Seabasing, Fixed Wing Transport, and Ship-to-Shore Connectors

Ares has an article up on a Heavy Air Lift Seabasing Ship (HALSS) concept, and it states that the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is funding a design.

With the absence of professional debate on the Sea Base concept itself (yes I am talking to Proceedings and basically everyone else but Bob Work of CSBA), it is difficult to know if this actually has any support. Sea Basing and expeditionary warfare are in a state of flux right now. On one hand we have this GWOT thing that tends to imply a highly mobile force of small units need to be highly maneuverable from sea to take on our nations asymmetrical challenges, often in several places at once in remote areas where facilities aren't readily available. However, on the other hand we have to keep our eyes on the big picture, and that starts with talking about a rising China and potential conflict there, where I can't think of a single good reason the US would ever land a single Marine in China, ever.

I'm still mixed on the Sea Base concept. I like the innovation, particularly on the logistical side, but I think the way the Sea Base concept handles aviation is a mess, and unlike the rest of the concept, aviation isn't very well thought out. I also don't like the 'rush to produce' mentality of Sea Basing, why does everything have to be rushed? Whatever happened to the idea of transition as a safe way to hedge bets on still developing technologies?

Is the Heavy Air Light Seabasing Ship (HALSS) concept an attempt as a better approach to aviation? I'll wait and see, but the C-130J limitations in vehicle transport tend to imply it isn't. The target for landing fixed wing transport at sea should be the C-17, not the C-130. Yes I understand thinking big will take more time, but aircraft carriers weren't invented over night, there is no reason to expect a mobile air field in an ocean able to land large aircraft will be invented quickly, or even should be invented quickly.

Ares also mentions ship to shore connectors, and that is another place where the innovation is impressive, and btw where an improvement is needed, not only just wanted. For more on the innovations in ship - to - shore connectors, check out the September 2007 Sea Power, page 34.

There are some other articles in that Sea Power issue worth taking a look as well, the DDG-1000 article on page 44 is a decent read, as is the interview with General Conway on page 28.