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

CHAPTER IIIAIR COMMAND AND CONTROL“The doctrine and performance of Marines and airmen matured in Pacificcampaigns as the hesitancy and missteps of Guadalcanal, New Guinea,and Tarawa were heeded. Coordinated amphibious assault and air warfarebecame irrepressible.”“Struggle for the Marianas,” CAPT Bernard D. Cole, USNJoint Force Quarterly, Spring 951. Joint Air OperationsJoint air operations are performed with aircapabilities and forces made available bycomponents in support of the JFC’s operationor campaign objectives, or in support of othercomponents of the joint force. To createsynergy and avoid duplication of effort, theJFC synchronizes and integrates theactions of assigned, attached, andsupporting capabilities and forces in time,space, and purpose. This is normallyaccomplished through designation of a jointforce air component commander (JFACC),area air defense commander (AADC), andairspace control authority (ACA). A briefdescription of these functions is provided inFigure III-1. With current capabilities, thesefunctions could be performed afloat or ashore,and normally a single functional componentcommander will be designated to perform allthree roles. It is within this context that jointair tasking, air defense activities, and airspacecontrol are conducted during amphibiousoperations.For more information, see JP 3-30, Commandand Control for Joint Air Operations (formerlyJP 3-56.1).2. Airspace Control inAmphibious Operationsa. Assignment of airspace allows the JFCto exercise C2 of forces, deconflict highvolumes of different types of aircraft andmissiles, and defend forces. During maritimeoperations such as amphibious operations, theACA will normally designate the maritimecommander as the control authority for aspecific airspace control area during theconduct of the amphibious operation. Thecomplexity and size of an amphibiousoperation directly affects the amount ofairspace allocated.See JP 3-52, Doctrine for Joint AirspaceControl in the Combat Zone, for furtherinformation on control authority designation.b. The level of air control allocated to theamphibious force depends on the degree ofair control measures approved by the ACA.If only an AO is established, theamphibious force may request that theACA establish a HIDACZ over thisgeographic area. A HIDACZ is airspacedesignated in an ACP or ACO in which thereis a concentrated employment of numerousand varied weapons and airspace users.Access is normally controlled by themaneuver commander who can direct a morerestrictive weapons status within thedesignated area. The items shown belowshould be considered when establishing aHIDACZ.• Airspace control capabilities of theamphibious force.• Minimum risk routes into and out of theHIDACZ and to the target area.III-1