ABSTRACT
This chapter explains a British maritime view of the North Atlantic by reflecting on the military priorities, using the lenses of capabilities, platforms, training and experience, command and control and doctrine to understand the changes that have taken place. It does so in a historical context, establishing the normalised view of Cold War activities. The chapter also looks at the subsequent 20 years between 1991 and 2011 as the Royal Navy transformed itself from a force designed for sea-control in the North Atlantic to one that contributes to a wider expeditionary force. The Soviet Union recognised the importance of the Atlantic as well as the High North; it was seen as a critical environment through which it could challenge North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military efforts. The UK armed forces are simply no longer resourced or designed to counter a challenge from Russia, specifically in the North Atlantic.
