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Much Ado About Nothing?Much Ado About Nothing?
Command Relations in Amphibious Operations
CAPT Don Inbody, USN
“You can get your planes to do anything you want, but we can’t get the Air Force to do a goddam thing!”
Lt. Gen. Patton to VADM HewittJuly 1943
At IssueAt Issue
What is the best command relationship between CATF and CLF?– OPCON Command (Doctrinal)– Support Command (Test)
Joint Pub 3-02Test Pub 3-02
OPCON CommandOPCON Command
OPCON COMMAND RELATIONSHIP CATF/CLF OPTION
JFC, Navy Component Commander, or JFMCC
CATF CLF
OPCON
Optional OPCON Relationship
PLANNING PHASE EXECUTION PHASE
CLF
CATF
JFC, Navy Component Commander, or JFMCC
Support CommandSupport Command
SUPPORT COMMAND RELATIONSHIP
JFC, Navy ComponentCommander, or JFMCC
CATF CLF
OPCON (Note 1)
PLANNING PHASE EXECUTION PHASE
JFC, Navy ComponentCommander, or JFMCC
CLF CATF
Support
Amphibious HistoryAmphibious History
Historical ExamplesExamine Command Relations– Landing Force Commander– Navy Force Commander
Determine major contentious issues for the commanders
Historical Examples (33)Historical Examples (33)
Veracruz ExpeditionCivil War Western CampaignGallipoliGuadalcanalNorth AfricaSicilySalernoNew Guinea Campaign (15 landings)
Tarawa (2 landings) Marianas (3 landings)NormandySouthern FranceLeyte Iwo JimaOkinawaInchon
Command Relations RegimesCommand Relations Regimes
Cooperation (Support Command)OPCON CommandExpeditionary OPCON
GallipoliGallipoli
Cooperation Technical problems with landingTechnical problems with C2No problems related to command relations
GuadalcanalGuadalcanal
Expeditionary OPCON– Landing Force Opcon to ATF
Issue: CVs supporting ATFIssue: CATF Controlling movements of landing force.
SicilySicily
CooperationIssue: Air/CV SupportAirborne movements not coordinated
SalernoSalerno
Cooperation (Support Command)Withdrawal from landing beachIssue: Air Support (cooperative)CV Support
New Guinea CampaignNew Guinea Campaign
Cooperation (3 landings)OPCON (12 landings)Issue: CV supportMacArthur presence (Strong CinC) Mitigated command relations problems
LeyteLeyte
OPCON CommandIssue: CV Support of ATF
MarianasMarianas
OPCON CommandIssue: Corps Control of Separated landings (resolved)
Iwo JimaIwo Jima
Issue: Pre D-day NGFS– resolved for Okinawa
SummarySummary
Relationship Landings IssuesCooperation 8 7Exp 1 2OPCON 24 13Totals 33 22
Cooperation (Support) IssuesCooperation (Support) Issues
Gallipoli C2 from ship to shoreNew Guinea CV Support (x3)Sicily Air/CV SupportSicily Airborne coordination
Expeditionary OPCON IssuesExpeditionary OPCON Issues
Guadalcanal CV Support
OPCON Command IssuesOPCON Command Issues
Salerno Air SupportNew Guinea CV Support (x8)Marianas CLF Corps CmdLeyte CV SupportIwo Jima Pre D-day Fires
Summary of IssuesSummary of Issues
Relationship Landings IssuesCooperation 10 3Exp 1 1OPCON 19 13
ConclusionsConclusions
Air/CV Support is principal issue– Large carriers never under CATF
control– Land Based Air power not responsive to
CLF controlCATF & CLF relationship– Different command relationship would
not have solved most issues
Conclusions (Conclusions (contcont))
Landing Force Commander must have equal access to higher headquartersStrong JFC can mitigate coordination issues– JFC’s presence• MacArthur (SWPA, Inchon)• Spruance
– Clear commander’s guidance
Conclusions (Conclusions (contcont))
CATF will ultimately support CLF
Implications for Joint Force CdrImplications for Joint Force Cdr
JFC must provide clear guidance for air supportJFC must provide clear commander’s guidance to CLF and CATF
Much Ado About Nothing?Much Ado About Nothing?
Maybe so...
““Land Officers have no pretense Land Officers have no pretense to command at sea. Sea Officers to command at sea. Sea Officers have no pretense to command on have no pretense to command on land.land.””Royal Navy Signal BookRoyal Navy Signal Book17441744