Page 146 - MDSL Final

MARITIME DOCTRINE OF SRI LANKA
and space. Emergent from this paradigm, arose the concept of Command
of the Sea, which was considered to be the principle objective of naval
forces operating in a maritime arena. Command of the Sea was viewed
as being achievable through the complete destruction or neutralisation
of an adversary’s forces. Gradually as warfare advanced, it became
unrealistic for any Navy to dominate to such an extent. This was because
with advances in warfare, naval forces were faced with a range of
asymmetric threats, brought about by technological innovations such as
the mine, the torpedo, the submarine, the aircraft, the unmanned
vehicle and the autonomous craft.

According to the great strategists Admiral Alfred Thayer
Mahan and Sir Julian Corbett introduced; if own maritime
forces are able to exploit sea for their own advantage and
denying its use by his opponent is termed as ‘Command
of the Sea’.

Sea Control

This is the condition in which one has freedom of action to use the sea
for one’s own purposes in specified areas and for specified periods of
time and, where necessary, to deny or limit its use to the enemy. Sea
control includes the airspace above the surface and the water volume
and seabed below. 84

The degree of sea control enjoyed by one’s Navy in a given ocean/sea
area can considerably vary depending on the factors of space, time and
force.
In terms of the factor of space, sea control can be general (complete)
or local. General sea control means that the weaker side is incapable
of offering any effective and sustained resistance to the stronger side
at sea. The side that obtains sea control can carry out its main tasks.
Local sea control exists when one side possesses superiority in the part
of the sea or ocean area that is operationally significant for executing a
specific task. Sometimes local control of such an area must be obtained
to carry out an amphibious landing or to strike the adversary’s coastal
installations/facilities.

128 To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea