Page 192 - MDSL Final

MARITIME DOCTRINE OF SRI LANKA
end state. Therefore, technical and logistic support are critical factors
in naval warfare.

SLN is also supported by good technical and logistics bases. The Naval
Dockyard Trincomalee has been the strategic centre of operational and
logistic support, and the cradle for the Marine Engineering Department
since its inception in 1957 when the Royal Ceylon Navy took over the
Dockyard from British to date.

Largely, naval logistics is all about providing the correct and required
item at the required place at the required time in the required quality.
A reliable logistics base is a force multiplier as the commander has
the freedom of planning operations without having much burden on
logistics.

Training provides the men with skills to fight the war. Logistic provides
the means to fight the war and the technical support enables to sustain
the war effort. Therefore, technical and logistic support cannot be taken
in isolation, it is a part and parcel of any naval activity; planned, being
planned and yet to plan.

Major refit or a routine docking of a ship is a good example to see
how the logistic and technical support work together to keep the
fleet operational. Once the material requirement is prepared, it is a
demanding task for logisticians as they need to obtain the correct spares
and other required material according to the docking requirements in
time. In certain instances, it is required to outsource the jobs mainly
due to non-availability of expertise, infrastructure, special tools and
equipment within the Dockyard. Therefore, in such instances, logisticians
need to arrange the services, spares or tools externally, especially the
expertise either from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or
from another suitable contractor.

Logistic support exists to ensure that naval forces can meet readiness
levels and be deployed, sustained and redeployed to meet the
operational aims of the commander. Logistic support mainly includes the
provision of the stores and spare parts required by units, the supply and
resupply of fuel and lubricants, ammunition and food, and the provision

172 To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea