Logistically sustaining afloat-staged special operations forces through an LPD-17 class single-ship seabase

Abstract

Today's global terrorist threat has the ability to operate in denied and sensitive regions of the world, performing missions to undermine government control through acts of violence delivered via unconventional methods. Operations against this type of enemy require a quick and decisive military capability. The flexibility, scalability, and unconstrained maneuverability inherent in a seabase, coupled with the decisive, powerful and precise combat potential of Special Operations Forces (SOF), brings together a force capable of reacting quickly to changes in an operational theater requiring military diplomacy. A Discrete Event Simulation is used to explore and analyze various configurations to a seabase's structure and force compliment for the purpose of sustaining multiple SOF units engaged in a variety of land-based operations. Analysis of the data generated by the model shows the LPD-17 class is capable of sustaining multiple SOF units operating ashore. The allocated area for SOF equipment storage designed on the LPD-17 class does not constrain the ability to sustain multiple units. Embarking the maximum number of helicopters a LDP-17 class is designed for minimizes the occurrence of and time spent in a delayed state by a unit between mission assignments, and allows accomplishment of concurrent missions beyond logistic sustainment of SOF units.