The Need for the United States of America's Amphibious Capability in an Era of Maritime Focus: Analysis of the British Execution of the 1982 Recapture of the Falkland Islands, Operation Corporate

by Progressive Management

Overview

This report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. Comparing events in Operation CORPORATE as a cautionary tale for the United States current strategic, economic, and military conditions will demonstrate the United States is on a course similar to the United Kingdom, and could face similar hardships and potentially adverse results should there be a military challenge to the United States in the western Pacific or another maritime region.

The British execution of the recapture of the Falkland islands in 1982, Operation CORPORATE, illustrates the difficulties a maritime nation may face conducting long range expeditionary military operations with a force ill prepared for such measures. Decades of significant military cuts in their naval, air, and expeditionary land forces, coupled with a strategy focused on the land defense of Europe against the Soviet threat, left the British military woefully unprepared for the degree of immediate expeditionary operations required to accomplish national aims. Shortfalls in amphibious shipping, the lack of a properly trained and equipped landing force of the size required, lack of joint doctrine, aviation shortfalls, and a strained support/logistics establishment set the conditions for an operation that had no guarantee for success, despite British national prestige being in the balance. Only through the resourceful actions of the military, the unity of national cause due to the nature of the crisis, and the professionalism of the military was the operation a success. It encountered numerous areas of friction and potential failure, any of which the Argentine forces could have exploited with decisive results. Had the campaign lasted even just weeks longer, the South Atlantic weather would have placed the British expeditionary force in jeopardy of logistic isolation. The Argentine forces experienced their share of adversity in the campaign, tipping the balance ever so slightly towards the British. This U.S. is unlikely to enjoy this circumstance in the western Pacific if challenged by a major regional competitor. The British success is underscored by numerous lessons learned that are appropriate for consideration by contemporary United States military planners as the U.S. accepts reductions in current amphibious capability in an era of the nationally declared shift of focus to the Pacific region.

U.S. must maintain an amphibious force as it expresses strategic interest in the maritime region of the western Pacific. The operational environment in the western Pacific is the ideal operational domain for an amphibious force. Ensuring the U.S. maintains this capability to not only project force with immediacy in time of crisis, but also maintain and provide for that force should be an apolitical priority for the nation to ensure the U.S. can protect its interests, support international trade and growth, and maintain stability in distant strategic regions of potential turmoil.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940155783688
Publisher:	Progressive Management
Publication date:	08/20/2018
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	266 KB

About the Author

Progressive Management: For over a quarter of a century, our news, educational, technical, scientific, and medical publications have made unique and valuable references accessible to all people. Our imprints include PM Medical Health News, Advanced Professional Education and News Service, Auto Racing Analysis, and World Spaceflight News. Many of our publications synthesize official information with original material. They are designed to provide a convenient user-friendly reference work to uniformly present authoritative knowledge that can be rapidly read, reviewed or searched. Vast archives of important data that might otherwise remain inaccessible are available for instant review no matter where you are. The e-book format makes a great reference work and educational tool. There is no other reference book that is as convenient, comprehensive, thoroughly researched, and portable - everything you need to know, from renowned experts you trust. Our e-books put knowledge at your fingertips, and an expert in your pocket!