Influencing the World-Island: A Maritime Strategy for the 21st Century

摘要

Building upon a grand strategy vision of primacy, an analytical perspective of realism, and applying the strategic approaches of top-down, capability/mission, hedging, and technology, a new maritime strategy for the 21st Century has been formulated. This strategy is based upon an offensive littoral capability, an offensive/defensive missile capability, and a sea control, open ocean capability. Concerned only with the venue of surface warships, this paper will not touch on the areas of nuclear or aviation forces that would also constitute part of a maritime strategy. This paper does not intend to propose a specific small ship design or define a specific number of ships needed to satisfy total ships strength. It merely intends to establish the requirement for a new maritime strategy and a corresponding mix of 'high-low' ships needed to accomplish the United States Navy's global commitments within a National Security Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement and within a constrained resource environment.