As 2021 comes to an end, let’s look at how this year went for the UK Defence Journal.
I think it went very well for a number of reasons. Here are a few of them…
We've just hit 200,000,000 total page views on the UK Defence Journal website. The website started in January 2014 and it's still growing in October 2021 thanks to all of you! Thanks for putting up with posts about carriers having aircraft and the Clyde building frigates! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/f1B4A7HeS5
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) October 12, 2021
In March, one of our tweets went viral ending up on the national news and in the papers.
Are you a 65,000 tonne Royal Navy aircraft carrier?
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) March 15, 2021
It was a bit of good fun.
40 of the funniest and most brutal comebacks of the yearhttps://t.co/C20Dg9E1ad pic.twitter.com/VT67OaMCxP
— The Poke (@ThePoke) December 31, 2021
In May, we caused a stir on Twitter when we shared an image of French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle sailing with HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, showing the former as being several times smaller than the latter two, with many taking it seriously.
We are pleased to be the first to announce that French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle met up with HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales yesterday. pic.twitter.com/TaDkscJe6J
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) May 20, 2021
In July, we broke the news that a user leaked classified documents relating to the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank in service with the British Army in order to improve the performance of the vehicle in the videogame War Thunder.
A gamer identifying as Challenger 2 commander has posted a classified document online in order to improve the accuracy of the in-game design of the tank in the videogame 'War Thunder'. | @geoallison for @UKDefJournalhttps://t.co/kKKbW3AbDq
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) July 16, 2021
We’ve been cited in Parliament, by think tanks and even in academia. Members of our team have appeared on TV, radio and other formats to discuss current events and we continued to attend industry events and receive invites from the armed forces to have a look at new kit or what it is that they do.
We’ve managed all of this with zero outside funding. We spend our own money on the website, on travel and on any other costs. We’re not a company and we’re not a business, we’re a loose association of writers putting work into the website as and when we have the time to do so. The UK Defence Journal has no affiliation to any party or political group, our members are drawn from across the political spectrum and we’re very proud of that.
Our proudest moment
The UK Defence Journal has been rated by NewsGuard against their high standards of credibility and transparency and received a 100/100 score! Well done to our team and to our readers for giving us the motivation to achieve this. NewsGuard is a journalism and technology tool that rates the credibility of news and information websites and tracks online misinformation.
The organisation describe us in the following way:
“An online publication covering defence industry news in the United Kingdom, including military operations, equipment, and humanitarian work. The site also publishes fact-checks on military topics. This website adheres to all nine of NewsGuard’s standards of credibility and transparency.”
With regards to our credibility, they say:
“UKDefenceJournal.org.uk’s content is generally fact-based and well-sourced, drawing on the site’s own reporting, including interviews with government and military officials and subject-matter experts. Many articles include links to primary sources, such as official Royal Navy twitter accounts and statements by NATO.
Headlines accurately reflect the content. Because UKDefenceJournal.org.uk distinguishes opinion content from news, NewsGuard has determined that the site meets the standard for handling the difference between news and opinion responsibly.”
What’s next?
As said previously, our habit of engaging with people on Twitter intending to ‘troll’ us has to stop and also been reflecting poorly on our image. This will stop.
Many have also pointed out we have a lack of writers, with most of the content being written by three or four people. While we do have a team of close to 10 people, the volunteer nature of submissions means they come in sporadically. To try and fix this, we’ll be putting out more calls for writers from a wide range of backgrounds.
We will remain entirely free, there will be no subscriptions. We do have adverts and those are used to fund the website running costs, they don’t pay our wages as we all have day jobs for that purpose.
Whatever the next year brings, I hope you’ll continue to enjoy what we publish and I sincerely hope that you’ll let me know if you have any suggestions.
Have a Happy New Year all,
George Allison
Thanks for another great year UKDJ – Looking forward to some degree to the next one!
That QEC size gag vs CDG was hillarious!
Certainly got me at the time, thought it looked very small and was about to post that the CDG should have been named the Napoleon class due to it’s small stature lol…then realised the Hawkeyes were smaller than the F35s!
As a newcomer to the site I found it full of info and enjoyed the banter (most of the time) I look forward to 2022 and if you need a radical point of view feel free to let me know. All the best for 2022 for all on the site
I’m an American who enjoys this journal daily. I have no connection to the defense establishment in either nation, but appreciate the straightforward coverage and information you provide. Thank you.
Well done on a great year’s work- is certainly become a daily read of mine ⭐️
A lot of Russian trolls posting on the site
Really?
Don’t forget the turncoats as well!
Just because someone has a silly viewpoint does not a Russian troll make. I talk utter crap all the time and I’m not in anyway troll like or even Russian.
Hi George,
thank you for all the work you do for defence and the NHS
this site is a true voice of reason in the UK on defence matters and you should be very proud of your achievement in making it so.
best wishes to everyone on the site for 2022
Well said. Seconded.
