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| Naval Expeditionary Warfare | |
|---|---|
| Name | Naval Expeditionary Warfare |
| Caption | Expeditionary landing craft off a littoral operation |
Naval Expeditionary Warfare
Naval Expeditionary Warfare encompasses maritime forces projecting power ashore through United States Marine Corps, Royal Marines, Russian Naval Infantry, People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps, Imperial Japanese Navy-era concepts and modern expeditionary units such as Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Fleet Marine Force and amphibious task forces. It links expeditionary operations executed by surface combatants, amphibious shipping, aviation assets and special operations elements associated with theaters exemplified by Pacific Theater of World War II, the Gulf War, the Falklands War and the Suez Crisis. Practitioners integrate capabilities from services including United States Navy, Royal Navy, French Navy, Spanish Navy and multilateral coalitions like NATO and Combined Joint Task Force constructs.
Naval Expeditionary Warfare describes forcible entry, littoral maneuver, raids, and presence operations conducted by expeditionary forces such as United States Marine Corps, Royal Marines, Korean Marine Corps, Brazilian Marine Corps, Hellenic Navy marine detachments and naval infantry elements like Guards Naval Infantry of Russia. It covers platforms from amphibious assault ship classes (e.g., Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, Juan Carlos I) to landing craft including LCAC and LCVP and integrates aviation from AV-8B Harrier II and F-35B Lightning II to tiltrotors like Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey. Expeditionary concepts draw on doctrine from institutions such as United States Naval War College, Royal United Services Institute and publications like Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication 1.
Origins trace to amphibious operations like Gallipoli Campaign and colonial expeditions by Royal Navy during the Age of Sail, evolving through innovations in World War I and World War II with campaigns such as Normandy landings, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal Campaign. Cold War developments included doctrines from Soviet Navy and United States Maritime Strategy with technologies like hovercraft and vertical/short takeoff and landing aviation influencing operations in events such as the Falklands War and Vietnam War. Post-Cold War expeditionary engagements expanded during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, while humanitarian and non-combatant evacuation operations have occurred in contexts like Operation Unified Assistance and Operation Tomodachi.
Expeditionary forces are organized into formation types such as Amphibious Ready Group, Marine Expeditionary Unit, Landing Platform Dock task groups, and combined joint formations under commands like United States Indo-Pacific Command, Allied Maritime Command and Combined Maritime Forces. Components include ship‑borne infantry (e.g., Marine Corps Security Force Regiment), naval special warfare units such as United States Navy SEALs, Special Boat Service, Frogman Corps (Italy), and aviation wings like Carrier Air Wing elements tailored for littoral operations. Logistic sustainment is managed via groups like Military Sealift Command, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and expeditionary basing such as floating base concepts exemplified by Mobile Landing Platform efforts.
Tactics range from classic amphibious assaults exemplified by Operation Neptune to littoral interdiction, sea denial, raids, and humanitarian assistance missions like those conducted during Cyclone Nargis relief. Techniques include over-the-horizon assault using LCAC and AAVP7A1, vertical envelopment with CH-53 Sea Stallion and MV-22 Osprey, ship-to-shore maneuver via landing craft air cushion, and special operations insertion via Submersible or small craft as used by Special Boat Service in operations linked to Operation Atalanta. Integration with naval gunfire support from Mk 45 and precision fires from platforms like Tomahawk (missile) and close air support from assets such as F/A-18 Hornet is central to forcible entry and sustainment.
Key platforms include amphibious assault ships (America-class amphibious assault ship, Wasp-class amphibious assault ship), amphibious transport docks (San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock), dock landing ships (Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship), and well deck-enabled vessels like Juan Carlos I. Landing craft and connectors comprise LCVP, LCAC, AAV family vehicles and small craft such as RHIB used by United States Navy SEALs. Aviation includes F-35B Lightning II, AV-8B Harrier II, MV-22 Osprey and rotary-wing types like MH-60R. Support and logistics rely on replenishment oilers (e.g., Fleet Replenishment Oiler), hospital ships such as USNS Mercy, and expeditionary piers exemplified by Causeway systems.
Doctrinal foundations come from organizations such as United States Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Royal Marines Commandos training, French Expeditionary Corps traditions, and curricula at Naval War College and École militaire. Exercises like Exercise Trident Juncture, RIMPAC, Bright Star (military exercise) and BALTOPS test interoperability across NATO and partner navies. Training pipelines include amphibious assault courses, ship‑to‑shore connector qualifications, and special operations training at centers like Naval Special Warfare Center and Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.
Operations are governed by instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, statutes applied in Geneva Conventions contexts, and rules of engagement shaped by authorities like NATO. Ethical concerns involve civilian protection during amphibious assaults (illustrated by scrutiny of Gallipoli Campaign and Iwo Jima), proportionality in the use of force as debated after Falklands War and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and accountability for maritime interdiction during counter‑piracy operations like Operation Atalanta. Compliance with international law is overseen by military legal staffs, tribunals such as International Criminal Court when jurisdiction applies, and domestic legislatures including United States Congress and Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Category:Naval warfare