Compass Points has received feedback on the recent post,
FD 2030 - Can the L.A.W. Survive China?
A reader wanted to make sure Compass Points was aware that Major General Jenkins has more than an academic or merely theoretical understanding of amphibious operations.
Compass Points is aware. Major General Jenkins background and experience are well known among Marines.
The amphibious Marine force Major General Jenkins commanded during Operation Desert Storm is the largest such force the Corps has fielded since the 1950 Inchon Landings in Korea. Under Major General Jenkins’ command, 17,000 Marines embarked on 32 amphibious ships with the support of 26 AV-8B Harrier ground attack aircraft and 162 helicopters.
A Navy-Marine Corps task force of that size will not be seen again under the restrictions and limitations of FD 2030. After his command in the Gulf, Major General Jenkins later assumed the leadership of a new Navy staff, which oversaw the development of amphibious ships. His experience is unrivaled and every friend of a strong Marine Corps must take to heart his warnings about the light amphibious warship.
The Hill (thehill.com) November 2, 2022
Opinion - National Security
The ugly truth: Can the light amphibious warship survive war with China?
By Harry W. Jenkins
. . . To make a bad situation even more dire, China’s navy recently introduced a new class of Type 055A guided missile corvettes, 72 of which operate along the First Island Chain. It would be virtually impossible for the LAW to avoid being detected, attacked and most likely destroyed by the Chinese military under these circumstances . . . .
. . . The question of the LAW’s utility to help deter China’s aggression, or enable Marine Corps units to sink Chinese ships, has not been answered. It needs to be thoroughly analyzed beyond the level of war games to ensure that the concept is sound before any significant funding is allocated to the LAW program.
Harry W. Jenkins, a retired major general, served for 34 years in the Marine Corps. He was the commanding general, 4th MEB, and commander of Task Force 158 during Desert Storm, which included a landing force of 17,000 Marines in 32 amphibious ships. He later served as the first director of the Expeditionary Warfare Division on the OPNAV staff, where he was resource sponsor for all amphibious ships, mine warfare ships, and requirements for Navy SEALS.
No naval vessel can expect to venture forth and expect to survive in the face of a determined enemy with an appetite for the initiative. Despite all the developments in stealth technology and etc, visual observation remains a reliable means of target acquisition. Any ship that the enemy considers a threat must operate under an umbrella of subsurface, surface and air superiority. The Kriegsmarine Admiralty's excitement over the DKM Bismarck comes to mind.