The Birth and Death of the Fast Deployment Logistics Ship (FDLS): A Case Study of Futility

Abstract

The inability of US strategic mobility resources to rapidly deploy large numbers of land forces and their equipment to overseas battle areas was repeated in World War I and II and the Korean conflict. The lessons learned resulted in acquisition of the viable C-141 and C-5A airlift resources and, in the early 1960's, in the birth of the Fast Deployment Logistics Ship (FDLS) concept. Although the FDLS would have greatly enhanced US strategic sealift capability, it was defeated in Congress. Through a review and analysis of numerous reports of Congressional hearings, and articles published in military and trade journals, the events and pressures which led to the defeat of the FDLS are presented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 28, 1972
Accession Number
AD0764594

Entities

People

  • John L. Jones

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army
  • Army Equipment
  • Case Studies
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Lessons Learned
  • Logistics
  • Military Procurement
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Vessels
  • Navy
  • Shipbuilding
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Oceanography.