In the second of our podcast episodes devoted to the State of the US Navy - as it and a troubled world sail into 2025 - guest David Axe chats with host Iain Ballantyne. A range of topics, including many covered in the recently published Warships IFR ‘Guide to the US Navy 2025’, are covered in the discussion. After giving his overall take on the Ame…

In the first of two podcast episodes on the State of the US Navy as it (and a troubled world) sail into 2025, guest Dr Emma Salisbury chats with host Iain Ballantyne They look first of all at areas Emma wrote about in the recently published Warships IFR ‘Guide to US Navy 2025’, namely: the USA’s ‘shipbuilding woes’; the future size and composition …

As the United Kingdom strives to maintain a credible strategic deterrent in the face of Russian aggression – including threats from President Vladimir Putin to ‘go nuclear’ due to alleged Western interference in the Ukraine War - our guest on the podcast is Dr David Blagden. Together with podcast host Iain Ballantyne he considers the case for augme…

Information about the Thunderer, a Tier X British premium battleship available in the online game World of Warships. It describes the ship's characteristics, such as its armament, armor, maneuverability, and consumables, and offers recommendations for upgrades and commander skills. The source also explains the Thunderer's historical context, noting…

World of Warships overview of German special premium Tier VIII battleshipPor Buck

World of Warships overview of Italian Tier IX Battleship Ruggiero di LauriaPor Buck

World of Warships Review of Tier 8 premium Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise.Por Buck

Overview of the World of Warships Commonwealth special premium Tier X cruiserPor Buck

Dr James Bosbotinis draws on his considerable expertise in naval weaponry and the threats they pose, along with offering insights into geopolitical developments that do not augur well for world peace. The discussion with host Iain Ballantyne includes the part played by the US Navy and Royal Navy defending international shipping in the Red Sea and G…

Our guests on this episode of the podcast are Dr Emma Salisbury and Will Freer, who recently wrote a commentary for Warships IFR, headlined ‘How to Achieve a More Lethal Royal Navy’, which was based on their recent report for the Council on Geostrategy. Here they discuss various topics associated with the report with podcast host Iain Ballantyne. T…

So long friends, for now. Thank you for all the support you have given me. This podcast is now an archive, with the exception of occasional uploads when I feel like it.

Back for a second discussion of hot topics are guests Dr Gary Blackburn and Dr David Blagden. With host Iain Ballantyne, they weigh up the prospect of European NATO nations being forced to cope with a bigger burden of defence, if a re-elected President Trump decides to to pull American land forces out of the Continent. It is a policy that is being …

Our guests for this episode are Dr Gary Blackburn and Dr David Blagden who, with host Iain Ballantyne, discuss a recent proposal by the UK Government to introduce a new National Service scheme for 18-year-olds. Iain asks if it is just a case of blatant electioneering by the incumbent Sunak administration, which looks set to lose a summer General El…

Our guest on this episode is Dr Helen Fry, the author of more than 25 books on the social history of WW2, not least British intelligence activities, spies and the like. She is a leading authority on many related topics, including on the ‘secret listeners’ who eavesdropped on what enemy Prisoners of War were discussing. This was in order to gain ins…

This just in: I'm not dead! That's right, I'm back today with an update on the future of the podcast and my playstyle of the Scharnhorst and Scharnhorst '43. After that, we dive into how I have transformed into a filthy rat in World of Warships. All this and more on the first episode of Rank: Amateur Season 3. Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Mu…

In part two of their discussion, Warships Pod host Iain Ballantyne and guest Doug Littlejohns touch on numerous things, not least nuclear deterrent matters. As in the previous episode, the situation during the Cold War is compared with today’s, including the problem of Royal Navy submarines that carry the deterrent becoming elderly and badly in nee…

In the first part of a discussion with Captain Doug Littlejohns, who commanded a nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine against the Russians during the old Cold War, the primary topic is whether or not we are on the brink of World War Three. Doug provides insights gained when he played key roles tasking NATO submarines during 1980s spikes in tensi…

This ship, while having a large history in both World of Warships and naval history in general, inflicts pain on both its captain and its adversaries. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good ship, but I still can't get over that idiotic armor scheme... Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGM…

