Page 43 - NAVAL FORCES 03/2017

Expeditionary Warfare

Features

The Mark 45 5in/62 naval gun is standard
armament on warships of 11 navies and has a full
range of ammunition suitable for surface, air, and
land targets. It has been the mainstay for the US
Stephen W. Miller Navy since 1971 and is based on the prior 5in/54.
(All photos via author unless otherwise noted)
Surface Fire Support

The objective of expeditionary landing have jeopardised the survivability of their war- would include airfields, anti-ship missile sites,
forces is to project power from the sea ships if employed in traditional manners near surface-to-surface missiles, air defences and
and establish a physical presence on land. Without naval fire support, expedition- command facilities. It would be undertaken
ary operations are likely untenable. What are
by attack aircraft, ships and even submarines
land. Doing so entails building com- today’s capabilities and how might new tech- employing long-range standoff land attack
bat capability on land from zero. This nologies solve the concerns of both sailor and missiles and other ordnance. This phase may
also means the landing force must rely soldier or marine? also seek isolation of the landing area by
on fire support from ships at sea. A destroying bridges and communications net-
look at effective fire support by war- Expeditionary works. Care needs to be taken so as to not
ships critical to the success or failure Fire Support Tasks reveal the location of the proposed landing site
of landing operations. or to hamper ground manoeuvre once ashore.
Providing long-range destructive fire in As ships near the designated landing areas,
ground combat is the job of the artillery. The effort shifts to neutralising immediate threats
expeditionary force must rely on naval assets to the landing force elements offshore and
In the past guns dominated warship arma- to provide this same support, at least until it as they approach the beach. Precision guided
ment. This changed in the 1960s with an em- can establish itself and move its own guns ordnance can be highly effective at this stage.
phasis towards missiles. Warships once had ashore. Even then ship-based support can still
6-8 heavy calibre cannon but now have one. be critical. The US Marines in their prin ciples
Given the historical importance of naval fire for successful amphibious expe ditionary oper- Stephen Miller
is a former US Marine and defence industry
support, those tasked with executing land- ations in the 1930s identified effective naval executive. He has led major ground, air and
ings have been concerned to ensure adequate gunfire support as high on the list. Initially, naval military and security programmes in 24
capabilities exist to provide the necessary the naval force conducts pre-landing bom- countries. His hands–on operational, system
development, acquisition and field support ex-
support. At the same time, naval commanders bardment designed to destroy targets that perience provides a unique perspective on their
are worried that long-range anti-ship missiles would threaten the approaching ships. This critical connection.
NAVAL FORCES III/2017 41