Sustaining the Single Naval Battle: Enhancing USMC Expeditionary Logistics with the Addition of the Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) Auxiliary Dry Cargo / Ammunition Ships (T-AKES)

摘要

The selective employment of the MPF T-AKEs to provide sea-based sustainment for amphibious operations is one way for the Department of the Navy (DoN) to address the shift in the national military strategy towards the Asia Pacific Region while optimizing the amount of forward positioned equipment and supplies afloat. This would be taking a big step towards operationalizing the MPF for steady-state requirements c;tnd shattering the 'break glass in time of war' perception of the MPF. Beginning in July 2012 the DoN will incorporate the first of two T-AKEs into the Marine Corps prepositioning program. The T-AKEs will contribute to the prepositioning of Marine Expeditionary Brigades by providing selectively offloadable sea-based sustainment to forces afloat and ashore. The ships' ability to distribute and restock underway brings a new capability to the MPF which should also be employed to augment the concept of sustainment for amphibious operations. By incorporating the T-AKE into amphibious operations the DoN could relieve some pressure from the task saturated lover-embarked amhibious fleet and further justify the utility of the MPF.