so confused about what the Royal Navy does and its role in UK national strategy, all they can do is bash from one wall to the next in vein hope of answers. Britain

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

How many hulls the Royal Navy has doesn’t matter and won’t change when first and foremost high-level decision makers have not been educated to know why Britain has a navy and why its national strategy was and should be maritime at its core.

9

27

160

2

4

28

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

“Corbett’s masterful study of the campaign of Trafalgar was to emphasise the battle less but set it in the context of a #nationalstrategy , one where #maritimestrategy was central and one based on centuries of both #nationalpolicy and military experience. He proved & evidenced

Corbett 100

@Corbett_100

1 year

" #Trafalgar is ranked as one of the decisive battles of the world, & yet of all the great victories there is not one which to all appearance was so barren of immediate result. It had brought to a triumphant conclusion one of the most masterly & complex sea campaigns in history."

0

4

25

2

5

28

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

Thank you to @WWATMD & the team at the U.S. Naval Academy including many like @eodauthor @cgberube for making me welcome at USNA for the conference, also to all those who listened and gave great feedback like @salisbot on my past work & new #space & maritime strategy work.

0

6

28

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

You can try and blame the Armed Forces for decisions all you want but they are not the ones who make the final call––welcome to unified defence. The issues in British defence are long standing and have deep roots. Understanding the past is vital to moving forward. It's

Greg Bagwell

@gregbagwell

9 months

RN’s current woes are down to an inability to either plan for or react to the realities of today’s resources; and made worse by long-past choices made on what they wanted, rather than what they were likely to afford. The imperative now is to focus on the latter, not the former.

3

1

28

1

7

26

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

Thank you to everyone who attended King’s Wargaming Week & to our partners, NATO. Great to have such a broad & diverse group who are practicing, learning, exploring & asking questions about #wargaming . King’s wargaming is a very small team & and we do appreciate your support.

0

3

28

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 months

Just a reminder that defence reviews are not complicated if you have a national strategy, you understand harsh national realities and you let experience guide you.

1

7

28

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

The First Sea Lord and Admiralty Secretary warned between 1959-1962 that creating a Ministry of Defence would land Britain in defence chaos. Everything they warned has come to pass. Everything promised unified defence would solve, has not been solved.

Deconstructing the Seapower State

kclpure.kcl.ac.uk

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

"That understanding (of seapower) by civil servants and ministers has in recent years evaporated." ––No, the problem is 70 years in the making. ––The system to communicate and educate about seapower that stood for 300+ years was purposefully destroyed. ––The Government/Parliament

0

4

14

1

11

25

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 months

Labour since 1960s: dumb down UK defence by turning to ‘NATO first’ by importing European/American ways of defence and warfare. Something alien and antithetical to British strategic experience; destroying the bespoke British way of war & peace through the MoD construct. The

The Spectator

@spectator

3 months

'It is aggravating to be told by ministers how significant this empty screed is.' ✍️ Eliot Wilson

2

3

6

5

26

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 months

There you have it as I’ve been saying all along. Prussian continental thinking continues to rule British defence. NATO is part of the picture not THE picture. Nonsense that regional continental matters are the only thing that matters to an island. It’s

This Labour Government will have a ‘Nato first’ defence strategy

The alliance is the ultimate guarantor of all members’ ability to live freely and build a secure, more prosperous future for their people

www.telegraph.co.uk

1

7

27

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

In a new commentary piece, I turn my attention to Seablindness and the US Navy. "The US Navy versus Seablindness: par for the course for America?" Link: #defense #usnavy #seapower #maritimesecurity #maritimepower

0

13

26

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

The White Ensign symbolised a habit of victory was a product of a bespoke navy delivered by hard graft, an intellectual edge & professionalism that the nation of England, later Britain, acknowledged, & grew to understand the fact that it had no choice but to be the best seapower.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy

@NatMuseumRN

6 months

Happy St. Georges Day! Image - Crown Copyright

0

43

278

1

2

26

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

My latest article, 'Seablindness and the Royal Navy Today,' takes a 'no-frill, no holds barred' approach where I argue that understanding of Britain's Navy, seapower and maritime strategy has hit bottom and, therefore, some harsh realities need to be discussed. Link:

0

7

25

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

It only seemed like yesterday I was wrapping my PhD, now it’s great to get feedback from my colleagues in @warstudies @KingsSSPP , 🇬🇧&🇺🇸, on progressing my post-doctoral research project which is part of my duties as the ‘Laughton-Corbett’ research fellow. 🚀🔭🛰️

0

3

25

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

Because the Australians have communicated what their navy is for and educated how maritime strategy works for their nation to their leaders better than those in Britain who only talk negatively and don’t deliver a cohesive concise positive seapower message. See:

Euan Graham

@graham_euan

8 months

I sometimes feel I’m not cynical enough about big defence announcements in Australia. But let that sink in. For the first time in its history, Australia’s surface combatant fleet will surpass the Royal Navy’s.

