Importance of Army Watercraft to the Operational Commander as a Combat Multiplier

摘要

One of the many problems facing the Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander is, how toget the right mix of combat power to the decisive engagement to defeat his opponent; thus allowing the commander the ability to set the terms of battle. Joint Pub 4.01 briefly describes service responsibilities, but fails to clearly lay the course on how to integrate the many varied pieces of the joint puzzle. This responsibility clearly falls on the shoulders of the JTF Commander. The flexibility in the forces readily available to the JTF Commander aren't always evident. A good staff will recommend courses that clearly economizes the best the commander has to bring to the enemy for that decisive encounter and on his terms. The land commander must use the total means at his disposal. Utilizing the principles of mass, economy of force, and surprise are almost always included in this. Logistics are often thought of as that necessary evil or that unglamorous undertaken done by the loggies. Transportation, the spearhead of logistics is often and correctly considered a major limiting factor on the battlefield. This can range from congested Main Supply Routes (MSRs) or simply insufficient transportation lift available to the commander to move supplies, equipment or personnel forward to the battle line. The goal of this paper is to clearly show the reader that Army transportation watercraft assets can be a combat multiplier readily available to project power in the littorals around the world in such a manner as to ensure land force dominance.