Maximum Flexibility: Enhancing the Operational Employment of High Speed Sealift

摘要

The recent introduction of High Speed Vessels (HSV) into military service is the most exciting thing to happen to the surface fleet since the introduction of the Aegis radar system. Already, the performance of the HSV-1X Joint Venture and similar ships during Operation Iraqi Freedom has made many stand up and take notice of the capabilities these vessels bring to the warfighter. The Joint Task Force Commander will likely have these assets available for the next major operation. However, the services have differing views on how to employ them in an operational role. The Department of Defense needs to take a joint approach for a multi-mission solution. The best way to employ the HSV in an operation is to place all vessels under control of the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC) and modify the JFMCC staff to enable the robust and dynamic cross-component utilization of a very limited asset.