Iain Ballantyne - Editor, Author & Scriptwriter
Welcome to the web site of : Iain BallantyneAuthor of naval history books, magazine editor and scriptwriter.
He is grateful for the opportunity to tell you a little more about himself and his work. |
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A former newspaper journalist, my experiences covering naval operations around the world have given me insight into the character and methods of navies, informing all of my books. On this web site I provide you with just a taste of my work.
For example, covering British and allied maritime forces on the front line in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1990/91 provided much material for ‘Strike From the Sea’, as well as a visit to HMS Invincible in the northern Gulf to report on Sea Harriers flying against Saddam’s SAMs (in 1999). Time spent with coalition forces in the desert and in the Arabian Sea, as cruise missiles were launched against terrorist targets in Afghanistan (in 2001), also delivered material for the same book.
As the Cold War came to a close in 1991 I was fortunate enough to sail in the frigate HMS London, on a historic voyage to bastions of the Soviet Navy in the Kola Peninsula and White Sea, a journey covered in a chapter of ‘HMS London’. My time spent aboard various warships in the Adriatic in the period 1992 – 1994 also infused a chapter in ‘HMS London’.
Having met many veterans of the Second World War during my career as a journalist, I have been honoured to record their amazing deeds in books such as ‘Warspite: From Jutland Hero to Cold War Warrior’ (new to paperback in 2010) and ‘HMS Rodney’, not forgetting ‘HMS London’. Putting together ‘HMS Rodney’ – in some ways the forgotten battleship of the Second World War - took four years and involved fresh eyewitness accounts from surviving veterans around the world.
The extraordinary influence of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson – considered by many to be the world’s greatest naval hero – was hopefully conveyed in ’HMS Victory’, which I produced in co-operation with Jonathan Eastland in 2005, the 200th anniversary year of the Battle of Trafalgar. Jonathan and I were able to embark in modern naval vessels to witness the spectacular Trafalgar 200 International Fleet Review in the Solent, proving further inspiration, if any was needed, to complete the book in time to mark the anniversary of the most spectacular sea fight in the Age of Sail. We have been working together this autumn to produce a follow-on book, ‘HMS Victory: First-Rate’, which we hope will act as a worthwhile companion to the earlier title.
Today, in addition to being Editor of the monthly naval news magazine ‘WARSHIPS International Fleet Review’, I continue to write on naval affairs for newspapers and magazines, as well as making appearances on TV and radio shows as a pundit.
I was deeply honoured to be presented with a national award for my latest book, ‘Killing the Bismarck’ this October, by the Maritime Foundation, which was proof that my attempt to throw new light on a well known episode in naval history just might have succeeded, in so doing ensuring the valiant deeds of the Royal Navy are not forgotten.
Over the next few months I hope to provide you with news of fresh developments on my fledgling video venture 112 Productions, as well as possibly revealing new aspects of my creative output, some of which may even surprise you. Writers, like navies, never stop evolving.