Strategic Mobility and the Decline of the United States Merchant Marine
Abstract
The military strategy of the United States remains heavily dependent on our ability to rapidly deploy and sustain our combat forces in overseas theaters. While sealift must play a prominent role in the strategic mobility equation, our capability in this critical area has steadily declined to the point where it may no longer be able to support our global war plans. Impressive gains in Navy organic sealift have obscured an unprecedented decline in the United States Merchant Marine -- the primary source of sealift to support defense needs in a war or national emergency. This paper analyzes the strategic mobility triad and its components -- strategic airlift, prepositioning, and strategic sealift. It explains the synergy these components must achieve and the important contribution sealift must make to support defense needs. The author then analyzes the factors which collectively have caused the decline in our sealift capability, traces how and why this has occurred, compares sealift requirements and capabilities, and offers both near and long term courses of action to insure we are able to meet defense needs while restoring the United States Merchant Marine to a position of strength and viability. Merchant vessels marine transportation. (edc)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA217326
Entities
People
- Stephen D. Boyce
Organizations
- Air War College