An excellent website, always providing interesting articles and stories. Some excellent commentators as well, providing calm and measured answers.
UKDJ and Navy Lookout are the best UK defence websites full stop and for the same reason. They never knowingly post inaccurate info and if unintentionally they do they apologise.
Too true massive respect to both pages.
I’d also include Thinpinstripedline on the list in its 10th year now and well worth reading.
Forgot the CDG picture. Now wondering if Macron saw the funny side ? It might explain the last few months. 😁
It’s a good defence page, to the point and very little nonsense. Keep it up.
Thank you George to you and the team for all your hard work. You have created an important and increasing;y authoritative resource that has tracted many knowledgable posters who also add greatly to the information available on the site.
Best wishes to all and Happy New Year.
CR
Just been sent this, funny as F. Enjoy and Happy New Year to you all.
Love it…
Well I think you all do a fine job it is interesting to read and even being able to coment on so thank you all and the very best for 2022
A really good 2021 clearly for UKDJ and everyone who enjoys posting on this site or, simply reading the posts!
2022 looks set to be another year with plenty to discuss, so on that note have a happy and prosperous new year to everyone!
Thanks for another year for a top notch site! Keep it coming please. Happy New Year All.
My first post to the UKDJ which I have followed for several years I follow defence geopolitics, UK industry and technology closely
Well done George and the team for well informed articles of high quality with great photos.
The comments made by many of the above and others have been informative and funny at times
Everyone one have a good 2022
The Carlsberg of Defence websites ……👍🏻 Whilst the others offer Kestrel and Skol of which are frequently consumed by the majority of the U.K. armed forces haters who soil this site with their never ending flow of negative shite.
2022 will see further improvements and getting shit together for HM forces 👍🏻
🏴🇬🇧
Well said! Best wishes for the New Year to everyone on UKDJ and everyone in ol 🇬🇧 blighty and the British Armed Forces and the MOD procurement Dept. Get things done in 2022!! NYD greetings from Sydney 🇦🇺
Big thanks to George, god only knows the work he puts in. Happy New Year to all.
Fantastic job. Only website I read every day.
Congratulations to George and his superb team and to (very nearly all) of those who post comments. Even the trolls can be entertainining though. Great comments and banter. I left the army in 2009 – it is good to stay current through UKDJ.
Thanks George lets all have a good 2022 and fun.
Thanks to all the UKDJ writers for last year’s excellent output, George in particular. Wishing all of you a great year ahead in all things.
To George and Team-many thanks for the wonderful UKDJ and all the best from South Africa
Happy new year Geoff!
And to you Klonkie. Lets hope 2022 will be a better year for all of us!
UKDJ is one of my go-too sites every morning!
Huge thanks & appreciation for Gearge & the team providing us with key information on many topics, few of which get into the mainstream news. Thanks too to the serving & ex-military posters who bring such inight to the discussions.
It’s a pleasure to be with you to share and talk about defense and our future, despite our special relationship.
Another year where our politicians will fight.
And another year where our soldiers will work shoulders to shoulders.
France and UK, for the worst and the best.
Happy new year, dear neighbors.
Bonne année
Good job UKDJ, lots to be prou of there! Looking forward to another year of good quality content
Well done UKDJ, feels like the site really took off this year. Onwards and upwards
UKDJ is great apart from the pop up adverts. Usually for things I have already bought (bathroom revamp, Blu-ray player, etc.). Now its showing me ads for ladies underwear. Contrary to popular opinion, I have never clicked on those ads. It probably wouldn’t be safe at my age. Oooh, now I’m getting cyber security & gold bullion ads.
Many thanks to the UKDJ team been reading for a couple of years now. Enjoy some of the info in the comments as well
Hi folks hope all is well and hopefully a happy new year to all.
Many thanks for the best read on defense matters, always a great read, and I value the experts that contribute to my request for more details when requested. Much appreciated!
Take care,
George
One or two reports of Ops at the North Pole that I seemed to push the bounds of credibility, I thought.
a late thank you to Geoff and the Team for your excellent work in 2021. I enjoy getting onto the site every morning. Best wishes from New Zealand.
Happy New year all 😀
Thanks George. Really enjoy the website and all the discussions especially when the people who actually know the answer post.
Now, should those Batch Two Rivers have 6 inch Mk XXIII guns?
Thankyou for all the really interesting articles and time you spend providing content.A good website that allows for proper discussion and debate without the echo chamber effect. One ask would be a few more opinion pieces around geopolitics in both the 20th and 21st centuries as getting people to understand geopolitical tensions and trends is the only way to get them to really get the importance of investing in defence. As one of my favourite authors, Heinlein ( who was a wee bit of a fascist to be honest) but it best: “Anyone who clings to the historically untrue and… Read more »
Probably more impartial than all the papers put together