Storming the Beach

[Tukhachevskii]

...the following two papers examine OMFTS from logistics perspectives and contain many interesting observations.

An Analysis of STOM (Ship to Objective Maneuver) in Sea Based Logistics. Unfortunately, the paper's obervations are marred by an unfounded (and rather cheeky) methodological slieght-of-hand that assumes the MV-22's will not face any attrition. Nonetheless, it models the logistical problems quite well.


Operational Art and Amphibious Assault: Will OMFTS break the US amphibious assault sword?. This paper criticises some of the key conceptual assumptions behind the OMFTS concept from a logistical viewpoint and supplements the above rather nicely, especially with its focus on doctrine/theoria vs practice/praxis.

Logistics vulnerability is a key factor of incurring culmination; two accelerators of logistic culminiation are an untenable distance from base to objective and a lack of operational pause to regenerate combat power. the OMFTS-STOM construct runs dangerously afoul of these operational art by-laws. A significant piece of the OMFTS contruct is sea-basing, a logistic concept that places supply ships/mobile off-shore bases over the horizon, far away from the littoral threat. those supplies would then be airlifted directly to forces ashore, eliminating the need for a lodgement; however, the elimination of the lodgement has two potential negative effects: it increases the distance between base and objective, thus threatening overextension, and eliminates operational pause and with it the ability to regenerate combat power. A logistic construct that exhibits one of these traits should give the operational planner pause; a construct that exhibits both, as does OMFTS-STOM, should cause serious concern for the integrity of operational sustainment.(p.5)

And, another take on the V-22 Albatross, sorry, Osprey...
V-22: Osprey or Albatross

Instead of admitting that the V-22 progam has failed and using the money to buy proven helicopters for the same missions, the Marine Corps, with considerable help from Congress, has kept the program alive-continually try to fix various problems. But at least one problem-the vortex ring state (VRS)- can never be fixed or eliminated. And "flying around" the VRS problem by slowing the descent rate of the V-22 makes the Osprey more vulnerable that helicopters (despite claims that it is more survivable)(p.1)

[Rifleman]

I think tilt rotor technology has promise. Remember Operation Rhino? The raid force from 3d Ranger Battalion was inserted by parachute and withdrawn by helicopter. That works but it's an extra link in the plan.

With tilt rotors the drop aircraft could also be the extraction aircraft for parachute raids. At least sometimes. I know it's not the answer for every situation but it has application for some.

[slapout9]

I think tilt rotor technology has promise. Remember Operation Rhino? The raid force from 3d Ranger Battalion was inserted by parachute and withdrawn by helicopter. That works but it's an extra link in the plan.

With tilt rotors the drop aircraft could also be the extraction aircraft for parachute raids. At least sometimes. I know it's not the answer for every situation but it has application for some.

The Air Force version appears to be alot more robust and less complex than the Marine version because the wings and propellers don't have to fold up. The Rangers may like or already have access to that version.