Page 221 - MDSL Final

NAVY PLANNING
of military and non-military aspects of the situation in the maritime
theatre, projecting several weeks or even months into the future. With
this wider perspective and increased uncertainty comes an increase
in the risks the operational commanders and their staffs must take.
Another distinction compared with tactical combat is that planning
for and execution of a maritime campaign and often for a major naval
operation requires synchronized use of both military forces and non-
military sources of power.

Prerequisites of Operational Warfare

Success in the practical application of operational warfare at and from
the sea is not possible unless several key prerequisites are met. The
conduct of a maritime campaign or major naval operation requires
sufficient physical space for one’s forces to manoeuvre freely. This is not
a problem in a war on the open ocean but can be a limiting factor in an
enclosed or semi enclosed sea. The operational commander’s mastery
of tactics in his chosen specialty is a key prerequisite for success at the
operational and strategic levels of war. The operational commanders and
their staffs have to think broadly and far ahead. Among other things, they
have to evaluate properly not only military but also non-military aspects
of the situation and its trends in a given part of the maritime theatre.
They should have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the
levels of war at sea and their mutual relationships. They also need to
know and fully understand the linkage between policy and strategy and
the interrelationship of strategy, tactics and operational art and design.
Success in planning and conducting maritime campaigns and major
naval operations cannot be achieved unless there is agreement on the
key aspects of operational warfare or a common operational outlook.

The operational commanders and their staffs should use commonly
accepted and understood operational terms; otherwise, communications
within the Navy and among other Services become difficult, if not
impossible. It does little good to recognise a problem and to formulate
an approach to it if the language with which it is discussed is confused
or uncertain.

To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea 201