THE IMPORTANCE OF SUBMARINE TENDERS TO A MODERN NAVAL WAR: NAVAL COMBAT LOGISTICS AND SEA BASING

摘要

The potential for the US Navy's adversaries to target its forward-projected ship maintenance depots, and the time required for ships to travel back to US based facilities presents major operational consequences to maritime commanders, and would pull ships out of the theatre for weeks at a time in the event of a high-end naval war. The Navy should invest in modern submarine tenders and dry dock platforms - capable of general maintenance, nuclear propulsion plant maintenance, battle-damage repair, and replenishment of weapons and stores. These tenders and dry docks, working within the sea basing construct, would offer ship repair and replenishment in protected harbors or at sea. With their mobility, the US' adversaries would not be able to target tenders with ballistic missiles as easily as they would static sites. Their mobility would also enhance the sea basing concept, as operational commanders could establish safe and secure maintenance depots anywhere in the world's oceans, with minimal concern of political risk or consequences of sovereignty.