U.S. Army's Priority: Investing in Logistics Support Offshore for Maximum Benefit
The United States Army is focusing on enhancing its logistics over-the-shore (LOTS) capabilities to support its role as a multidomain, multimodal sustained Joint Force multiplier. This shift comes as the Army adapts to the demands of the new battlefield, as highlighted by the US Marine Corps's Force Design 2030 and the Army's transition to Multi-Domain Operations.
The importance of LOTS was demonstrated during the Korean War, where American forces were road-bound for logistics while the Chinese emphasized cross-country mobility. This disparity underscored the need for flexible logistics, a need further underscored during the Pusan Perimeter of 1950, where US forces quickly re-created disbanded logistics commands to support operations.
The US military's sustainment-heavy tooth-to-tail ratio makes LOTS capability particularly necessary. By focusing on "non-commercially dependent distributed logistics," the force aims to support operations more effectively, especially in situations where fixed ports are limited or unavailable.
In the past, US forces in Iraq have used commercial ports to download huge quantities of supplies in both the first Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom. However, incidents such as the port constraints nearly derailing operations during the Cambodian Campaign of 1970 highlight the need for more logistics over-the-shore capability.
The Army is trending towards new platforms like the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) for logistics over-the-shore capability. This shift is also encouraged by the 2018 National Defense Strategy and the 2022 version, which emphasize the transition from large, centralized, unhardened infrastructure to smaller, dispersed, resilient, adaptive basing.
The US Army is not alone in this shift. The German Navy has been called upon to invest more in LOTS capabilities to increase flexibility, survivability, and reduce impact risks on allied, partner, and host nations in future operations.
Two recent incidents serve as stark reminders of the need for LOTS capabilities. The sinking of the Russian ship Saratov in Berdyansk has blocked the port, potentially hampering Russian operations in the area for an extended period of time. Similarly, an explosion at the Ukrainian port of Berdyansk on March 24 resulted in the sinking of a Russian logistics ship and the damage of two others.
As the Army continues to develop its LOTS capabilities, it's clear that the views of its strategists, like Major Matthew Carstens and Major Garrett Chandler, who are currently studying at the School of Advanced Military Studies, will play a crucial role in shaping the future of logistics in the United States military.
