Editor’s
Note
The concept is simple and brilliant, and the timing is right. Perhaps
that best explains why the revolutionary idea of sea basing is attracting
attention from virtually every sector of the Defense Department. It is
coming to fruition at the very moment that Defense Secretary Donald H.
Rumsfeld is demanding even more speed and greater mobility from each of
the military services.
The essence of sea basing is that U.S. military forces sent to world
trouble spots will no longer establish beachheads, “iron mountains”
of materiel or huge headquarters operations similar to that which now
exist in Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. All of those facilities
and functions — and more — will be moved to a sea base at
least 25 miles offshore.
In theory, sea basing enables the military to move at high speeds and
it fosters the use of maneuver warfare to force adversaries into a reactive
posture. Meanwhile, Rumsfeld has for several months been promulgating
his “10-30-30” strategy that requires the services to seize
the initiative in a conflict within 10 days, defeat an enemy within 30
days and be ready for another campaign within the following 30 days. The
sea services’ top admirals and generals believe sea basing is the
warfighting scheme that will help them achieve that goal.
It is far from a proven concept, however. Bringing sea basing to life
will require revolutionary changes in the way military services manage
their forces, plan their operations and project power ashore. The Navy
will have to develop a hub for the sea base able to accommodate tactical
fighter planes, cargo aircraft and thousands of troops. New “connectors”
— aircraft and vessels — will be needed to move troops and
materiel from ship to shore. The services will have to overhaul their
logistics management systems with compatibility in mind, and find new
ways to move fighting units, equipment and supplies from the continental
United States to advance bases or the sea base itself.
These and other required changes are huge. But sea service officials
believe they can come up with the innovations necessary to breathe life
into the sea basing concept. Our special supplement on sea basing takes
a look at these and other issues, beginning with my introduction on page
10. Associate Editor Hunter C. Keeter assesses sea basing as a joint service
concept (p. 14), and Special Correspondent George Cahlink examines the
connectors issues on page 18. The center of the sea base is, of course,
the people who will make it work. Sea basing and other changes under way
within the Navy mean that each individual in the ranks in 2015 will have
to be highly skilled and multitalented. Sea Power Correspondent Margaret
Roth covers the people issues on page 25.
Rear Adm. John M. Kelly is our Interview subject this month (p. 22).
Chief of the Navy Warfare Development Command, Kelly says the real benefit
of the sea base is the insurmountable problem it poses for the enemy.
We hope that you enjoy our special supplement on sea basing, as well
as other features and departments in this issue. This look at a warfighting
strategy of tomorrow is one more reason why we think of Sea Power as the
defense magazine that covers the future.
Richard C. Barnard
Editor in Chief
We are eager to get your feedback. Contact me at rbarnard@navyleague.org
or by mail at Sea Power, 2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22201-3308. |
