Compass Points readers have asked about the post,
FD 2030 - The Army Goes to Sea - Anticipates More Vessels Than the Navy
The post referenced an article about the growing Army cargo fleet. Readers wonder what the Navy and Marine Corps are doing about naval support, particularly in the Pacific. The answer is planning has begun for a new warship, the Light Amphibious Warship.
Under FD 2030, Marines scattered along the Pacific Island Chain as Stand In Forces, will be depending on the forthcoming Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) for transportation and resupply. A recent article in the Defense News, link below, reports that while there is still some disagreement between the Marine Corps and Navy over the cost, capabilities, and production of the LAW, the two services are agreeing that, if there are even indications a conflict might breakout, the LAW, “goes into hiding.”
Defense News (defensenews.com) October 5, 2022
Naval
Marines, Navy Near Agreement on Light Amphibious Warship Features
By Megan Eckstein
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, facing a decision point early next year on the light amphibious warship, are working to balance the Corps’ focus on affordability with the Navy’s push for survivability.
Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the deputy commandant for combat development and integration, told Defense News the two services are emerging from an initial disagreement about the cost and capabilities of this new platform . . .
. . . The Marines don’t envision using this vessel during combat operations either, the general said. If there are indications a conflict may break out, the combatant commander would order the light amphibious warships, or LAW, to quickly relocate Marines or resupply units, “and then it goes into hiding” . . . .
Why is it every time I read or listen to a proponent's Conops for function / employment of the Light Amphibious Warship, I get the impression someone is trying to convince me that 'Yellow + 3 = pancakes'?
For starters, the idea is that these 'type' warships are going to blend with commercial traffic? I get the idea of intermixing to fool some ISR, but.....other than certain very esoteric operations, is this spoofing really working in a comprehensive way, especially on a long term time frame? After reading the original FD 2030, I had the impression that the LAW would be a high dollar Low Observability Signature (LOS) Star Trek effort, but what we got is just an updated liberty ship with a bow ramp (wheeled traffic only). And where does the Liberty Ship hide when conflict breaks out? Does it just head out of the WEZ?
The wargaming for the FD 2030 LAW employment as reported here in Compass Points and elsewhere wasn't very detailed, and doesn't adequately address the problems raised with the concept of employment. If I'm wrong, it hasn't been noted in any open source reporting and the Congressional Research Service agrees with me. https://sgp.fas.org/crs/weapons/R46374.pdf
It could be an interesting capability as an addition to ARGs....but the Navy doesn't even seem really want it. The budget roll for it makes it seem they are trying to delay until it goes away.
I am interested in hearing from someone with a better OP than mine on this topic.