Chapter 5 — Maritime Logistics and Support

BRITISH MARITIME DOCTRINE / THIRD EDITION
hoc coalitions where there may be little standardisation between nations’
equipments. However, NATO has developed Allied Joint Logistics Doctrine
encompassing a principle of collective responsibility between member
nations and Allied authorities, although specific national requirements,
especially in ammunition resupply and the maintenance and repair of
weapon systems, still limit the effectiveness of multinational logistics. The
doctrine includes the establishment of a Multinational Logistic
Commander (MNLC) to plan, co-ordinate and control all maritime logistic
shore support and a Multinational Joint Logistics Centre (MJLC) to coordinate
theatre wide logistic support for all components. Interoperability
within an alliance is a prerequisite if one nation’s logistic resources are to
support another’s, and considerable work in NATO’s standardisation
agencies is devoted to this end. Standardisation of fuel grades,
replenishment rigs and connections allow for regular transfer of fuel
between NATO nations and, indeed, between other nations that have
adopted NATO standards. Medical support, supply of provisions and
general stores, and non-specialist transport can generally be treated as
common resources.
Logistic Principles
The principles of joint logistics are foresight, economy, flexibility, simplicity
and co-operation. The need for foresight in logistic planning has been
discussed earlier in this chapter, as has the requirement for co-operation
between Services, nations and commands, particularly where control of
logistics is not unified. Economy, flexibility and simplicity deserve special
mention.
Economy
Logistics resources will usually be in short supply and sufficiency should be
the objective of the logistician. It is possible to overplan as well as to
underplan logistic requirements. Over-planning can consume resources
that could be devoted to combat forces. Furthermore, an over-large
logistic organization may require additional logistics staff who, in turn, will
need logistic support, and the whole may draw forces for protection away
from the main effort.
96