Welcome
Welcome to my website, created to store and make available some of the data and material I have accumulated during my research into naval arms control.
Since 2004, I have focused on research into the interwar naval arms control process and the interactions between that process and naval strategy, naval architecture and force structure. This research, which has included extensive review of archival material in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Australia and New Zealand, formed the basis of the PhD thesis that I completed at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
My current major project is the conversion of that thesis into a book for publication.
About Dr David Chessum
I served for 23 years as a Weapon Engineering Officer in the Royal New Zealand Navy, including two tours of duty as a Head of Department on Leander class frigates, and attendance at the Australian Command and Staff College in Canberra.
Since leaving the Royal New Zealand Navy, I have been employed as a Chartered Professional Engineer in both consulting and Government roles, with a key focus on naval engineering and system safety.
I am an active member of the Naval Historical Society of Australia and the International Naval Research Organisation. I also volunteer at both the Nepean Naval Museum and the Australian National Maritime Museum, where I serve as a tour guide aboard ex-HMAS Vampire and ex-HMAS Onslow.
In addition, I am a Museum Ship Ambassador for MuseumShips.us, with responsibility for Asian and Australian museum ships.
Explore the Website
Naval Arms Control Document Archive
Treaties, conference documents, Admiralty publications, Command Papers, Navy Lists and other historical documents.
Explore the Archive →Publications and Presentations
Published articles, papers and presentations.
View Publications →Tables
Research data and reference tables relating to warship construction, treaty limits, naval weapons and warship transfers.
View Tables →Links
A collection of links to useful archives, libraries, museums, naval organisations, databases and research resources.
Explore Links →Library
Lists of books, journal holdings, academic theses and journal articles held within my research collection.
Browse the Library →Museum Ship Reports
Reports on museum ships, naval museums and other naval heritage sites visited around the world.
View Reports →Second-Hand Warship Export Case Studies
Research into interwar proposals, negotiations and completed transfers involving second-hand warships.
View Case Studies →Contact
For further information on any of the material posted on this site, to point out errors or corrections, or for anyone genuinely interested in the naval history of interwar naval arms control, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Contact Details
- Email: Djc92@optusnet.com.au
- Telephone: +61 410 172 741
- Facebook: Facebook
- LinkedIn: Dr David Chessum