A National Audit Office (NAO) report on ‘The Equipment Plan 2023 - 2033’ in the UK makes for grim reading, revealing a massive so-called ‘black hole’ in the Defence budget, which means there is apparently no money for key projects, including future warships. In part two of the discussion, host Iain Ballantyne and guests Gary Blackburn and James Bos…

This episode begins with a discussion by host Iain Ballantyne and guests Dr Gary Blackburn and Dr James Bosbotinis about the bid by Venezuela to annex a major part of neighboring Guyana. How might navies attempt to prevent escalation as the communist client state of Russia and Iran considers its next move against an oil-rich Commonwealth nation? Ho…

Scharnhorst is definitely one of the more interesting ships in World of Warships due to its downright strange gun configuration, but that does not mean it goes unloved. Listen in to learn more... Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Creative Commons Attribution Free Download / Strea…

Well, it has been a while since I uploaded, but fear not! I hath returned! You all lost faith in me, but this podcast is not dead! And to to commemorate the first episode in a while, I am completing a much-overdue overview of all the warship tech trees currently in World of Warships, as of November 2023. Enjoy! Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com M…

In a fascinating and absorbing discussion host Iain Ballantyne and guest Tom Sharpe discuss the US Navy destroyer USS Carney shooting down cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea. As a former warship captain, Tom provides deeply insightful expert analysis on how the incident may have unfolded. But the podcast first grips listeners with Tom’s in…

Our special guest for a deep dive into British naval espionage during the Cold War is Mike Hurley, a veteran of undersea deployments in dangerous waters. As a very young submariner in the late 1950s Mike endured marathon patrols in diesel-electric submarines, most notably HMS Taciturn. In this fascinating discussion with Warships Pod host Iain Ball…

This ship, on paper, is pretty mediocre. And, for the most part, it is very much mediocre. But, in the hands of a skilled player and/or in the right situation, this ship can be deadly. Listen in to learn why... Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Creative Commons Attribution Free D…

In part two of their podcast discussion Iain Ballantyne and Gary Blackburn provide their opinions on the Hollywood movie ‘Oppenheimer’, about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the so-called ‘father of the atom bomb.’ It includes a discussion on the historical context of The Bomb’s use to end WW2, especially in light of the US Navy already bringing Japan to th…

This ship is challenging to play, not because it is a bad ship at all (it's actually pretty good), but because it requires common sense and a large amount of situational awareness to play...something that a lot of WOWS players seem to lack... Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Cre…

In part one of this discussion between Dr. Gary Blackburn and host Iain Ballantyne, they investigate the recently published UK Defence Command Paper (DCP). It was meant to lay out how British national defence and security will be achieved, especially in light of the on-going Ukraine War. However, it is regarded by some as nothing more than a ‘word …

Man, the Germans were building some pretty wack designs for ships way back in the '20s...NOT. Well, at least they had some pretty cool dreams... Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Creative Commons Attribution Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-jetfire Music promoted by Audio L…

In the second and final installment of our discussion with British submarine captain Commander Rob Forsyth, we hear how a hard-charging Soviet spy vessel forced him to order HMS Repulse to ‘crash dive’. It happened as the Polaris missile submarine deployed from Scotland on a deterrent patrol in the early 1970s. With the UK and its NATO allies locke…

We continue our occasional series talking to Cold War undersea warriors with the first installment of a two-episode dive into the submarine career of Commander Rob Forsyth. Entering the Royal Navy in the 1950s, after a brief excursion into the surface fleet, Rob found himself aboard the submarine HMS Auriga, undertaking a patrol during the Cuban Mi…

This ship is one of the best Tier V cruisers in the game, in my opinion. Listen in to find out why. Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Creative Commons Attribution Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-jetfire Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/nrIxa0jbhwE Outro: Ou…

Who knew that a ship with actual paper and matchsticks for armor could be good? And at Tier IV as well? What is this witchcraft, Wargaming?? Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Creative Commons Attribution Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-jetfire Music promoted by Audio Libra…

Why did you even look here? This ship needs literally no explanation. Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Creative Commons Attribution Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-jetfire Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/nrIxa0jbhwE Outro: Outlet by Silent Partner from Yo…

In part two of a discussion by Mark Grove and Dr Gary Blackburn with host Iain Ballantyne, the tasty and varied menu includes naval aspects of the Ukraine War and whether or not a new Battle of the Atlantic is shaping up as Russia seeks to win its so-called ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine it has sought to establish stronger links with China…

