Breaking Through the Wall: A Realistic Perspective of the Very Shallow Water (VSW) and Surf Zone (SZ) Mine Threat
Abstract
The ability to project power ashore through amphibious operations is a Navy and Marine Corps core competency that must be maintained in order to allow global response as delineated in the National Security Strategy. Because of the VSW/SZ mine threat, the technological inability to defeat it, amphibious doctrinal rigidity, and "zero acceptable casualties" mentality, the United States has become incapable of projecting power ashore. This limits the available options to the Operational Commander and neutralizes the advantages of strategic and operational mobility inherent in Naval forces. The proliferation and technological simplicity of mines has made VSW/SZ mining an economic flexible deterrent option, against amphibious assault, for third world nations incapable of challenging the United States conventionally. This, coupled with the inability to technologically defeat the threat, necessitates a means of threat mitigation and a flexible approach if the United States intends to maintain the ability to conduct opposed amphibious operations. This impediment has resulted from the rigidity of amphibious doctrine and an aversion to casualties constraining the Operational Commander and relinquishing the initiative to potential adversaries. Technological advances in mine detection and over-the-horizon amphibious vehicles, doctrinal flexibility, and planning at the appropriate level, when coupled with the tenants of Operational Maneuver from the Sea, will provide a means of mitigating the threat to an acceptable level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 08, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA378494
Entities
People
- Edward W. Eidson
Organizations
- Naval War College