Clearing the Vital Choke Points in the Sea Lines of Communication-Its not just a Navy Problem and Solution.

摘要

This paper is primarily a thought process. Many scholarly works and group efforts have pointed clearly to the abysmal condition of the United States Naval Mine Countermeasures (MCM) both in capability and size. The problems which the U S Navy has in this capability stem from two reasons: first, an historic lack of effort in funding a robust MCM capability, and second, there are limitations in the laws of physics which make detection of mines a difficult process. The purpose of this paper is not to split the arrow which has already landed in the center of the Navy's MCM forces, but to stimulate the reader to not view MCM as the Navy problem. There are no quick solutions to the problems. However, the operational commander who reviews the entire process of mine warfare and its countermeasures has a better chance of employing and assisting a Naval force in dealing with this threat. There are two purposes to this paper-first is to show that MCM operations are not just minesweeping/minehunting; second is to suggest that Army, Air Force, and Marine forces may be very useful in keeping the vital choke points in the Sea Lines Of Communication (SLOC) open against Naval mines.