The Navy and Marine Corps in Regional Conflict in the 21st Century (1996)

The new National Security Strategy concentrates on potential regional conflicts that will often have the following characteristics:

• Sudden onset of crisis requiring rapid deployment of significant and effective forces, possibly over very long distances, with little warning

• Joint and combined military operations involving more than one U.S. Service and involving the United States in coalitions with other nations

• Likelihood that available bases for deployment and initiation of operations ashore will be austere

• The need to be prepared for military opposition to entry of U.S. and allied forces.

Increased emphasis on expeditionary warfare in the “From the Sea” strategy; constitution of battlegroups integrating amphibious and mine countermeasures ships in addition to carriers; surface combatants and submarines; the Marine air-ground task forces, embarked and ashore; and the Maritime Preposition Force, are all designed to fill these national security needs of the future. These forces can meet the need for rapid response and entry into austere bases, but under current plans they are not expected to provide the sustaining capability to rapidly overcome potentially large and capable enemy forces with minimal U.S. and allied casualties. Heavier forces furnished by the other Services, and perhaps other nations, are currently expected to provide the sustaining force and added combat power that may be needed.

A major problem in deploying sustaining forces is their weight and volume. Their heavy weapons (including armor and artillery) and associated equipment will require surface movement, potentially over long distances, to bring substantial and decisive forces into place. A first alternative to the current deployment plan is through research and development, focused on reducing the bulk of these forces. However, it may be two or more decades before significant reductions are achieved.

• Force protection, with special attention, beyond currently ongoing efforts, to

  • Protecting the logistic ships against antiship cruise missiles;

  • Protecting the amphibious force against modern, quiet submarines;

  • Using launch warning and passive protection SOPs against hostile tactical ballistic missiles; and

  • Taking measures to protect against and to sustain operations in case weapons of mass destruction are used.

• Field medicine for forward forces and for OOTW.

• Preparation for coalition warfare.

Finally, and of paramount importance, beyond these specific priorities and affecting all of them profoundly, attention to “jointness” must pervade everything.