Accession Number:

AD1085020

Title:

Strategic Shaping Capability of the Amphibious Force: The Case for Capital Ship Status for the Amphibious Fleet

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Master's Thesis]

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE FORT LEAVENWORTH KS

Personal Author(s):

• Geiger, James M. III

Report Date:

2019-06-14

Pagination or Media Count:

92

Abstract:

US Navy amphibious ship shortfalls threaten the ability of maritime forces to meet current and future operational requirements. The post-Cold War era is characterized by a marked increase in the use of Amphibious Ready Groups with embarked Marine Expeditionary Units as the preferred crisis and contingency response force. Despite this trend, resource prioritization to the amphibious fleet is lacking when compared to current capital ship vessel programs. The increasingly contested nature of the global commons places United States power projection capabilities at risk. The current and future operating environment requires capacity that exceeds the amphibious ship inventory. Amphibious forces provide operational flexibility and directly support strategic shaping activities. A renewed focus on modernizing and maintaining the amphibious fleet is required to achieve the objectives outlined in current and emerging operating concepts and support national strategic interests.

Descriptors:

• naval operations
• amphibious operations
• naval warfare
• military applications
• navy
• national security
• warfare
• amphibious ships
• department of defense
• employment
• governments
• humanitarian assistance
• landing craft
• marine transportation
• naval vessels
• combat operations
• congress
• international law
• landing forces
• littoral combat ships

Subject Categories:

• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
• Naval Surface Warfare
• Marine Engineering

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]