The Military Sealift Command: One Vital Component of Navy Preparedness,
Abstract
The primary mission of the military sealift command (msc) is to provide sealift for strategic mobility in support of national security objectives. This mission, known as strategic sealift, demands the capacity to deploy and sustain military forces whenever and wherever needed. As rapidly and for as long as operational requirements dictate. This mission is accomplished through the activation of three forces: strategic sealift; the naval fleet auxiliary force, and the special support force. MSC fulfills its mission through the employment of strategic sealift forces from two principal sources. U.S. government-owned ships and the U.S. merchant marine. But government-owned vessels provide only a small part of the necessary sealift capability; as a result, in time of war or national emergency the vast majority must be chartered or requisitioned from the regularly operating U.S.-flag fleet. An ancillary MSC mission is management of naval fleet auxiliary force, comprised of dedicated sealift assets of the MSC force that provide direct support for power protection of navy fleet operations worldwide. Examples are oilers, stores ships, and ocean surveillance ships. A third mission is the operation of a special mission support force, made up of dedicated sealift assets that provide support for specialized scientific and technical missions that provide data required for sea control. Examples are oceanographic research, hydrographic survey, and missile telemetry.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 27, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA168157
Entities
People
- Walter T. Piotti Jr
Organizations
- Military Sealift Command