Force Protection of Sea Based Logistics, A Historical Perspective

摘要

The United States is heavily reliant on sea based logistics shipping. This shipping gives the United States great flexibility but it is also a critical vulnerability. During WW II Japan was a nation dependent on maritime shipping and Japan failed to provide adequate resources to protect that shipping. The results were disastrous. The U.S. and Great Britain also experienced attacks on maritime shipping in WW I and II. Resources were allocated and tactics developed to counter the German submarine threat. Current U.S. doctrine addresses protection of maritime shipping, but without a credible threat and with ever decreasing Naval resources, it is doubtful that the issue of maritime force protection will be seriously addressed until disaster strikes.