Defence Academy Podcasts

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Signals Intelligence Support to the Combined Bombing Offensive 1943-45 – Flash Video

John Stubbington discussed the developments in Bomber Command from the early stages in 1939, the Bomber Command Group, the RAF Y-Service, the BMP reports and the Kingsdown ‘Hook-up’, and how these impacted on operations and target selection. He also covered some of the politics involved. Duration 46 minutes.

Operational Research v Military Judgement: the problem of technical change in the British Infantry, 1943-53 - MP3 Audio

Dr Matthew Ford discusses how technical change made various weapons availble to the British infnatry, and how the final choice was affected by the conflict between military judgement and operational research. The decision was further complicated by the conflicting definitions of the battlespace. Duration 38 minutes.

Rethinking the Battle of Loos, 1915 - MP3 Audio

Dr Nick Lloyd presents extracts from his research into the Battle of Loos, 1915. He gives an alternative interpretation of the available evidence which contradicts the traditionally held views. He has recently published his findings in a book on the subject “LOOS 1915”. Duration 40 minutes.

Military Justice and the Rules of Engagement in an Era of Irregular Conflict - MP3 Audio

Dr Jerold E Brown discusses three primary issues: the rules of engagement in an uncertain and changing battlefield environment ; the role of the media and public perception in defining acceptable and legal behaviour on the part of democratic armies; the impact of the tension between these two conflicting ideas and the ability of modern armies to accomplish their missions in modern warfare. Duration 30 minutes.

Energy Security and Climate Change - MP3 Audio

Prof Phil Hutchinson presents an overview of current received wisdom on Climate Change, and especially Global Warming, from a sceptical viewpoint. It will be shown that global temperatures have not risen since 1998. In contrast it will be argued that the threat to energy security of most industrialized nations, and particularly to the UK, from disruption to oil and gas supplies is much more pressing and worthy of response. UK energy policy will be characterized as Faith, Hope and Charity and unlikely to be an adequate response to near term threats. Duration 70 minutes.

Energy Security and Climate Change - Flash Video

Prof Hutchinson presents an overview of current received wisdom on Climate Change, and especially Global Warming, from a sceptical viewpoint. It will be shown that global temperatures have not risen since 1998. In contrast it will be argued that the threat to energy security of most industrialized nations, and particularly to the UK, from disruption to oil and gas supplies is much more pressing and worthy of response. UK energy policy will be characterized as Faith, Hope and Charity and unlikely to be an adequate response to near term threats. Duration 68 minutes.

Signals Intelligence Support to the Combined Bombing Offensive 1943-45 - MP3 Audio

John Stubbington discussed the developments in Bomber Command from the early stages in 1939, the Bomber Command Group, the RAF Y-Service, the BMP reports and the Kingsdown ‘Hook-up’, and how these impacted on operations and target selection. He also covered some of the politics involved. Duration 46 minutes.

The Nature of Military Medicine - Flash Video

Major General Alan Hawley OBE QHP is the Director General Army Medical Services. His presentation briefly covers how the relationship between medicine and the military has evolved, and the modern perception of military medicine. He discusses the political and ethical implications of using medical capability as a non-kinetic weapon, and the importance of a capability package. Duration 37 minutes.

The Nature of Military Medicine - MP3 Audio

Major General Alan Hawley OBE QHP is the Director General Army Medical Services. His presentation briefly covers how the relationship between medicine and the military has evolved, and the modern perception of military medicine. He discusses the political and ethical implications of using medical capability as a non-kinetic weapon, and the importance of a capability package. Duration 37 minutes.

The Fancies of Fussy Agitators: Establishing the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth - MP3 Audio

Dr Harry Dickinson talks about the historical and diplomatic events that led to the establishment of the Royal Naval College Dartmouth. The presentation includes early photographs and plans of the college. Duration 43 minutes.

Critical Software: the need for a radical solution - MP3 audio

Martyn Thomas discusses why software development projects often overrun, and the problems with existing development process that lead to high error rates. He proposes a better way based on ‘Correct by Construction’ techniques using a more science-based approach to software engineering. Duration 68 minutes.

Security and Risk: mapping the contours of a political economy of risk – MP3 audio

Dr Marc Schelhase covered four aspects of the subject: demystifying the term ‘risk’; conceptualising security; the theory and practice of risk and security; security and risk in context. He used ‘war on terror’ as a case study, and considered the political economy of risk. Duration 29 minutes.

Anti-Communism and White Rhodesian Counter-Insurgency Strategy - MP3 audio

Dr Donal Lowry presented a history of Rhodesia and its transition to independence. He focussed on the pro-British sentiments and anti-communist attitudes that prevailed during this period. Duration 45 minutes.

Wellington’s ‘Command Apprenticeship’: fighting insurgent Dhoondiah - MP3 audio

Dr Huw Davies covers the development of Wellesley’s campaign in India, from its outset when he wanted to be light and fast, the problems he encountered, and the techniques he adopted that led to a successful conclusion. Duration 31 minutes.

Wellington’s ‘Command Apprenticeship’: fighting insurgent Dhoondiah - Flash video

Dr Huw Davies covers the development of Wellesley’s campaign in India, from its outset when he wanted to be light and fast, the problems he encountered, and the techniques he adopted that led to a successful conclusion. Duration 31 minutes.

CU Principal's Lecture 'Humanitarian Resilience' - MP3 audio

A Cranfield Univerity Principal's lecture given by Mr Alastair McAslan, Director, Humanitarian Resilience, and his Deputy, Ms Taz Greyling, whose work on Humanitarian Demining led to Cranfield University being awarded the 2007 Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. Duration 55 minutes

The Amritsar Massacre: Myth and Reality - MP3 audio

Dr Lloyd shares the research he has done in India, particularly the actions of Brigadier General Dyer at Amritsar, and the related unrest in Northern India in spring 1919. Duration 42 minutes.

Killing Civilians - MP3 audio

Dr Hugo Slim talks about his latest book "Killing Civilians" giving the reasons why civilians are killed, and why people do not stop killing civilians. It includes how to create a military machine that tries not to kill civilians. Duration 36 minutes

Russia and the West: A Re-assessment - Flash video

James Sherr discussed the contents of his paper on the subject, focussing on Russia’s new-found power, the culture of power in Russia, Russian values and national identity. Duration 22 minutes.

The Bolshevik Revolution and the North Caucasus, 1917-30: A Clash of Civilizations?

Dr Alex Marshall covers methodology from the cold war and today in the field. He looks at the centuries of defiance of Russian rule, and the Islamic threat to the Soviet state, using Chechnia,1922-25 as a case study. Duration 53 minutes.