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By CAPT J. E. O'Neil, Jr., USN
Naval amphibious forces, like aircraft carriers, are sea bases— flexible and independent of foreign soil. Their ships, sailors, and Marines can project a full range of missions ranging from humanitarian assistance, such as that provided during Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh, to the raids, feints, and air support—highlighted by AV-8B Harrier strikes—provided by sea- based amphibious forces in Operation Desert Storm.
All of these evolutions provide models for the employment of amphibious forces during the next 20 years, when the United States will undoubtedly be called upon to employ its vast technological, economic, and military resources to stabilize regional problems affecting its fundamental interests.
Big-deck, aviation-capable amphibious assault ships, such as the Tarawa (LHA-1) and Wasp (LHD-1) classes—and the smaller flagships capable of leading much larger forces, but are also well- suited to conduct single-ship, independent operations.
By 1997, the United States will have five LHAs and five of the newer LHDs. The Wasp-class LHDs cost about $980 million each and thus represent a large part of the Navy’s shipbuilding program; they are a good investment—and they will prove their worth many times during their 40 years of service life.
The fleet commanders and the Chief of Naval Operations view these amphibious forces and the carrier battle groups (CVBGs) as complementary forces. An amphibious operation usually relies on the combat capabilities of the Navy and the Marine Corps, often supported by other U.S. military services and sometimes allied nations.
Most of the world’s economic and geopolitical centers lie relatively close to coastlines. As C. E. Myers, Jr., said in “Back to the Future,” in the November 1990 issue of Proceedings, “A look at the globe reveals that, with a few exceptions (such as the United States, where we made extraordinary investment in transportation infrastructure), the bulk of capital wealth, technological fabric, and urban population centers are located
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r®veedinj>s / February 1992
els and reassessing the missions of the armed services, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact. To match President George Bush's recognition of the evolving new world order, a number of changes to our national military strategy are emerging.
Meeting forward-presence and crisis-response requirements should be a primary element of a new U.S. national military maritime strategy. An amphibious strike task force, comprised of a carrier battle group and an amphibious ready group—with a Marine expeditionary unit capable of special operations—form a balanced force capable of carrying out national military strategy. Our unfolding ship-retirement and shipbuilding plans should be examined carefully to ensure that “ . . .an Amphibious Strike Task Force (I CVBG and 1 ARG/MEU (SOC) could arrive at an area of crisis anywhere in the world in less than 7 days . . . with a second carrier arriving in less than 15 days and a full Marine Expeditionary Brigade in less than 30 days," as Admiral Frank B. Kelso, Chief of Naval Operations, told Congress a year ago.
The United States has this capability today; it must be maintained, to provide a balanced level of maritime readiness and operational flexibility. Many, even in the naval service, are unaware of the exceptional capabilities of amphibious strike task forces.
A Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) can be assembled rapidly to form a special-purpose force deployable by air or sea. Such forces can be drawn from U.S.-based or forward-deployed naval forces. The ARG/MEU(SOC) can provide about 2,800 sailors and Marines with vehicles, cargo, aircraft, and landing craft to conduct routine deployments within current operational tempo guidelines.
The LHA- and LHD-class amphibious assault ships are more complex than the LPHs and are generally scheduled for depot- level overhauls every four and one-half years; the overhauls last 11 months. This cycle contrasts with the much shorter phased- maintenance availabilities traditionally assigned LPHs.
Given these maintenance considerations and a projected force of five LHAs and five LHDs, under current personnel and operational tempo guidelines, there will be only enough big amphibious decks to maintain slightly more than two forward-deployed ARG/MEU(SOCs) by 1997—at a time when the evolving world order will require forward-deployed naval presence. While we will have the requisite number of amphibious ships to meet our total lift goal, we will not have the right number of big decks to lead the forward-deployed amphibious forces.
Completing the Navy’s planned buy of seven Wasp-class ships will give the United States the right amphibious ship mix to maintain forward naval presence and provide a surge capability for crisis response. The amphibious force must be built and maintained around 12 big decks. The first four LHDs are either in commission or under construction—and the option to buy LHD-6 and -7 should be exercised when the contract for LHD-5 is signed.
Captain O’Neil is the Head, Amphibious Requirements Branch (OP- 743) for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Naval Warfare). He has served on two “big decks,” and commanded the USS Harlan County (LST-1196).
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