As you can see, stories on the Russia-Ukraine war by regular Naval News contributor H I Sutton dominated our top 10 this year. But stories on China’s aircraft carrier and new submarine made the top 10. Russia’s Belgorod submarine and Ukraine’s kamikaze USV attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet ships in Sevaspotol Base were by far the most popular stories we published this year…
#10 – China’s New Submarine Is Unlike Anything In Western Navies – 624,080 pageviews
By H I Sutton
The U.S. Navy only operates nuclear-powered submarines. China meanwhile never stopped operating conventional submarines even though they are less capable. This has advantages and disadvantages. But a new submarine pushes this difference further. It is much smaller than those used by other leading navies.
#9 – Why Ukraine’s Remarkable Attack On Sevastopol Will Go Down In History – 660,233 pageviews
By H I Sutton
The sinking of the Russian cruiser Moskva is one of the greatest naval victories in decades, and will deserve its place in history. But the attack on Sevastopol, with maritime drones, can be seen as a bigger deal in the long term. It had a dramatic effect on the Russian Navy. Here is why it may have an effect on navies around the world.
#8 – Russia’s Most Powerful Warship In The Black Sea Is Operating In A Pattern – 678,614 pageviews
By H I Sutton
The Ukrainian Navy was no match for the massive concentration of Russian naval forces in the Black Sea. Yet Russia’s most impressive warship there, the Slava class cruiser Moskva, has mostly remained out of sight. We can shine a light on what she has been up to so far in the war.
#7 – U.S. Navy Conducts Historic Test Of New Laser Weapon System – 732,836 pageviews
By Naval News Staff
During an Office of Naval Research (ONR) test, an all-electric, high-energy laser weapon was used to defeat a target representing a subsonic cruise missile in flight. The Layered Laser Defense (LLD) weapon was designed and built by Lockheed Martin to serve as a multi-domain, multi-platform demonstration system.
#6 – U.S. Navy, China And France’s Future Aircraft Carriers Compared – 876,858 pageviews
By H I Sutton
The future of aircraft carriers is assured. Tomorrow’s oceans will be more complex and contested, with new threats emerging. Yet the carrier will continue to provide unrivaled conventional superiority to the few navies which can operate them. Only the United States, China and France are building the largest and most capable category of carriers, the Super Carrier.
#5 – How The Russian Navy Is Losing Dominance: The Curse Of Snake Island – 881,240 pageviews
By H I Sutton
One of Russia’s first moves in its invasion of Ukraine was the capture of Snake Island. Two months later they are desperately struggling to keep it. This is a sign of their weakening dominance over the Northern Black Sea.
#4 – Ukrainian Navy Ship In Dramatic Escape, Survives Russian Artillery Attack – 1,088,024 pageviews
By H I Sutton
The Ukrainian Navy is, on paper, outgunned. But its remaining warships are proving a wily adversary for the much larger Russian Navy. New drone footage shows one, the Yuri Olefirenk, narrowly escaping a massive artillery barrage on June 3.
#3 – Satellite Image Pinpoints Russian Cruiser Moskva As She Burned – 1,117,179 pageviews
By H I Sutton
Analysis of radar satellite imagery has revealed the location of the Moskva soon after she was reportedly hit by 2 missiles. The Russian Navy cruiser was the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet and is a symbolic as well as naval loss for Russia.
#2 – Ukraine’s New Weapon To Strike Russian Navy In Sevastopol – 1,495,675 pageviews
By H I Sutton
A previously unreported drone boat, known as a USV (uncrewed surface vessel), appears to have slipped past Russian Navy patrols. The device was found on a beach close to the major Russian Navy base of Sevastopol in Crimea.
#1 – New Images Reveal Russia’s ‘Missing’ Submarine Belgorod In Arctic – 1,594,893 pageviews
By H I Sutton
Media hype claims that a unique Russian submarine, the Belgorod, has ‘vanished’. This may be exaggerated. Naval News can share images of the submarine operating on the surface in the Arctic.
