Riverine Force -- A Vital Navy Capability for the Joint Force Commander

Rivers and other restricted waters present a crucial capability gap for the U.S. Military in prosecuting the Global War on Terrorism GWOT. Throughout history, the U.S. Navy has used riverine forces successfully. The U.S. Navy should develop and maintain a robust riverine capability for the Combatant Commanders use. Not only would a riverine force provide a vital capability to the warfighting headquarters, it would increase the relevancy of the U.S. Navy in the GWOT, and prepare the U.S. Military to deal with further asymmetric threats along the worlds inland waterways. The Navy is the correct service to provide this operational capability because the tactical tasks to be performed by this force are essentially naval in character the Navy is the least employed military service in the GWOT and the Navys history, tradition, and culture make it the best-suited service to provide these forces. The joint community also must actively support the creation and implementation of this force to enable the U.S. Military to dominate this vital terrain. The purpose of this paper is to study the historical precedent for this force, examine the current operating environment in Iraq in light of existing limited riverine capabilities, and discuss future opportunities for riverine employment. The primary historical foci of the paper will be on the Civil War, the Vietnam War, and the British Campaign in Mesopotamia during World War I. Finally, the paper will make recommendations on riverine force capabilities, riverine doctrine, and areas that require further study.