The Laughton Unit educates and researches in the field of naval history and maritime strategy to support and shape the evolution of naval history as a tool across a broad spectrum of disciplines and debates in the world around us. The Unit provides the ideal basis for original and challenging research on all aspects of naval history, sea power studies and strategy, preparing the next generation of thinkers from all around the world, ready and able, for a spectrum of career possibilities and destinations.
Under the guidance of the first Laughton Professor of naval history, the unit delivers researchers, scholars and thinkers whose output has impacted a broad spectrum of debates, organisations, governments, industries and armed services around the world. These researchers as civilians or armed services personnel have reached out across a range of topics and fields with the scholarly skills and knowledge they have developed in the unit from Bachelor level through to Masters certification and Doctorates.
The Laughton chair of naval history is designed to continue permeance of naval history in British and global academia but also public life. Read more about the Laughton chair of naval history.
The unit continues to build an intellectual forum for the exchange of ideas across a global audience. By mastering the naval past, both in theory and practice, this provides the idea basis for furthering our knowledge of the past and comprehending the present and future.
To this end, our mission aims to:
- The unit enshrines permeance for the field of naval history and maritime strategy in British academic and public life.
- To understand the central role of naval history in understanding the past, and evolving thinking for present and future national and global challenges.
- Supports the evolution of naval theory in military doctrine and defence policy while furthering debate on maritime strategy to enhance the knowledge of historians, decision makers and defence professionals globally.
It executes this by:
- By recruiting the leading naval historians of the future by providing a rich and diverse approach to the subject that stretches beyond the disciplinary boundaries of history.
- Explore avenues of research that enhance the subject in breadth, depth and context.
- Establish and maintain an international research network for naval history linking British, European, American, Commonwealth and global institutions providing both academic and defence education.
- Expanding the understanding of students as well as civilian and military professionals on the role of naval history in understanding the past, and evolving thinking for the present and future, melding naval and cultural perspectives on the sea as a strategic environment in world history.
- Provide a central forum for intellectual exchange for ideas, theory and research.
- The ‘Laughton-Corbett’ Research Fellow role provides the opportunity for a visiting or permeant research post by a postdoctoral or established academic scholar to be based in the School of Security Studies in which to focus on a research project that has applied history methodology at its core. The research has a naval history or maritime strategic element that advances either topic.
- In partnership for the exchange of ideas, research, students, staff, PME and more with the Historical Section, United States Naval War College.
- Enable research to outreach to the widest possible audiences to engage in debates that the naval and maritime world influences.
- Educate and enhance the scholarly and wider debates at both the individual and group levels through the dissemination of high quality research in the form of lectures, seminar, conference presentations, digital engagement, articles, literature and books.
- Networks the unit and its research with other research networks, centres and forums including collaboration with universities such as Plymouth, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Cambridge and Oxford universities.
- The Laughton Unit collaborates with the Centre for Grand Strategy and Sir Michael Howard Centre For the History of War.
Projects

Maritime Strategy
Utilising the study of history; the development of concepts relating to the art, science and theory of war, the unit researches the theory and practice of maritime strategy.

Naval History
The unit provides the ideal basis for original and challenging research and projects on all aspects of naval history from classic period through to contemporary times.

Corbett 100
Corbett 100 marks the centenary of the death of historian, philosopher of seapower and maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922).

Georgian Papers
In partnership with the Royal Archives, King’s College London is undertaking a major project to digitise and interpret the archives of the Georgian papers held at Windsor Castle. The five-year programme, officially launched by Her Majesty the Queen on 1st April 2015, will digitise some 350,000 pages of original archives, including official and private papers of Britain's Hanoverian monarchs, as well as other members of the Royal Family, politicians, courtiers and the Privy Purse.

First World War at Sea
Studying the First World War at sea is ongoing research at the unit. The Laughton unit marked the centenary of the First World War 1914-1918 [2014-2018] with series of events and lectures.

Naval Wargaming Research
Naval wargaming and research into it, alongside the broader study and practice of wargaming both for naval and maritime research, historical research and use as an educational tool. It regularly hosts wargames and lectures and works in partnership with the King’s Wargaming Network.

Contemporary Naval History Research
Contemporary naval history research advances and promotes historical research into post-1945 naval affairs and maritime strategy. It also includes preserving records and experiences after 1945, such as through oral history. By focusing on this period, it also facilitates this by networking researchers in the field from across the globe.

Maritime Strategy and Space
Maritime Strategy and Space is Dr James WE Smith’s project exploring naval and maritime strategic concepts for space including the future of humanity in space.
Activities

Maritime History Seminars
Our long running series of lectures on maritime and naval history
News
New project will use maritime approach to advance space strategy
A new project supported by the Laughton Unit in the School of Security Studies aims to use maritime strategy to advance understanding of the role of space in...

U.S Naval War College hosts conference with King's on defence and security challenges
Academics from the School of Security Studies in partnership with the U.S Naval War College and Australian Naval Institute, discussed historical questions,...

