Themes and Types of Amphibious Operations

1. Themes and Types of Amphibious Operations Amphibious Warfare Naval Science 312

2. What is an Amphibious Operation? • “An amphibious operation is a military operation launched from the sea by an amphibious force, embarked in ships or craft with the primary purpose of introducing a landing force (LF) ashore to accomplish the assigned mission.” - Joint Publication 3-02

3. Strengths and Capabilities of Amphibious Warfare • Strategic mobility and flexibility • Strike at a point of choosing • Projection of power ashore • Forcible entry

4. Limitations of Amphibious Warfare • Initially vulnerable • Natural Hazards • Environmental Conditions • Sea • Terrain • Climate • Complexity

5. Themes of Amphibious Operations

6. Problems of the Tadpole • Limited and temporary ability for: • a naval force to project influence over land. • a ground force to project influence over the sea. • Transformation • Vulnerable time for the landing force • Reduce vulnerability with a rapid build up of combat power ashore.

7. The landing itself is rarely the key problem • Most attackers have succeeded getting ashore. • Defenders are rarely able to cover an entire shoreline • Objective of amphibious planners to choose a landing site of minimal resistance.

8. The problems of command • Amphibious Operations incorporate: • Naval Warfare, with • Land Warfare • The complexity of each type of warfare today necessitates a separate commander for each. • Commander Amphibious Task Force (CATF) • Commander Landing Force (CLF)

9. The amphibious invasion is a means to an end, not an end to itself • The landing is a prerequisite for accomplishing a subsequent ground mission. • The ground mission should drive the amphibious planning (not vice versa). • Historical examples of planners becoming so concerned with getting ashore, that they give little or no thought to what to do when they got there. • Roanoke Island in 1862 and Fort Fisher in 1864

10. The influence of terrain and geography • Only certain portions of the world’s coastlines are assailable by amphibious forces. • Dictates if and where a landing can be made • Influences the attacker’s & defender’s plans • Has spurred the development of some specialized amphibious equipment

11. The amphibious operation as a form of envelopment • Maneuver • Turning the enemy’s flank by sea to gain an advantageous position. • Flexibility • “Amphibious flexibility is the greatest strategic asset that a sea power possesses.” -B.H. Liddell, Marines and Strategy, p. 31 • Strategic Envelopment (i.e. Gallipoli) • Operational Envelopment (i.e. Inchon)

12. The inherent chaotic and decentralized nature of landings • Amphibious Operations by nature: • Have many moving parts • Have inherent friction • Are a small unit action • Direct control limited to each landing craft • Small unit leadership and initiative are imperative to success. • Higher level commanders can’t assume control of the land fight until landing forces begin to organize ashore.

13. The development of amphibious technology and techniques • Amphibious operations are specialized and complex. • Requires specialized amphibious: • Equipment • Vehicles, landing craft, defensive obstacles • Tactics and Techniques • Naval Gun Fire Support

14. Problems of the Tadpole The landing itself is rarely the key problem The problems of command The amphibious invasion is a means to an end, not an end to itself The influence of terrain and geography The amphibious operation as a form of envelopment The inherent chaotic and decentralized nature of landings The development of amphibious technology and techniques Themes of Amphibious Operations

15. Five Types of Amphibious Operations • Amphibious Assault • Amphibious Demonstration • Amphibious Withdrawal • Amphibious Raid • Other Amphibious Operations • DRAWO == DRAWD

16. Amphibious Assault “…an attack launched from the sea by naval and landing forces embarked in ships or craft involving a landing on a hostile shore” - Joint Publication 1-02 • Purpose • Prosecute further combat operations • Obtain a site for an advance naval or air base • Deny the use of an area or facility to the enemy. • Fix enemy forces or attention. • May be an opposed or unopposed landing

17. Amphibious Demonstration • Deceive the enemy with a show of force • A form of deception • Cause the enemy to react or commit forces without actually landing • Example: 4th MEB in Desert Storm

18. Amphibious Withdrawal • Withdraw forces from a hostile shore for tactical or operational reasons. • May be an opposed or unopposed withdrawal. • Example: Inchon

19. Amphibious Raid • An amphibious assault with a planned withdrawal • Typically short in duration with the intent on inflicting damage, securing information/intelligence, creating a diversion, or capturing/rescuing individuals or materials. • Example: MEU(SOC)

20. Other Amphibious Operations • Using the capabilities of an amphibious force for military operations other than war (MOOTW) • Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) • Foreign Humanitarian Assistance (FHA)

21. PHASES of an Amphibious Operation • Planning • Embarkation • Rehearsals • Movement • Action PERMA

22. QUESTIONS? Know phases, types and themes. Think about in terms and application of MCDP1.