Operational Maneuver from the Sea : A Logistical Perspective

摘要

During World War II, Marines suffered heavy casualties in seizing and defending sections of coastline as a necessary precursor for subsequent operations ashore. Today, the Corps' leaders are facing new challenges to forcible entry across the world's littorals. The toughest likely adversaries are evenly matched or numerically superior. They are typically Soviet trained and equipped, combined armed anti-landing defense forces under the operational control of a single operational commander who can employ the full range of state-of-the-art weaponry. Shallow water mines, precision-guided munitions, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction present lethal threats to the amphibious task force (ATF), while the landing force (LF) also faces highly mobile mechanized and armored forces using Soviet anti-landing doctrine. Proceeding on the assumption that our potential adversaries will possess such capabilities, and that their command and control systems are sufficiently competent to put them to use in threatening our vital interests, the Marine Corps has once again attempted to rise to the occasion with a counter to these new threats. In March, 1991, the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, signed off on the Over-the-Horizon (OTH) Amphibious Operations Operational Concept. The OTH Concept provides the Marine Corps concept for amphibious operations for the years 2000-2010. Building on current amphibious doctrine, it provides the basis for determining requirements for new or revised amphibious assault doctrine, structure, training, and equipment for the next 20 years.