READY FOR TODAY – EVOLVING FOR TOMORROW
The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter conducts strike operations while in the Mediterranean Sea.
Littoral Manoeuvre
As well as the carrier strike group,
amphibious task groups (ATG) can
manoeuvre from the rear to the deep
relatively
quickly,
again
covering
approximately 300 nautical miles per
day giving a 600 nautical mile area of
uncertainty for the enemy. Self-sustaining
with its own logistics support and integral
force protection, ATGs can poise at
sea for extended periods of time ready
to strike when called upon by the joint
task force commander. Within NATO,
six countries (France, Italy, Netherlands,
Spain, the UK and US) operate a variety
of specialist amphibious shipping capable
of putting troops, vehicles (anything up
to and including main battle tanks) and
equipment ashore using a variety of
landing craft, amphibious vehicles and
aviation assets during a single period of
darkness.
Whether used during a withdrawal
(Dunkirk), assault (Normandy), raid
(Dieppe), demonstration (Sierra Leone)
or as part of a joint deception plan (Desert
Storm), the amphibious capability is one
that, within the littoral region, should be
considered as a means of affecting the
deep.
“Lying offshore, ready to act, the
presence of ships and Marines
sometimes means much more
than just having air power or ship’s
firepower, when it comes to deterring a
crisis. The ships and Marines may not
have to do anything but lie offshore. It
is hard to lie offshore with a C-141 or
C-130 full of airborne troops.”
Gen. Colin Powell, US Army (Retired)
Into the Deep from the Deep
Whilst we have covered the elements
of what the maritime
component can contribute
to the deep from the
surface, the sub-surface
should
likewise
be
considered. A submarine,
able to penetrate far
into
the
adversary’s
waters, is an ideal
intelligence, surveillance
and
reconnaissance
(ISR) platform. If, as in
the case of a nuclear
powered submarine, it
Royal Marines conduct an amphibious demonstration in Cornwall as
HMS Bulwark floats offshore.
has the potential to remain undetected
for extended periods of time covertly
collecting information, whilst also
monitoring both military and civilian
shipping, it can provide invaluable
assistance in the realm of targeting or
independently strike at the adversary
from the deep.
Australia’s HMAS Rankin cruises out to sea
at periscope depth during Rim of the Pacific
(RIMPAC) 2004.
Conclusion
The future maritime force remains
as flexible and versatile as ever. It
provides a commander with a variety
of tools that can be used effectively in
a land campaign. Whilst modern land
commanders look to the sky for support,
in the right circumstances, they should
also be looking towards the sea for
support to deep operations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lieutenant Scott Sabin is an officer of the
Royal Navy and is currently assigned to
the ARRC’s G2 Maritime cell.
ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS
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