27

87

357

2

7

24

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

2 months

Rebranding ‘national strategy’ as ‘one defence’ and in turn abandoning ‘continental and maritime strategy’ (so throw Corbett & Clausewitz in the bin then?) in the process is yet another waste of defence’s time and money by polluting clarity by adding yet more jargon and pointless

4

25

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

Strategic thinkers accept technological change is a fact of warfare (& civilisation) since at least the longbow at Agincourt (1415). Often claims of ‘revolution’ are overrated, instead it’s about organisations & military services having a culture to continually work with change.

2

25

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 years

58 years ago, #OTD The Admiralty, British War Office and Air Ministry were abolished. They were unified into a homogenised tripartite Ministry of Defence. It marked a fundamental change in UK Defence and Government that affirmed a long-held agenda for future defence policy.

0

5

23

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

Some slides & points from my keynote: ▶️ Wargaming needs allies outside wargaming. ▶️ Wargaming needs to remember whom it serves. ▶️🇬🇧Wargaming starts before Prussian Kreigsspiel via the Royal Navy. ▶️ Wargaming is about people & decisions, can not ignore anthropological roots.

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

Great honour to be asked by the King’s Wargaming team to do the keynote for Kings Wargaming Week. It’s been a fantastic week of discussion and debate on Wargaming in conjunction with our partners for the week from NATO.

0

8

1

2

24

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

2 months

The argument that strategic throught “centres too much on ideas from past times and dead scholars” usually emanates from those who see the world in rigid dogmatic tactical doctrine who probably haven’t understood the material and can’t comprehend works, such as Corbett’s, as

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

5 months

Digitalisation of all of Sir Julian Corbett’s records are now complete. Been a pleasure to work with Prof. Andrew Lambert on this. This will serve as a backup so that the IP of record holders are protected while in the worst case a digital database preserved for research.

8

15

83

0

6

24

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

Great show for #navalwargaming at @kclwargaming Wargaming week. This is @nickbradbeer ’s ‘A balanced Fleet’ ABF tactical game. We are hosting a range of wargames over Wargaming week but delighted for a strong #naval show!

1

4

23

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

@AzorInfo It was only a close run thing because of a land-power policy to devalue investment in the navy. Boom.

4

1

24

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

I look forward to the publication: ‘The Art of Admiralty, Maritime Strategy, and the Island Nations: Britain, Australia, and Japan.’ According to the editor, it should be released shortly (2024). A small sample of my writing for it is attached. 🇬🇧🇦🇺🇯🇵

0

3

24

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

7 months

Default in your writing about seapower, navies, and maritime strategy with this: those you are talking to, including the state itself, do not understand or know what you are on about. Approach them as having zero baseline or reference point.

1

5

24

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

In island nations the point of a proper Navy is to make it unnecessary to conscript citizens into the army and air force and if the Navy isn't capable of defending that island the correct response is to make it better.

2

6

22

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

'What Britain brings to the table' should be what it must be the best at––because it has no choice––which is seapower. Islands must address defence based on geographic reality’s before being annexed to another nation’s demands. They need to politely remind them of that.

2

3

22

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

If you can’t explain ‘seapower, navies, maritime issues or strategy’ etc to Parliamentarians, Government, Congress & high-level civilians on one piece of paper and in practical terms then don’t expect them to spend time trying to understand it. Harsh realities need direct talk.

2

4

19

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

The anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo [1815] is today: the end of the road to the tyranny of Napoleon Bonaparte by the successful application of British maritime strategy of which the close collaboration of Navy and Army, vital. A maritime victory and maritime campaign.

