Coalition Warfare: Implications for the Naval Operational Commander in the Way Ahead

Abstract

The new at National Security Strategy emphasizes that ad hoc hybrid coalitions containing both nations from traditional alliances and nations not bound to us by formal treaties will be increasingly characteristics in future conflicts. Multinational naval forces in these conflicts could be under a unified commander, or as we observed during the Gulf War under their own national control while cooperating with the efforts of other naval forces. Three underlying elements of coalition warfare, which must be considered by the naval operational commander, are analyzed; the political objectives; command and control; and interoperability. Based on these elements, lessons are derived from U.S. Navy participation in both formal alliances and ad hoc coalitions. Implications for the naval operational commander are then examined. Historically interoperability problems have been solved either over time or on the battlefield. COALITION WARFARE, COMBINED NAVAL OPERATIONS, NAVAL OPERATIONAL COMMANDER, ALLIED NAVAL OPERATIONS.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 19, 1992
Accession Number
ADA249883

Entities

People

  • Mark S. Woolley

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Geography
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • Military History
  • National Security
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Vessels (Combatant)
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Second World War
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control