Page 15 - NAVAL SCIENCE 3 TEXTBOOK

20 NAVAL KNOWLEDGE

and Iraqi Freedom, 95 percent of all the heavy equipment, fuel,
and munitions WitS transported to the area of operations by sea.
In time of W<1r, the entire U.S.-flag fleet is subject to requisi-
tioning by the secretary of commerce to meet national defense
needs. However, this might not be necessary in a small limited war.
The situation determines the needs. At present, anal)rsis indicates
that the U.S. merchant marine would be inadequate to meet our
militar), needs in a large-srale general war. Only with significant
augmentation by foreign-flag shipping could the United States
meet its national requircments in a large-scale war. Such augmen-
tation might, however, be problematical if these foreign nations
chose not to Sllpport our needs.
Shipping [or U.S. national defense requirements can come
[rom the loUowing sources:
Royal Carribean's cruise ship Brilliance of the Sea at anchor at Myko- Military Sealift Command (MSC). MSC is an organi7.ation within
nos, Greece. With a displacement of 90,000 tons and length of 293
meters, the ship is representative of many of the newer and larger the Navy that controls most of its replenishment and militaqr
cruise ships now being placed in service. Luxury accommodations transport shipping. It also is one of three service rommands that
can be provided for up to 2,500 passengers. (ShipParade photo by report to the U.S. Transportation COlllmand, responsible for coor-
Richard Maidmentl
dinating the movement of DOD personnel and logistics world-
wide. The mission of the Military Sealift Command is to provide
Another type of ship that hns become incre;Jsingly important OC(';,1I1 tmnsportation of equipment, fuel, supplies, and ammuni-
in recent years is the (mise ship. These ships are built to nccomlllO- tion to sllstain U.S. forces worldwide both in peace and wartime
dnte nnywhere from sevl'rai hundred to several thollsnnd pnssen- for ;,\s long as operational needs require. In support of its mission
gel's on plensllre cruises lasting from several days to severn I weeks MSC routinely operates more than 120 ships worldwide on a daily
or more. Newer cruise ships can be as long ilS three football fields, basis, and has access to 1110re than one hundred other ships usually
and they arc outfitted to provide their guests with every amenity kept in reduced operating status in U.S. ports.
lhat would be expected in luxury hotels on land. Some 70 percent Except [or hospital ships, which arc painted white with large red
of these passengers come from North America, Hnd 20 percent crosses on their sides, ivlSC naval iHlxiliilqr ships are pilinted gray
from Europe. It is estimated that the cruise shipping industry gen- like U.S. Na\1' ships, but can be identified by blue and gold stripes
l'rates some S60 billion for their operators annually. on their stacks. They arc designated U.S. Naval Ships (USNS rather
than USS), and are crewed mostly by civilian m<.lrincrs. They regu-
larly engage in underway replenishment operations with the fleet.
Merchant Marine and National Defense MSC's newer rast sealift (FSS) and large medium-speed roil-ani

All important auxiliary function for the u.s. merchant marine is to roll-oO· (LMSR) ships are among the largest and rastest cargo ships
aid in the national defense. There are five important ways in which in the world, and can carry large quantities of wheeled and tracked
the merchant marine serves in this role: military sealift, lfilllsport vchicles at speeds up to 30 knots.
of stmtegic material, direct support of military operations, use as Maritime Administration (MARAD). The ?vlaritime Administra-
auxili<tf)' combatants, ilnd support of foreign polic)'. Each of these tion maintains a fleet of morc than fifty Ready Reserve Force (RRF)
will be discussed ill the following sections. ships that can be activated in from four to twenty da)'s and trans-
ferred to MSC to provide surge capability when required. They
Military Sealift consist mainly of RoRo and crane ships, and are maintained at
U.S. ports close to potential militaI')' load-out sites by small-cadre
The merchant marine transports most of the supplies and
crews augmented by additional merchant seamen when needed.
equipment needed to support U.S. military forces in both peace
RRF ships can be readily identified by distinctive red, white, and
and war. This support Illay be intended for either U.S. or allied
blue markings on their starks.
forces, and can be carried by either U.S. or allied ships. Airlift call
MARAD also maintains the National Defense Reserve Fleet
cOlllplement sealift to provide initial fast response requirements,
(NDRF), old mothballed Navy and merchant ships kept ilt NDR!'
but sealili 1m always carried the great bulk or the total hea\1' lili
requirements. In all recent huge-scale operations involving u.s. anchorages at Beaumont, 'texas; Suisun Bay. Californin; and the
James River, Virginia. They recei\'e f.1r less maintenance than
forces, including Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom,
RRF ships, and would require between thirty and sixty days to
be activated.