Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations - Historic Naval Ships ...

CHAPTER XIIISUPPORTING, ADVANCE FORCE, AND PREASSAULTOPERATIONS“The key to successful amphibious operations in the future is the ability tolaunch from ’over the horizon.’ Previously, an amphibious force relied onextensive firepower to suppress and destroy enemy defensive positions whilethe landing force approached the beach at a speed of only six to eight knots.Clearly the firepower possessed by even most Third World military forceswould make such an amphibious assault extremely risky. For amphibiousoperations to succeed in the future, the amphibious force must be able toact faster than the enemy can react.”Fundamentals of Force PlanningVol II: Defense Planning Cases1. GeneralPrior to the execution of the decisive actionphase of an amphibious operation, theamphibious force commanders may seek toshape their battlespace through threecomplementary operations. Although theseoperations are usually referred to in the contextof an amphibious assault or raid, they may beused to shape the battlespace for a NEO orhumanitarian operation. The exact mannerin which these operations are conducted willdepend on the type of amphibious operation.The force and the time period in whichthese operations are conducted typicallydefine the operation. These shapingoperations usually occur sequentially, but mayin some instances occur simultaneously.These operations are, in order of occurrence,supporting amphibious, advance force, andpreassault operations.a. Supporting amphibious operationsare conducted by forces other than theamphibious force in support of the amphibiousoperation; are ordered by a higher authority,normally based on a request from theamphibious force commanders; and may setthe conditions for the advance force to moveinto the operational area.b. Advance force operations are conductedin the operational area by a task-organizedelement of the amphibious force, prior to thearrival of the amphibious force in theoperational area.c. Preassault operations are conducted bythe amphibious force upon its arrival in theoperational area and prior to the time of theassault or decisive action, normally delineatedby H- and L-hourSee also Chapter IV, “Approach to Planningand Primary Decisions.”2. Supporting AmphibiousOperationsSupporting operations conducted byforces other than the amphibious force mayestablish the prerequisites for anamphibious operation (e.g., establishmentof air and maritime superiority).Supporting operations are ordered by the JFCor a designated commander and are to a largedegree based on requests for certain actionsfrom the amphibious commanders. Theseoperations are normally conducted by naval,air, and special operations forces prior to thearrival of the advance force; however, theymay occur at any time before or after H-hour.XIII-1