Distributed Operations Require Small Platforms to Distribute Logistics
The DMO, LOCE, and EABO concepts envision small, mobile, and lethal forces to occupy, defend, and conduct offensive operations from remote islands and coastal locations, such as the islands in and around the South China Sea, or the archipelagos around Sweden or Finland in the Baltic Sea. Both of these regions could be sharply contested in a conflict with China or Russia.
The US and its allies and partners require the platforms to put expeditionary forces in place and the logistics capability to sustain them for as long as is needed.
Swedish Marines use the Combat Boat 90 (CB 90) to operate in and around the thousands of islands in the Swedish Archipelago. Photo by Edward Lundquist.
According to TM-EABO, “Littoral forces rely on resilient and agile logistics that adapt to changing environments and conditions to conduct EABO. Effective sustainment provides the means to enable freedom of action and endurance while extending operational reach. Sustainment determines the depth to which a force can conduct decisive operations, allowing a commander to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative.”
During the Archipelago Endeavor 2022 (AE 22) exercise, US and Swedish Marines worked together to develop and exercise tactics and concepts of operations to prevail in the extreme littoral environment of the Baltic. AE 22 provided a unique opportunity for the two services to watch and learn how they operate, and share tactics and procedures.
The Swedes have developed platforms optimized for quickly and stealthily moving people and material in and among the thousands of islands in their archipelago, to include the Swedish Group Boat—also known as the G boat; Hovercraft 2000; and the CB90 watercraft platforms.
The G Boat operates with both Sweden and Finland forces and can carry up to eight personnel and one ton of cargo. The 27-foot boat has about an 8-inch draft and can travel at speeds up to 30 knots. It is primarily used to transport Marines
and their gear.
US Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force, load a SONAR AMY unmanned surface vessel onto a Swedish G-Boat high-speed supply vessel during exercise Archipelago Endeavor 22 the the Berga Naval Base near Stockholm, Sweden, Sept. 12, 2022. AE22 is an integrated field training exercise that increases operational capability and enhances strategic cooperation between the US Marines and Swedish forces. US Marine Corps photo by Cpl Timothy Fowler/ Released.
The 52-foot Swedish-built CB90 has established itself with military forces around the world as both a combat craft and transport. The basic troop carrier version usually has a crew of three and can carry about 18 to 20 combat-equipped troops, or 4.5 tons of cargo. The CB90 is fast—40 knots plus—and maneuverable, with a 2-foot, 7-inch draft that permits a direct approach to a rugged beach or rocky shoreline to discharge personnel through the bow ramp. There are more than 250 operating worldwide today and the Swedish Marines are still procuring them.
The 74-foot Swedish Hovercraft 2000 takes up to 50 troops. They can travel at up to 50 knots if light-loaded and have the distinct advantage of being able to operate up and onto ice.
One of the interesting technologies brought to AE 22 by the Americans was a pair of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) made by Hydronalix, a small company based in Green Valley, Arizona.
A Hydronalix Sonar AMY and RECKLESS USV were used to provide reconnaissance of the underwater environment in approaches to the areas where the Marines would be operating and to move supplies such as food, water, ammunition, and batteries from the boats to the Marines ashore on the islands.
The DMO, LOCE, and EABO concepts envision small, mobile, and lethal forces to occupy, defend, and conduct offensive operations from remote islands and coastal locations, such as the islands in and around the South China Sea, or the archipelagos around Sweden or Finland in the Baltic Sea. Both of these regions could be sharply contested in a conflict with China or Russia.
The AMY and RECKLESS vehicles have been developed, improved, and tested through Navy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding so that the platforms have been able to support evolving mission requirements.
The 145-lb., 78-inch Sonar AMY is used to provide reconnaissance to ensure a clear channel to and around the immediate beach or landing zone. AMY can be configured with radar, AIS, satellite communications or sidescan, and downward imaging sonar. The RECKLESS USV is slightly larger than AMY and can be configured with sensors and communications equipment or used to provide sustainment to forward positions. Both are man-portable, while the RECKLESS USV can be handled by several individuals, depending on how heavy it is loaded. RECKLESS has a 20-cubic foot interior that can be stuffed with supplies and has a strap-on, top-mounted carrier that can carry more cargo. Both can navigate remotely or autonomously and can run for 24 hours with payload. Both are inexpensive enough to be expendable.
Swedish Navy Rear Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum (right), Chief of Swedish Navy, and Swedish Marine leadership, receive a demonstration on the RECKLESS unmanned surface vehicle, which can be used for logistics support for expeditionary advanced base operations, during exercise Archipelago Endeavor 22 (AE22) on Berga Naval Base, Sweden, Sept. 21, 2022. US Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl Aziza Kamuhanda/Released.
At Archipelago Endeavor, the Marines used Sonar AMY to provide information about the bottom topography and water conditions, while RECKLESS was evaluated for the resupply of small groups of Marines at remote island locations.
“We’re practicing deploying the USVs from the G-boats and CB90s, as well as our typical shore-based deployment,” said 1st Lt Terrence Rohmeyer of Combat Logistics Battalion 6 (CLB 6) Littoral Tactical Logistics Section (LTLS). “Trying to figure out the whole sustainment network is why we’re here.”
Eva Huie, a mechanical engineer with Hydronalix, said that AE 22 provides the Marines with a unique opportunity to experiment with AMY and RECKLESS to conduct underwater surveys and environmental assessments prior to a landing and to provide logistics and sustainment support to forward locations. “They can test how much water, food, batteries, ammunition, medical supplies and whatever they need, into the boats and see how quickly they can move that material ashore remotely or autonomously, and do all that in this very challenging environment.”
Hydronalix CEO Anthony Mulligan said that his company learns a great deal when operators get to use their vehicles and can help assess how well they perform in realistic situations. “We couldn’t get this kind of feedback another way. It helps us to improve the vehicles to deliver the capabilities our warfighters need.”
“We take their input and find ways to integrate the systems with more of what the operators want,” Huie said.
By Edward Lundquist