Events

Rewriting Women into Maritime History: visibilising diverse histories and futures, 1700-2023
Seminar on Women into Maritime History.
Please note: this event has passed.

Interplay of Empires: The Quest for Influence in the Nineteenth-Century Mediterranean
Seminar on the Interplay of Empires.
Please note: this event has passed.

Ship of State? Regionalism and Cold War Soft Power aboard 'Le France'
Seminar on the last ocean liner ‘Le France’.
Please note: this event has passed.

The Ordered Sea: Naval Diplomacy in the Mediterranean, 1815-1911
This presentation will discuss the diplomatic activities of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean during the post-Napoleonic era.
Please note: this event has passed.

The Post-Napoleonic Employment of Former Warships in the British Southern Whale Fishery, 1815-1845
Seminar on The Post-Napoleonic Employment of Former Warships in the British Southern Whale Fishery from 1815-1845.
Please note: this event has passed.
Education
The Laughton Unit supports Bachelors and Masters courses at King’s. It does this by teaching, supporting and maintaining modules on seapower, naval history, maritime strategy and various other related topics as part of War Studies and related courses. Doctoral supervision is also supported by various members of the unit’s staff. Please contact Department Staff about doctoral supervision or visit the main War Studies webpage.
Projects

Maritime Strategy
Utilising the study of history; the development of concepts relating to the art, science and theory of war, the unit researches the theory and practice of maritime strategy.

Naval History
The unit provides the ideal basis for original and challenging research and projects on all aspects of naval history from classic period through to contemporary times.

Corbett 100
Corbett 100 marks the centenary of the death of historian, philosopher of seapower and maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922).

Georgian Papers
In partnership with the Royal Archives, King’s College London is undertaking a major project to digitise and interpret the archives of the Georgian papers held at Windsor Castle. The five-year programme, officially launched by Her Majesty the Queen on 1st April 2015, will digitise some 350,000 pages of original archives, including official and private papers of Britain's Hanoverian monarchs, as well as other members of the Royal Family, politicians, courtiers and the Privy Purse.

First World War at Sea
Studying the First World War at sea is ongoing research at the unit. The Laughton unit marked the centenary of the First World War 1914-1918 [2014-2018] with series of events and lectures.

Naval Wargaming Research
Naval wargaming and research into it, alongside the broader study and practice of wargaming both for naval and maritime research, historical research and use as an educational tool. It regularly hosts wargames and lectures and works in partnership with the King’s Wargaming Network.

Contemporary Naval History Research
Contemporary naval history research advances and promotes historical research into post-1945 naval affairs and maritime strategy. It also includes preserving records and experiences after 1945, such as through oral history. By focusing on this period, it also facilitates this by networking researchers in the field from across the globe.

Maritime Strategy and Space
Maritime Strategy and Space is Dr James WE Smith’s project exploring naval and maritime strategic concepts for space including the future of humanity in space.
Activities

Maritime History Seminars
Our long running series of lectures on maritime and naval history
News
New project will use maritime approach to advance space strategy
A new project supported by the Laughton Unit in the School of Security Studies aims to use maritime strategy to advance understanding of the role of space in...

U.S Naval War College hosts conference with King's on defence and security challenges
Academics from the School of Security Studies in partnership with the U.S Naval War College and Australian Naval Institute, discussed historical questions,...

Events

Rewriting Women into Maritime History: visibilising diverse histories and futures, 1700-2023
Seminar on Women into Maritime History.
Please note: this event has passed.

Interplay of Empires: The Quest for Influence in the Nineteenth-Century Mediterranean
Seminar on the Interplay of Empires.
Please note: this event has passed.

Ship of State? Regionalism and Cold War Soft Power aboard 'Le France'
Seminar on the last ocean liner ‘Le France’.
Please note: this event has passed.

The Ordered Sea: Naval Diplomacy in the Mediterranean, 1815-1911
This presentation will discuss the diplomatic activities of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean during the post-Napoleonic era.
Please note: this event has passed.

The Post-Napoleonic Employment of Former Warships in the British Southern Whale Fishery, 1815-1845
Seminar on The Post-Napoleonic Employment of Former Warships in the British Southern Whale Fishery from 1815-1845.
Please note: this event has passed.
Education
The Laughton Unit supports Bachelors and Masters courses at King’s. It does this by teaching, supporting and maintaining modules on seapower, naval history, maritime strategy and various other related topics as part of War Studies and related courses. Doctoral supervision is also supported by various members of the unit’s staff. Please contact Department Staff about doctoral supervision or visit the main War Studies webpage.
Contact us
Please direct enquiries for the Laughton Naval Unit to:
Laughton Unit
Department of War Studies
King's College London
Strand
London WC2R 2LS
Email: Laughtonunit@kcl.ac.uk
If you wish to contact Professor Andrew Lambert please visit his staff page
Follow us on Twitter: @laughtonunit
Follow us on the War Studies YouTube, Apple Podcast and Soundcloud.