Author Archives: Tom Sharpe OBE

A Rank Issue

It was recently announced by the Royal Navy that the internationally respected position of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) is to be discontinued. The new position is one rank lower (Commodore) and in an intelligent bit of branding, to be called Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training. So still FOST, basically. The response to this acrossContinueContinue reading “A Rank Issue”

Walking the Hunt

Many of a Hunt Class’s mine-hunter’s hull-design characteristics are based on the requirement for it to accurately hold position at sea whilst prosecuting mines. Relatively large propellers & rudders, a bow-thruster, a rounded hull form & shallow draft all assist with this. These same characteristics also mean that it can ‘walk’ sideways during berthing andContinueContinue reading “Walking the Hunt”

Sabering Seahorses

Yesterday, it was announced that there is to be Principal Warfare Officer badge. Noting that the crowd that care about this is small but passionate, here are my thoughts. Background. A Principal Warfare Officer (PWO), in very brief, is the person who fights the ship. They sit in the operations room and aggregate multiple sourcesContinueContinue reading “Sabering Seahorses”

‘And e’en the Ranks of Treasury could scarce Forbear to Cheer’

This was written for the Naval Review in 1995 by Captain Richard Sharpe OBE when he was the editor of Jane’s Fighting Ships. It speaks to the ongoing debate about the military’s freedom to communicate, sparked yesterday (21 Apr 20) by the reissue of the MOD’s guidance on “Contact with the Media and Communicating inContinueContinue reading “‘And e’en the Ranks of Treasury could scarce Forbear to Cheer’”

Iranian response options after the death of Soleimani

The person. One of the most experienced and hardened military leaders in the world who rose to power during the Iran/Iraq war. Soleimani had a legendary status within Iran. His link to the Supreme Leader was well known as was his authority to act on his behalf. He was arguably the second most powerful manContinueContinue reading “Iranian response options after the death of Soleimani”

A Matter of Balance and Mass

Why the Royal Navy needs both Max Hastings rather depressingly suggests here that the new aircraft carriers are an expensive white elephant that are both vulnerable and reflective of muddled defence thinking. Below are some of my thoughts that may or may not add to this debate. To deliver a sustainable range of naval capabilities;ContinueContinue reading “A Matter of Balance and Mass”

Crisis Communications and ‘That’ Interview

“My reputation is under increasing and now unbearable pressure. I have a communications team but they don’t really understand the weight of my responsibility. I think I need their help, but they’re telling me in so many words to do….very little. (Why do I pay them?) I’m a natural leader and charismatic communicator. I canContinueContinue reading “Crisis Communications and ‘That’ Interview”