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170 australian maritime issues 2009: spc-a annual
operation. 15 A sea base is inherently manoeuvrable and fully supports the concept of
land manoeuvre warfare. Also, it shortens the time required to establish capability
ashore prior to conducting an operation. Thus, it enhances current army doctrine and
is in no way at odds with it.
Maritime doctrine
Maritime doctrine does not differentiate between blue water and littoral operations
in any significant way. It simply identifies the increased complexities of the littoral
environment such as operating closer to navigational hazards. 16 The concepts of
securing the sea lines of communication, establishing sea control and sea denial are
enduring in maritime doctrine, although more complex in the littoral environment. 17
As a result, adopting the sea base concept does not change maritime doctrine. It is
simply something the Navy would have to crew, operate and protect by establishing
a level of sea control around it.
Amphibious doctrine
Australia’s amphibious doctrine defines the littoral differently than that of Australian
Maritime Doctrine: RAN Doctrine 1, and is as ‘those regions relating to or existing on a
shore or coastal region, within direct control of, and vulnerable to, the striking power
of a maritime expeditionary force’. 18 It is within this environment that the ADF can
expect to conduct amphibious operations. Amphibious operations are:
Military operations launched from the sea by a naval and landing
force embarked in ships, landing craft or rotary wing aircraft, with the
principle purpose of projecting the landing force ashore tactically in
an environment ranging from permissive to hostile. 19
Although an amphibious force, its equipment and immediate support infrastructure
are embarked in a ship, the force’s continued logistical sustainment over a beach or
through a port is known as sealift. 20 Often, the means of projecting an amphibious
force and the sealift required to sustain operations can become blurred. Regardless,
sea basing can support both amphibious operations and sealift requirements for a
limited period in the littoral environment.
Current amphibious doctrine is attempting to move away from the idea that it is necessary
to secure a beachhead or port to provide support prior to commencing operations. At its
core, Australian amphibious operations are supported by three key concepts:
• Ship to Objective Manoeuvre (STOM)
• Distributed Operations (DO)
• Sea basing. 21