The Marines will operate along the first island chain with their light amphibious warships (LAWs). How??!!
New warships that will be capable of delivering 75 Marines straight from the sea onto a beach will operate in and around the first chain of islands off China's coast.
A new Navy shipbuilding plan released this week calls for building 10 light amphibious warships that can transport up to 75 Marines. The ships will operate independently of the amphibious ready groups with which Marine expeditionary units typically deploy.
China's reach has extended to the first island chain. How are virtual barges going to survive in that environment without significant escorts that tie down Navy combat ships?
Remember, the reason for the existence of the LAW is to deploy Marine anti-ship and anti-aircraft assets along the first island chain because the Navy is uncertain about its ability on its own to wrest control of those seas from China's growing aero-naval power.
So reading that LAWs will "zip around" the western Pacific when their top speed will be 14 knots is just flimsy marketing. Who believes 14 knots allows "zipping around" to get in and out before the Chinese spot them and shoot at them?
Doesn't this usage plan assume the amount of control that the LAW is designed to fight for?
I have a bad feeling about LAWs as envisioned.
