Accessibility of Continental Sub-Saharan Africa and Southwest Asia Ports toAfloat Prepositioning Force Ships, Maritime Prepositioning Force Ships, and Ready

摘要

This review examines accessibility of Sub-Saharan Africa and Southwest Asia portsto APS,MPS and RRF ships, reviews LOTS systems, and examines theater logistics planning issues regarding access via unimproved sites when improved ports are not available. The data show that commanders must give careful consideration to both which ports will be able to provide logistics support and which specific ships will be able to serve the ports(s) selected and must consider the use of LOTS for theater sustainment as a distinct possibility. LOTS planning issues discussed include the relationship to amphibious operations, beach survey, timeliness, priority of LOTS system movement, alternatives to LOTS priority sealift, availability of the right types of equipment in theater, and factors limiting LOTS operations. This review provides a jumping off point for more detailed examination of individual ships versus ports. It indicates the magnitude of the port access problem but does not attempt to solve it for each situation. Similarly, no attempt has been made to detail LOTS transfer ratios, etc. This review focuses on issues with which theater commanders must concern themselves in order to determine the overall level of effort necessary to logistically support their operations. Port access, LOTS, MPS, APS, RRF, Southwest Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa.