The Expeditionary Warfare Group of 2013
Abstract
The Navy and Marine Corps must create an Expeditionary Warfare Group that, in conjunction with an in-theater Marine Expeditionary Brigade, will function as part of a forward numbered fleet in order to fight the single battle of the littorals seamlessly from forward engagement operations through sustained operations ashore. Discussion: Actions in the littorals involve the close cooperation of land, sea, and, more recently, air forces and have been among the most complex of military operations. Often equally as challenging as the enemy and the environment is the resolution of the difficult question of the command and organization of the littoral expeditionary force and its relationship to the larger theater of operations. In the last century, Marines of the interwar period, focusing on the British campaign to force the Dardanelles Straits in 1915, examined the question of the command and organization of an expeditionary force and conceded the right of command to the senior navy officer without much debate. Experience at Guadalcanal in 1942 led to a quick reassessment on the part of Marines that the commander of an Attack Force needed definite limits on his authority so as to limit unwarranted interference in land operations. This resulted in a doctrinal revision that better defined the relationship between the naval task force commander and the landing force commander as being one between equals, with the latter having unrestricted authority over the landing force once it was established ashore. As the 21st century dawns, this relationship has come under increased scrutiny as the Navy and Marine Corps shift their focus from blue water to littoral operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 21, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA514809
Entities
People
- John I. Quinn Ii
Organizations
- Marine Corps University