Page 150 - MDSL Final

MARITIME DOCTRINE OF SRI LANKA
contesting sea control differs from that in the open ocean in that the task
is primarily carried out by one’s submarines, small surface combatants,
coastal artillery/missile batteries, land-based aircraft and mines. In a
war on the open ocean, major parts of a theatre might not be controlled
by either side.

The main methods for a force to dispute sea control are through attrition
of an adversary’s naval forces and land based air strength, strategic
diversion, posing a threat to the adversary’s critical positions, avoiding
a decisive encounter with the adversary’s forces (fleet-in-being), naval
and commercial counter-blockade and providing support to friendly
forces in their operations on the coast.

Fleet in Being

Another related concept to Sea Control and Sea Denial is that of the
Fleet in Being, previously known as Force in Being. This concept involves
the advantage a weaker power has of avoiding a head on confrontation
with a stronger power by forcing the stronger power to divert valuable
resources to contain it, is called as Fleet in Being. Thus, a Fleet in Being
can compel the enemy to concentrate its forces, against its will, in a
valuable area; or around valuable units; or cause him to route its passage
to its disadvantage; or to amend its operational plans.
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Maritime Power Projection

Power projection is in and from the maritime environment, including
a broad spectrum of offensive military operations to destroy enemy
forces or logistic support or to prevent enemy forces from approaching
within enemy weapons’ range of friendly forces. Some of the activities
that take place in a conflict may be only indirectly linked to activities
ashore but they are always linked to achievement of complete result.
Sea Control, once achieved, establishes the environment for more direct
efforts in relation to the land. Maritime forces can shape, influence
and control this environment, as well as deliver combat force ashore
if necessary. The delivery of force from the sea is defined as Maritime
Power Projection and can take the form of the landing of amphibious or
Special Forces or the delivery of sea borne land forces, or bombardment

132 To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea