scope:

General

1. An amphibious operation is "a military operation launched from the sea by a naval and landing force (LF) embarked in ships or craft, with the principal purpose of projecting the LF ashore tactically into an environment ranging from permissive to hostile." In outline it will see an amphibious task force (ATF) seeking to manoeuvre into a position of advantage in the littoral1 in respect to the enemy, from which force can be threatened or applied ashore. Such littoral manoeuvre will be directed towards a decisive point or a critical vulnerability that impacts a centre of gravity (COG).

2. Combat operations which involve waterborne movement, such as inland-water, ferrying, and shoreto- shore operations in which the LFs are not embarked in naval ships and/or assault craft; administrative disembarkation on friendly territory; and water terminal and logistics over-the-shore operations, possess certain characteristics and employ some of the techniques of an amphibious operation. However, these are not amphibious operations and thus not addressed in this publication.

3. In today's security environment, the distinction between permissive and hostile, as well as the definition and understanding of what constitutes the enemy, can themselves be threats to amphibious operations. NATO amphibious forces could-in addition to conventional state-sponsored military force-counter opposition from a diversity of threats, originating from failed or failing states, or rogue para-military, guerrilla, insurgent, terrorist, or criminal groups. Therefore, the conventional combat power and fighting expertise of NATO amphibious forces might be exposed to unconventional and asymmetric threat in a manner limited only by the imagination and cunning of the attacker. A key to success in operations is a focused awareness to these new threats in all phases of the amphibious operation.