Maritime Forces Review
Requirements of the Navy
Figure 1: The span of maritime roles
This figure illustrates the span of maritime roles, with the diagram being in the shape of a triangle with the apex at the top, the left-hand side is labelled ‘Diplomacy’ and the right-hand side is labelled ‘Constabulary’ and the base of the triangle is labelled ‘Military’. Within the triangle there is an arrow indicating the degree of force-employed increases towards the base, that is, benign at the apex and coercive at the bottom.
Along the ‘Diplomacy’ side are a series of role examples starting at the top (benign), and descending down the side, but increasing in the degree of force employed is oceanographic; hydrographic; search & rescue; underway replenishment; sealift; disaster relief; afloat hospital support; presence; show of force; and finally embargo operations near the bottom (coercive diplomacy). On the ‘Constabulary’ side of the triangle are also a series of role examples starting at the top (benign) and descending down the side, but increasing in the degree of force employed is pollution control; resource protection operations; illegal immigration; enforcement of Maritime Agreements; contraband operations; anti-piracy and finally peace support operations near the base.
Underneath the base of the triangle – the military role are two lists of role examples. One list headed ‘operations at sea’ includes the following – interdiction of enemy forces; blockade operations; Maritime Exclusion Zone operations; barrier operations; area sea control operations; escort operations; naval control of shipping. The other list is headed ‘operations from the sea’ which includes – Special Forces Ashore; naval fire support operations; littoral air defence operations; maritime counter terrorism; mine countermeasures.
