Page 149 - MDSL Final

CONCEPTS AND APPLICATION OF MARITIME POWER
Sea Denial

Sea denial pertains to one’s ability to deny partially or completely the
adversary’s use of the sea and associated airspace for military and
commercial purposes. It is the principal objective of a weaker side at
sea. Denying the use of the sea to an opponent has often been regarded
as the opposite of sea control but this is an oversimplification. If a
weaker side denies control of the sea to a stronger opponent, this does
not mean that it necessarily obtains control itself. Sea control and sea
denial are often complementary objectives. Sea denial may be used to
help secure one’s use of the sea, in either the same geographical area
or elsewhere. 85

LTTE used sea denial off the littoral seas controlled by
them by using hit and run tactics, placing shore batteries
and mining the seas of their choice.

Disputed Sea Control

Disputed sea control occurs when the opposing sides possess roughly
equal capabilities and opportunities to obtain sea control in a theatre as
a whole (or in one of its parts) and there is no significant change in the
ratio of forces, nor change of the initiative to either side. Disputed sea
control often occurs in the initial phase of a war. It is characterized by
an almost continuous struggle for control of certain sea or ocean areas.

However, once control is obtained, it is usually not maintained for a long
time and may be lost from time to time and then regained. In coastal or
offshore waters, sea control by a stronger fleet can be disputed even if
the major part of a weaker fleet is destroyed.

When control is in dispute on the open ocean, both sides operate at
high risk, because their strength is approximately in balance. One side
usually controls one or more parts of a given maritime theatre, while its
opponent controls the remaining part. Each side’s control of a specific
sea area is usually limited in time. In the littorals, however, disputing or

To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea 131