The Missing Capability; Conduct of the Amphibious Assault By Avoiding the Beach

Abstract

The design of a mobile barge-type transport platform with elevated CAUSEWAY may increase the forcible entry options along designated segments of enemy coastline that have historically been considered unsuitable for amphibious assaults due to prohibitive hydrographic and topographic characteristics restricting the landing of surface borne assets. The Marine Corps' concept for the projection of Naval power ashore entitled Operational-Maneuver-From-The-Sea (CMFTS) and its supporting concept Ship-To-Objective-Maneuver (STOM) fulfills two critical objectives: First, it provides a vision for innovation in the conduct of the amphibious assault. And second, it serves as an awakening to the Marine Corps that it must reemphasize its historical bond to the Navy by articulating a concept that also compliments the Navy's future vision for the 21st Century as outlined in "Forward From The Sea". Even with the enhanced capabilities of the OMETS Triad family of equipment (e.g. MV-22. AAAV, and ICAC); a significant portion of the combat power of the Landing Force must still move ashore via surface borne assault assets. Before the amphibious capability of the landing force has been increased through speed and mobility, OMFTS does not however fundamentally change the Marine Corps' current doctrinal principles for the conduct of the Amphibious Assault and fails to address the "Ship-To-Shore" dilemma which is dictated by limited capability in equipment to land at areas other than the traditional beach setting.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA491914

Entities

People

  • Robert J. Abblitt

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amphibious Operations
  • Amphibious Vehicles
  • Artillery
  • Command And Control
  • Geography
  • Landing Craft
  • Landing Forces
  • Marine Corps
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Navy
  • Physical Geography
  • Second World War
  • Task Forces
  • Terrain
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.