Military Model Scene

Title: Seaforth World Naval Review 2025
Editor: Conrad Walters
Publisher: Seaforth Publications
ISBN: 978-1-3990-7888-7

The latest edition of the Seaforth World Naval Review is now available, from Seaforth, part of Pen & Sword. A 182-page hard-cover book, though it is also available in e-book formats.
This is the 15th year of this annual review, looking back at naval developments around the world over the year 2024. Edited once again by Conrad Waters, we have contributions not only from him but also another 9 well respected authors. The introduction which starts it all off made for interesting reading, as spending on naval forces is increasing. That is followed by another good assessment of the state of the naval war in the Black Sea between Ukraine and Russia, and comments on the lessons to be learnt from the conflict. Ukraine has no significant warships in the region, yet has been able to nullify the capabilities of the major warships of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea. There are then 3 main sections as usual in this book series, with the first having 4 Regional Reviews, which look at the highs and lows of the major navies in each region over the last year. This includes new ships delivered, and equally those which have been delayed, plus an overall look at their operational work over the past year. The regions are North & South America, Asia & the Pacific, the Indian Ocean & Africa, plus Europe & Russia. Add to these two fleet reviews, one each for the Philippine Navy and the Portuguese Navy. The following section looks at Significant Ships, and these feature the American John Lewis class Oilers, the new Italian Navy multi-purpose frigates plus the French Suffren class submarines. That leaves the final section dealing with Technological Reviews, which this time consider world naval aviation developments, the history of the American AN/SPY-6(V) radar, new warships for the Royal Navy and the Naval Ships Delivery Group, and finally, a feature on Post-Cold War Naval Evolution and putting recent changes into perspective.
There is some fascinating reading in here once again, with the learnings from the war in Ukraine especially interesting in my view, while the regional reviews provide a helpful update on the state of naval forces around the world. All the features throughout the book are accompanied by a good quality photos and data tables which we expect to see in this annual review, which I think continues to go from strength to strength.
Thanks to Seaforth/Pen & Sword for the review copy.

Robin