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13.3 OVERVIEW OF RULES FOR NAVAL ENGAGEMENTSIn general, the rules for conducting attacks, such as bombardments, by naval forces arethe same as those for land or air forces. 5513.3.1 Areas of Naval Warfare. As a general rule, naval forces may attack militaryobjectives wherever located outside neutral territory. 56 In certain cases (e.g., involvingbelligerent use of neutral territory as a base of operations), hostilities may be conducted inneutral territory to redress violations of neutrality. 5713.3.2 Classification of Vessels. The law of land warfare has divided enemy nationalsinto different categories in order to facilitate the protection of the civilian population fromhostilities. 58 Similarly, the law of naval warfare has sought to classify enemy vessels to protectthose that are civilian or non-combatant in character.In general, all vessels of an enemy State may be understood to fall into one of threeclasses: (1) warships and naval and military auxiliaries; (2) merchant vessels; and (3) exemptvessels.Warships and naval and military auxiliaries are generally liable to attack and capture. 59Merchant vessels are generally liable to capture, but are liable to attack if they forfeit theirprotection. 60 Exempt vessels are not liable to capture or attack, unless they forfeit theirprotection. 6113.3.3 Vessels Entitled to Conduct Attacks. During international armed conflict at sea,warships are the only vessels that are entitled to conduct attacks. 62Other vessels, such as auxiliary vessels and merchant vessels, are not entitled to conductattacks in offensive combat operations. 63 All vessels, however, may defend themselves(including resisting attacks by enemy forces). 6455 Refer to § 5.5 (Rules on Conducting Assaults, Bombardments, and Other Attacks).56 Refer to § 15.3.1.2 (Inviolability of Neutral Territory - Prohibition on Hostile Acts or Other Violations ofNeutrality).57 Refer to § 15.4.2 (Belligerent Use of Self-Help When Neutral States Are Unable or Unwilling to PreventViolations of Neutrality).58 Refer to § 4.2 (The Armed Forces and the Civilian Population).59 Refer to § 13.4 (Enemy Warships).60 Refer to § 13.5 (Enemy Merchant Vessels).61 Refer to § 13.6 (Enemy Vessels Exempt From Capture or Destruction).62 See 1955 NWIP 10-2 500e (“At sea, only warships and military aircraft may exercise belligerent rights.”).63 2013 GERMAN MANUAL 1020 (“The following vessels and persons may not perform acts of naval warfare: -state ships other than warships, even when carrying out support services for the naval forces, - merchant ships, -870