Category Archives: Podcast

Main podcast series of CIMSEC.

Bilge Pumps 14: The Future of the Escort Fleet with Special Guest CDR Salamander

By Alex Clarke

We’ve made it to Episode 14 and no Russian ships have broken apart on us, although apparently their floating docks are now their biggest threat, and we did warn them in Episode 13. Well, as that is the norm, here is Bilge Pumps as we three regular naval geeks of easy listening disposition do call it.

Today we are joined by the highly esteemed CDR Salamander for a two-part show that can best be described as what would happen if you sat four naval history geeks down in a room and gave them endless drinks, snacks, and told them to fix what was wrong with navies today. Although, we’re not in the same room, not even the same time zone, and definitely not the same continent. Alongside our love of naval history, one of us boxes with springy creatures and fights daily battles with ravenous wildlife, another builds model railways, the third’s Australian, and the special guest hobby farms something the size of most UK dairy farms.

So after all that what is Episode 14 about? Well the #Bilgepumps team is being topical, so the Chinese fleet is massive, ever growing more as an employment mechanism than a sensible strategy, but how does the west counter that? CDR Salamander joins us to help divine the answer.

#Bilgepumps is a still newish series and new avenue, although it may no longer have the new car smell, in fact more of pineapple and irn bru smell, with the faint whiff of cork, but we’re getting the impression it’s liked. So we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork tweeted to us the Bilge Pumps crew (with #Bilgepump) at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below).

Download Bilge Pumps 14: The Future of the Escort Fleet with Special Guest Cdr Salamander, Part 1


Download Bilge Pumps 14: The Future of the Escort Fleet with Special Guest Cdr Salamander, Part 2

Links

Alex Clarke is the producer of The Bilge Pumps podcast.

Contact the CIMSEC podcast team at Seacontrol@cimsec.org.

Sea Control 198 – Australian Amphibious Capabilities with COL Kim Gilfillan

By Jared Samuelson

The Royal Australian Army’s Commander Landing Force, COL Kim Gilfillan, joins the program to discuss Australian amphibious capabilities, including a deep dive into the history of Australian amphibious operations, and the evolution of Australian amphibious doctrine. We also discuss balancing relationships with the Royal Army, U.S. Army, and U.S. Marine Corps, how the Australian Army generates its forces, and more!

Download Sea Control 198 – Australian Amphibious Capabilities with COL Kim Gilfillan

Links

1. “Force from the Sea: Australia’s Amphibious Capability – An Update,” by Kim Gilfillan, The Cove, July 3, 2020.
2. The Cove
3. Strategic Update 2020
4. 2016 Defence White Paper
5. “Amphibious Operations and the Evolution of Australian Defense Policy,” by Peter J. Dean, Naval War College Review, Fall 2014.

Jared Samuelson is the Senior Producer of the Sea Control Podcast. Contact him at seacontrol@cimsec.org.

Bilge Pumps 13 – Is 13 Lucky or Unlucky, Frankenstein Ships, and More

By Alex Clarke

By golly gumdrops it is Episode 13! Where has time gone? And you are still listening to us? Well, as that is the case, here is Bilge Pumps, as we three regular naval geeks of easy listening disposition do call it. It is a show that can best be described as what would happen if you sat three naval history geeks down in a room and gave them endless drinks and snacks, although we are not in the same room, not even the same time zone, and definitely not the same continent. In addition to our love of naval history, one of us boxes with springy creatures and fights daily battles with ravenous wildlife, another builds model railways, and the third is Australian.

So, what is Episode 13 about? Well the #Bilgepumps team is being topical, so of course it is mostly about it being Episode 13 and what that number means to us, why sailors are superstitious, and why the Russians should be really careful where they build ships.

#Bilgepumps is a new series and new avenue, although it may no longer have the new car smell, in fact more of pineapple/irn bru smell, with the faint whiff of cork– but we are getting the impression it is liked, so we’d very much like any comments, topic suggestions or ideas for artwork. Please either tweet them to us the Bilgepump crew (with #Bilgepump) at Alex (@AC_NavalHistory), Drach (@Drachinifel), and Jamie (@Armouredcarrier). Or you can comment on our Youtube channels (listed down below). 

Download Bilge Pumps 13 – Is 13 Lucky or Unlucky, Frankenstein Ships, and More

Links

Alex Clarke is the producer of The Bilge Pumps podcast.

Contact the CIMSEC podcast team at Seacontrol@cimsec.org

Sea Control 197 – Naval Great Power Competition with Dr. Joshua Tallis and Hunter Stires

By Jared Samuelson

Dr. Josh Tallis and Hunter Stires join the podcast to discuss three of their recent pieces focused on naval great power competition, the benefit of smaller combatants, fleet structure, conflict below the level of war, multiple theories about Chinese strategy, and more!

Download Sea Control 197 – Naval Great Power Competition with Dr. Joshua Tallis and Hunter Stires

Links

1. “To Compete with Russia and China, Think Small,” by Dr. Joshua Tallis, Defense One, May 12, 2020.
2. “Win Without Fighting,” by Hunter Stires, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, June 2020.
3. “How Good Order at Sea is Central to Winning Strategic Competition,” by Dr. Joshua Tallis, CIMSEC, August 12, 2020.

Jared Samuelson is the Senior Producer of the Sea Control Podcast. Contact him at seacontrol@cimsec.org.