***High Speed Sealift***
High-speed sealift capabilities are critical for power projection and quick conflict resolution
Meier 01 [John G. Meier III, Business Library, June 2001, “High-Speed Sealift: Enabling Rapid and Flexible response”, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb076/is_3_57/ai_n28858434/ , DMintz]
For most of the latter half of the 20th Century, our Nation's National Military Strategy has been dominated by the assumptions, expectations, and suspicions of the Cold War, however, during the past decade, the international security environment has undergone drastic change. As we enter the 21st Century, we are faced with a world that is characterized by complexity, instability, and uncertainty. It is a world increasingly characterized by regional tensions, numerous simultaneous crises and contingency situations, and one in which threats to U.S. global interests are widespread and often unpredictable. Within such an environment, the ability to rapidly project force is, and will continue to be, vital to our Nation's ability to promptly, effectively, and successfully support the deployment of forces as directed by the National Command Authorities.
As a potential force projection enabler, it is suggested that emerging high-speed sealift technologies, working in concert with agile ports, could accelerate the movement of high priority cargo (e.g., personnel, equipment, and sustainment) to crisis and conflict locations. As envisioned, high-speed sealift vessels could provide for the rapid movement into, and within, a theater of operations in support of missions requiring the projection, employment, and sustainment of forces across the entire spectrum of military operations -- deterrence, operations other than war, or war. Such a capability would enhance force projection, increase the operational and logistical flexibility of U.S. forces, and hopefully, enable quicker conflict resolution on terms favorable to U.S. interests.
HSS key to Effective Military
High Speed Sealift necessary for an effective military
Meier 01 [John G. Meier III, Business Library, June 2001, “High-Speed Sealift: Enabling Rapid and Flexible response”, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb076/is_3_57/ai_n28858434/ , DMintz]
Introduction
If we do not build a transportation system that can meet our needs tomorrow, then it doesn't matter much what kind of force we have because we won't be able to get it there.
General John M. Shalikashvili
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff [(1993-1997).sup.i]
As U.S. force structure continues to become increasingly reliant on rapid and responsive strategic mobility, the Defense Transportation System (DTS) is forced to respond with ever more sophisticated and complex solutions to address the challenges with which it will be faced in the 21st Century. Capabilities will continue to be required to support force projection and the deployment of forces into, and within, theaters of operations for missions requiring the projection, employment, and sustainment of forces across the entire spectrum of military operations -- deterrence, operations other than war, or war.
As operational concepts continue to evolve, the idea of preempting an adversary's aggressive actions, as opposed to reacting after an opponent has had an opportunity to position significant combat power and establish forces at a position of relative advantage, i.e., to "set", continues to be examined. Emerging operational concepts address the desirability of interdicting an adversary's ability to set and look towards focusing on injecting forces quickly enough to force an adversary to either terminate hostilities or, at a minimum, relinquish the initiative. Such an interdiction ability hinges on the capability to rapidly deliver decisive force at the right time and place.
With the increasing recognition of the importance of rapid force projection capabilities, the purpose of this discussion is not to solve the challenges that will potentially confront the DTS in the 21st Century. Rather, the intent is to introduce an emerging facet of sealift technology -- high-speed sealift (HSS) -- and to impart an awareness of the associated potential that may be presented for enhancing Department of Defense (DOD) force projection operations. As a potential force projection enabler, HSS could provide the responsiveness to deny an adversary critical objectives, while reducing operational risk to U.S. forces and/or interests.
21st Century Security Environment
The security environment in which we live is dynamic and uncertain, replete with numerous challenges. Ethnic conflict and outlaw states threaten stability in many regions of the [world..sup.ii]
For most of the latter half of the 20th Century, our Nation's National Military Strategy has been dominated by the assumptions, expectations, and suspicions of the Cold War. This mindset presumed that the primary threat to the security of the United States would essentially originate from the Soviet Union. U.S. military forces, strategy, and doctrine were postured to respond to a confrontation of alliances led by the United States and the Soviet Union, presumably occurring in Western Europe.
During the past decade, the international security environment has undergone drastic change. With the dissolution of the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, and the subsequent emergence of new threats and uncertainties, we have witnessed a transformation from the bipolar "Old World Order", characterized by the dominance of the U.S. and USSR as world super-powers, to a multipolar, some would argue uni-polar, environment in which the U.S. has emerged as the sole remaining super-power, and finds itself no longer confronted by a "peer-competitor."
The threats to our national security are changing and, as Figure 1 [depicts.sup.iii], we are faced with a world that is characterized by complexity, instability, and uncertainty. It is a world where, although the probability of a major regional or global conflict with a peer, or near peer, competitor (i.e., as was the primary threat during the Cold War) has been significantly reduced, it is one increasingly characterized by a multitude of regional and localized tensions, and one in which threats to U.S. global interests, and thus having the potential for the involvement of U.S. military forces, are widespread and often unpredictable.
Not only are the origins and locations of the threats, to which we may respond, becoming more and more unpredictable, but these changes in the potential threats to our national interests are emerging during a period where we have also witnessed a significant reduction in the number of U.S. forces permanently stationed overseas. As the number of U.S. forces permanently stationed overseas decreases, an enhanced capability to deploy forces abroad is becoming increasingly [important..sup.iv] Credible force [projection.sup.v] is essential in accomplishing the tasks specified by the National Command Authorities, and the ability to rapidly project force is, and will continue to be, vital to our Nation's ability to promptly and effectively response to crises.
The Desire for Speed
We must remember that no force, no weapons system is of any value if it can not be delivered to the battlefield on time.
Lieutenant General James D. Starling Deputy CINC, USTRANSCOM [(l99l-l993).sup.vi]
In response to the dynamic security environment with which we are faced, rapid, flexible, and responsive force projection continues to increase in importance to planners and decision-makers. In response, innovative operational concepts increasingly suggest that high-speed sealift [(HSS).sup.vii] vessels could perform critical maneuver tasks allowing U.S. forces to increase their operational and logistical flexibility. HSS, operating in conjunction with "agile port" [(AP).sup.viii] technologies, could accelerate the movement of high priority cargo (e.g., personnel, unit equipment, and/or sustainment) to crisis and conflict locations, enhancing DOD force projection capabilities and provide for the rapid entry into, and within, a theater of operations in support of missions requiring the projection, employment, and sustainment of forces across the entire spectrum of military operations.
Although the DOD is still very early in the development of any potential future military-specific HSS "requirement" (e.g., a Mission Needs Statement and/or Operational Requirements Document), emerging force projection concepts appear to acknowledge the opportunities associated with, and the desirability of, rapid force projection capabilities. As reflected in Joint Vision 2020, the concepts of strategic preclusion and strategic maneuver, as well as the U.S. Army's recent Vision Statement, the presumed aspirations for such capabilities would enable U.S. forces to rapidly deploy to regions of conflict and/or crisis to immediately conduct operations as directed by the National Command Authorities.
Share with your friends: |