2

4

22

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

2 years

This morning before our #Falklands40 event, I hosted a King's staff & students 1982 Falklands Wargame online. This was an educational exercise to talk about the history of the Falklands War, military operations, and research related to Naval Wargaming @kclwargaming @warstudies

2

3

22

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 months

The problem is that America must CHOOSE to go to the sea, like any continental country less dependent on the sea for survival, they use sea and maritime power when it suits them not because they have to. The headache for sane American naval and maritime thinkers since day one to

Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴‍☠️

@mercoglianos

6 months

11/Finally, the goal of a revised maritime policy for the US is essential. But it should be remembered that the decline in the US maritime sector occurred with the end of World War Two. 1⃣ With the Ship Sales Act of 1946, the Marshall Plan of 1948 and the creation of open

6

9

51

3

6

22

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

30 days

The last vestiges of the last seapower state, it would end by 1997. The British people and nation were still attuned to their Navy and geographic realities. The reality, post-1964, the 1982 Falklands War being one record that proudly stands clearest for the Royal Navy– and why

Ricky D Phillips - Military Historian

@RDPHistory

1 month

September 17th 1982: HMS Invincible returns from the Falklands war with HMS Bristol and RFA Olna, and the crowds go wild as they come out in force to welcome them home. A great day I remember so well. More pictures in the thread below:

18

77

1K

0

6

22

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 months

Most nations can write a defence review on a few sides of paper free of jargon if they choose to. This would show maturity of thought, an understanding of strategy and precision in execution. With a sound national strategy based on experience, many issues will fall into line, and

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 months

Just a reminder that defence reviews are not complicated if you have a national strategy, you understand harsh national realities and you let experience guide you.

1

7

28

3

4

22

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

That a British citizen would be in ‘slavery’ under any other Government, Parliament, and Crown than its own without the sure defence of national seapower, and protection from invasion by its navy– such as could quickly come by sea for the British Isles––is precisely what James

Good Morning Britain

@GMB

9 months

Prince Harry's wedding cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason says that 'Rule, Britannia!' can make people feel uncomfortable and should not be sung at the Last Night of the Proms. So is it time to ditch 'Rule, Britannia!' at events? @Femi_Sorry @DontDivideUsNow

4K

173

1K

2

1

22

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

In this guest article, Dr Mark Bailey RAN responds to my article about 🇬🇧British seablindness. He also discusses the state of intellectual thought over seapower in island nations and the future of the 🇦🇺 Australian and 🇯🇵Japanese fleets. Link:

1

5

22

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

5 months

I argue the future circumstance of the #Royalnavy & broader British defence & security won’t improve unless there is a restoration of British national strategy based on harsh facts, geographic realities, centuries of experience & refreshed for the present context. Out 17 May.

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

5 months

Don't forget to check out Warships IFR Magazine and my article in it on 17 May 2024, 'Restoring British National Strategy and the Future of the #RoyalNavy .' Preview, details and notes: #seapower #maritimestrategy #defence #navies #Navy

0

10

17

3

6

21

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

7 months

Britain cannot escape reality that understanding of maritime strategy is beyond a question of the evolution of the relationship between society, the sea and navy but something far more fundamental: the breakdown in the system to educate about why it has a navy and how the state

2

5

22

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

Positive signs that the @RoyalNavy is listening to research pioneered in academia like 'art of Admiralty' and 'seabed to space'. There is a broad #seapower #maritime #strategy etc research community willing to help and engage with––if the navy chooses to.

Sea Power Conference keynote speech

Speech by Admiral Sir Ben Key at the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference, part of the London Sea Power Series.

www.gov.uk

0

7

21

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

4 months

“The Air Forces approach to space and missiles is detestable. When I suggested an all service approach to President Eisenhower for space back in about 57-58’ I was shot down, a few years later I find the Air Forces’ position completely reversed, they want to control everything,

2

6

21

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 years

The #podcast is now available of a discussion between Prof. Andrew Lambert and myself about Sir Julian Corbett, the 'British Way of War' and the struggle for national strategy. @Corbett_100 @warstudies @Laughtonunit @KCLSecurity #navalhistory #maritimestrategy #wayofwar #strategy

War Studies

@warstudies

3 years

🇬🇧⚓NEW PODAST: The British Way of War Prof Andrew Lambert @Laughtonunit & @James_WE_Smith explore #JulianCorbett 's influence on #nationalstrategy , helping shape UK naval successes in #WorldWarII 🔵 🔵 🔵

0

16

34

0

7

20

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

2 months

Security at sea has long been dependent on an under supported (continental) navy in a nation that naturally does not believe its home security jeopardised by what happens at sea (or rarely valued it). Meanwhile other nations have idly stood by while pressure mounts on the USN.

