Amphibious Ships and Landing Craft: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Throughout recorded history many nations have incorporated the use of amphibious warfare in support of their strategic interests and objectives. Since this is true of the United States today and is likely to continue into the foreseeable future, this unique type of warfare deserves careful study and development by senior military leaders. This essay looks at one aspect of the complex art of amphibious warfare, the evolution of amphibious vessels. It examines the changes in amphibious ships and landing craft from the invasion of Britain by Julius Caesar in 55-56 B.C. to the present. It highlights significant events and technological advances which affected this evolution up through World War II and Korea. After providing an overview of the capabilities of present day US Navy amphibious craft of the early years of the twenty-first century is made. The essay concludes with a brief discussion of the flexibility and capabilities the future amphibious commander will have at his disposal and the need to being now to develop doctrine for their employment in support of US national interests.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 23, 1987
Accession Number
ADA180729

Entities

People

  • Dale A. Rauch

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Amphibious Operations
  • Amphibious Ships
  • Amphibious Vehicles
  • Army
  • Boats
  • Landing Craft
  • Landing Forces
  • Military Operations
  • Naval Operations
  • Navy
  • Second World War
  • Task Forces
  • Transport Ships
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
  • Strategic Security Studies