Asset Suitability Assessment in Support of Offensive Mining Operations
Abstract
The naval battlespace in 2023 is more complex, faster evolving, and has a more lethal armament than ever in world history. The U.S. Navy is facing these challenges with a renewed emphasis on fleet lethality, long-range anti-ship cruise missiles, joint operations, and strategic alliances. In keeping with the objective of increasing fleet lethality, the Navy is re-exploring naval mining, something the U.S. Navy has not undertaken since the Vietnam War. This analysis uses discrete event modeling and simulation to assess the suitability of current and potential future naval mine deployment assets the U.S. Navy can use to realize its objective of fleet lethality. Team Trogdor assessed and compared the suitability of a B-52 bomber aircraft, a Littoral Combat Ship, a Virginia-Class submarine, and a Boeing extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle to determine and provide operational commanders and fleet operators with data to support the deployment of naval mines and recommendations for future acquisitions specific to mine warfare. Team Trogdor discovered the need for ships to be added to the nation's arsenal of mine deployment assets to meet the nation's needs ahead of pending hostilities with peer adversaries. This would include manning, training, and equipping the fleet with the capability to deploy naval mines from surface ships. In the words of Dr. Steven Willis of the Center for Maritime Strategy, "Mines are a joint force equalizer that the U.S. can no longer ignore."
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1225353
Entities
People
- Andrew M. Murray
- Grant Rodgers
- Jason P. Pinnow
- John T Holder
- John T. Iv Holder
- Samantha Sperry
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School