Resurrecting the Monitor: A Littoral Imperative
Abstract
The U.S. Marine Corps is experimenting with an operational concept titled "Operational Maneuver from the Sea" (OMFTS) as a way to maintain the capability to project power ashore against all forces of resistance. One recurring tenet of OMFTS is sea-based logistics. Sea-basing logistics eliminates the traditional build-up of supplies and equipment ashore and much of the force that is required to protect the supply depot and the supply routes to the supported ground units. This paper explores the implied mission that OMFTS has for the U.S. Navy: the security of the sea lines of communication between the forward edge of the sea echelon area and the beach against all forms of resistance. This is a critical mission because the landing craft required for over-the-horizon assaults are a critical vulnerability of the OMFTS force. While the U.S. Navy has the most powerful blue-water fleet in the world, that fleet does not have the correct tools and operational concepts to perform that security mission without sacrificing operational flexibility. This paper proposes that the U.S. Navy build a class of ship specifically designed to operate close to hostile shores where it can ensure the security of sea lines of communication without the assistance of the more powerful assets of the blue-water fleet. The "monitors" that served with distinction in World Wars I and II were great examples of affordable, low-profile, armored vessels that possessed substantial firepower and were specifically designed to operate in the dangerous littorals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 18, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA529637
Entities
People
- John P. Looney
Organizations
- Marine Corps University