Protecting the Fleet,
Abstract
The 1970s have seen a continuing debate about the size and structure of the United States Navy's general purpose forces. Some of the issues stem from changes in how the need is perceived. Other issues arise from the sharp increases in costs. But many of the issues arise out of concern about the basic ability of the fleet to perform its functions in the face of ever more capable opposition. This paper considers some of the problems involved in allocating resources to protection of the fleet. It concentrates on the contribution of surveillance, antisubmarine, antiair, and antisurface ship systems to protection of the Navy's main fleets. The paper begins with a discussion of some of the concepts involved in thinking about protection of the fleet, and then examines some of the major changes in technology and forces that have made protection more difficult. The threats to the fleets are described briefly. The discussion then shifts to the problems of protecting the fleet in two kinds of conflict with the Soviet forces -- tactical nuclear war and non-nuclear war. Finally, there is a brief assessment of the problems of protecting the fleet from attack by third-country forces. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA049109
Entities
People
- David Kassing
Organizations
- Center for Naval Analyses