In part one of a two-part special, guests Dr Gary Blackburn and Mark Grove discuss an array of hot topics with host Iain Ballantyne. Iain asks Gary and Mark to give their perspectives on submarine aspects of the Australia- United Kingdom-USA (AUKUS) defence pact following the recent big announcement on the way ahead in San Diego. They consider the …

It is a breath of fresh air to have a more basic, down-to-earth battleship that still exists in the game with a playstyle that is not defined by gimmick consumables, but by a genuinely balanced ship that offers exciting gameplay. Even more uncommon is the coupling of a balanced ship and a historic ship, which is exactly what Nagato is. Listen in to…

Michael G. Welham is our guest, talking to host Iain Ballantyne about the mysterious world of undersea warriors known as ‘combat divers’. Michael has been involved with diving, both military and civilian, for some 40 years. He was a Royal Marines Commando, with skills in diving, canoeing, and parachuting. Mike was also a member of 21 Special Air Se…

The name of the game with the Amagi is situational awareness; you have to have situational awareness to be good with the Amagi, which is why the Amagi is a great ship to choose when one wishes to develop into a mature World of Warships player. The Amagi forces gameplay that is well conceived with great thought to ensure oneself always has the advan…

In this podcast our guest is a legend of the Submarine Service. He is Doug Littlejohns, who had a remarkable career in the Royal Navy, both as a submarine captain and in command of an intelligence-gathering warship during the Cold War. Across a fascinating podcast discussion with our host Iain Ballantyne, we hear from Doug about his exciting time o…

The Fusō is one of those ships that looks at power creep and laughs hardily. This ship was introduced into the game on launch and is still going strong. Turns out, it's really hard to power creep 12 guns... Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Creative Commons Attribution Free Downl…

For possibly the most generic ship in World of Warships, made entirely of off-the-shelf parts, the Anshan does surprisingly well. This ship takes no risks and does not rely on gimmicks, making it more friendly to play for the average or beginning player to use. The Anshan is defined by its low-skill floor, low-skill ceiling classic destroyer gamepl…

In this episode host Iain Ballantyne talks to Andy Benford, a Cold War undersea warrior who saw service in diesel ‘dirty boats’ of the British and Australian navies and aboard nuclear submarines, not only in hunter-killers but also the UK’s Polaris deterrent force. Aside from Andy’s brush with death during a notorious 1972 hovercraft accident in th…

The Kongō is something of a right of passage, a ship that everyone ought to play at some point in their time playing World of Warships. The ship has an interesting playstyle that teaches players the concepts in World of Warships that they will need to master in order to survive at higher tiers, making it excellent for newcomers. Very forgiving, but…

A rarity in World of Warships: a balanced ship that doesn't suck! Florida is a ship that was unexpectedly added to my collection; I have come to cherish the Florida, for it is one of the most reliable ships in my possession. Strong, but not overpowered, requires thinking, but isn't stressful to play, and it produces results. Bottom line is, respect…

In this episode of the Warships Pod, host Iain Ballantyne is joined by two long-time and highly valued contributors to Warships IFR magazine and also to the “Guide to the US Navy.” They are Dr Robert Farley, who currently teaches at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, University of Kentucky and David Axe, a journalist, aut…

What else is there to say about this ship? It is the most played warship in World of Warships; the Bismarck has a legendary status that has outlasted its life in the real world and will likely outlast its life in World of Warships. Nothing comes close. Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFs…

For one of our first listener requests in a long time, we will be doing one of the last remaining Average-Joe battleships: The Andrea Doria. It's not great, it's not bad, it's just good. And there is nothing wrong with that. Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Creative Commons Attr…

Today we are going over the history of the legendary U.S.S. Wisconsin...what more needs to be said? Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Creative Commons Attribution Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-jetfire Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/nrIxa0jbhwE Outro: Ou…

Ah, perfect for Halloween, a ship in a costume! You can't fool us, Wargaming, this is just a cruiser that looks like a destroyer...is it? Oh lord the DPM... Email: rankamateurpodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Intro: Jetfire - Jeff II https://youtu.be/ZbyFsGMjfRg Creative Commons Attribution Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-jetfire Music promote…