John Ʌ Konrad V

@johnkonrad

2 months

“There can only be one conclusion: that the US has given up on Operation Prosperity Guardian. It wasn’t deterring the Houthis and it wasn’t reassuring shipping so they might as well go and do something else” @TomSharpe134

47

99

346

2

5

21

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

2 years

(OCT 21) Today we remember Lord Nelson and the sailors of the Royal Navy who, when England confided in them, they delivered–also today, we can be grateful to those who started the 'Save the Victory Fund' a century ago in 1922. #Trafalgarday #HMSVictory

0

2

18

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

7 months

Experience, is all we have, the rest is guesswork, theory and assumptions in #strategicstudies . For example, some Navalists often use Sir John Fisher to discuss the need for naval ‘revolution’ [nasty term] while also stating the historical school no longer applies. An irony when

1

2

21

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

Corbett and his work on maritime strategy offers more on space than Mitchell ever could. Evidence based analysis with applied history provides the basis for any serious consideration of strategic questions in the contemporary era.

Corbett offers more on Space than Mitchell - War on the Rocks

When British naval historian Sir Julian Corbett wrote Some Principles of Maritime Strategy in 1911, the idea of warfare in air and space was little more

warontherocks.com

0

1

20

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

6 months

In 1945 SECNAV James Forrestal (1892-1949) remarked in his classified diary: "I fear the future for the US Navy will be about arguments over arbitrary numbers of ships, rather than anyone clearly stating what our sea power & the navy is for..." (Yr 9 of my declassification proj)

0

4

19

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

7 months

📰 My research into strategic studies and maritime strategy gets a boost!

1

0

20

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

3 years

Sir Julian Corbett is a crucial figure in the development of strategic thought. His work is key to understanding national approaches to national strategy and the fundamental need to delineate between 'continental-military' and maritime 'schools' of thought.

0

6

20

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

9 months

New comment piece from me: How Army concerns over the future shape of the #BritishArmy & warnings over potenital war with #Russia backfired: exposing an uncomfortable truth at the heart of #britishdefence . 'Same old Same with the 🇬🇧 Army?' Link:

1

3

20

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

8 months

Whatever the facts, the correlation between the declining presence/'fleet in being' of 'Western' navies and the willingness of hostile forces to attack, disrupt and sink shipping should not be ignored. The British are now so disconnected from the sea––a fate that will lead to

0

4

20

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

1 year

In this fictitious #navalwargaming scenario, 🇬🇧HMS Enterprise assigned to Lord Nelson's fleet chases a Heavy French Frigate whom is attempting to report to 🇫🇷French Admiral's that their invasion force for England is about to fall into the Royal Navy's trap. The stakes are high.

2

1

20

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

4 months

We’ve not ‘questioned’ it. We’ve proved it with evidence. The whole invasion argument was pushed into legendary myth in the 1950s by those who had agendas about the future of British defence, not the harsh realities of fact and national geography.

Prof. Frank McDonough

@FXMC1957

4 months

2 July 1940. Adolf Hitler ordered German military commanders to draw up plans for “Operation Sea Lion” (the invasion of Britain). Historians have questioned whether it was ever a serious or feasible plan given Britain’s overwhelming naval supremacy.

133

160

1K

2

4

19

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

2 years

I would like to add my personal thanks to all those who attended, chaired, helped and presented papers. It was a pleasure and privilege to host you at King's to mark the life of a great historian & philosopher. - There is much more to learn from Sir Julian and his work.

Corbett 100

@Corbett_100

2 years

Over the past two days the Corbett 100 project held it's two-day conference #Corbett100atKings to start our three part programme to debate, discuss & carry the baton of the great historian, strategist and philosopher of #Seapower #maritimestrategy Sir Julian Corbett. (1854-1922).

1

5

17

1

3

19

Dr. James W.E. Smith

@James_WE_Smith

2 years

I'm really looking forward to seeing the Summer 2022 edition of @NavalReview in the hands of subscribers & armed forces personnel. My thanks to the Trustees & Board for granting the special #Corbett100 edition. Featuring @FirstSeaLord , myself, Prof A Lambert, Prof. G Till & more.

0

7

19