Watercraft Materiel Master Plan


 

 

 

Chapter Three

BUILDING the FORCE

 

3-1. GENERAL. This chapter describes the TAA process and identifies results of TAA-05 force structure requirements and resourcing by component for calendar year (CY) 1998-2005. It also addresses TAA-05 force structure initiatives. Watercraft doctrine is the basis for the development of the guidelines used in the TAA process. The training directorate at CASCOM is responsible for writing and maintaining watercraft doctrine.

A. Army force structure requirements, i.e., the types and quantity of table of organization and equipment (TOE) units, are determined during TAA, a biennial process that determines what doctrinal forces are needed in scenarios specified by the Defense Planning Guidance (DPG). The DPG provides the National Force Projection Strategy and resource priorities for program development. These broad, high level issues are refined into greater specificity and addressed in The Army Plan, the Army’s blueprint of the future that sets total Army goals and establishes priorities for dollars and manpower. CINC priorities and concerns also play a role in developing the Army strategy for organizing and equipping Army forces. The primary means of incorporating CINC requirements is the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, chaired by the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Army’s force structure must provide essential support and minimize risk for the warfighting CINCS. Figure 3-1 graphically depicts this process. Future structure must also provide a continuous training base in the event of total mobilization.

Figure 3-1

B. There are two phases in the TAA process:

1) The first phase identifies the doctrinally required wartime combat support (CS) and combat service support (CSS) forces needed by the Army to support allotted combat forces in scenarios specified by the DPG. All force structure requirements are driven by approved Army doctrine. TAA force requirements are identified through the use of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) developed, and HQDA approved, allocation rules that are used by the Concepts Analysis Agency in several computer models. Requirements are expressed in terms of level 1, fully modernized units; e.g., with units organized at 100 percent of required personnel and the most modern equipment. After the results of phase 1 are approved by HQDA, unit requirements compete for resourcing during phase II.

2) The second phase determines what units will be "resourced." Decisions made during this phase include component (Active, Guard, or Reserve; see Table 3-1) and authorized level of organization (ALO). Army watercraft units are resourced in either Component (Compo) 1 (Active Army) or Compo 3 (United States Army Reserve [USAR]). Watercraft units formerly in the Army National Guard were transferred to the USAR by the 1994 Army National Guard/United States Army Reserve off-site agreement. Typically, most CSS units are resourced at less than level 1, fully modernized units, because of Army manpower ceilings. Requirements for units that are not resourced during this phase are documented as Compo 4 units — valid requirements but unresourced — an accounting mechanism that allows the Army leadership to assess risk.

Table 3-1. Component Breakout

COMPO level

Component

1

Active Component (AC)

2

National Guard (NG)

3

Army Reserve (USAR)

4

Unresourced (recognized, but unresourced requirements)

 

    1. TRANSPORTATION WATERCRAFT FORCE STRUCTURE. TAA determines Army watercraft unit requirements that, in turn, determines the required quantity of each type of watercraft. TAA-05 watercraft unit requirements are shown in Table 3-2 (p. 3-4); TAA-07 will occur in 1998 and 1999. A major change to TAA-05 scenarios was the modeling of water main supply routes (MSRs). This caused an increase requirements for LSVs because of their efficiency in moving high volume tonnage. TAA-05 requirements were based on allocation rules that employ watercraft units to discharge prepositioned maneuver and support force equipment (APS-3); support reception, staging, and onward movement of forces in the theaters; and sustain combat operations through completion of the campaign plans specified in the DPG scenarios. The allocation rules used in TAA-05 will be reviewed in 1998 and updated in as required for TAA-07. TAA-07 resourcing will be determined in 1999.

"...Balance is the key word. It really describes the challenge we face in the Army today."

Dennis J. Reimer, General, United States Army, Chief of Staff

 

Table 3-2. Army Watercraft Force Structure Requirements (TAA-05)


Type unit

TAA-05
required

TAA-05
resourced


Compo 4

AC1 (ALO)

RC1 (ALO)

LSV DET

16

8

8

5 (1)

3 (1)

HEAVY BOAT CO

4

4

0

2 (3)

2 (3)

MEDIUM BOAT CO

2

2

0

1 (3)

1 (3)

COMPOSITE BOAT CO2

1

1

0

1 (8)

0

LARC-LX DETS

2

2

0

1 (1)

1 (1)

FLOAT CRAFT CO

4

4

0

2 (1)

2 (1)

CAUSEWAY CO

2

2

0

1

1

FC MAINT CO

2

2

0

1 (1)

1 (1)

PORT CONSTR CO

3

3

0

0

3 (1)

Note 1: Projected ALOs.

Note 2: Recognized as CINC-unique requirement (Panama).

3-3. ARMY WATERCRAFT UNITS AND THEIR MISSIONS.

A. LSV detachments carry cargo and/or equipment throughout a theater of operations or intratheater routes not otherwise serviced by the Military Sealift Command (MSC). LSV Detachments also assist in roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) or LOTS operations, particularly with container-handling equipment, vehicular, and other oversize/overweight cargo.

B. Heavy boat companies provide and operate landing craft to transport personnel, containers, vehicles, and outsize cargo in offshore discharge operations. The heavy boat company also augments lighterage service in a port or harbor, in inland or coastal waters, or between islands. The company also provides lighterage service required in joint amphibious or other waterborne tactical operations. The task craft is the Landing Craft, Utility (LCU).

C. Medium boat companies provide and operate landing craft to move personnel and cargo in Army water terminal operations and waterborne tactical operations. It also augments naval craft in joint amphibious operations when required. The task lighter is a Landing Craft, Mechanized (LCM).

D. Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply, Cargo (LARC) detachments provide the Army’s only amphibious lighterage service primarily for heavy, outsize, or bulky equipment. Provides critical capability to place beach preparation equipment ashore. The task vessel is the LARC.

E. Floating Craft Companies are capable of heavy tows within a harbor area or limited offshore towing between terminals, berthing and unberthing ocean going vessels and heavy lifts beyond the capability of a ship’s gear. The task vessels, are the 128’ large tug (LT), small (or pusher) tug, floating crane, and dry and liquid cargo barges.

F. Causeway companies provide the Army with the capability to transfer cargo between ships or from ship to shore. Causeway systems provide the essential interface between Army lighterage and RO/RO ships. The task craft are RO/RO discharge facilities (RRDFs), causeway ferry’s (CFs) and floating causeways (FCs).

G. The Transportation watercraft intermediate maintenance companies are modular units capable of rapidly deploying to provide marine maintenance support in any theater. The modular platoons allow the unit to deploy with only the number of personnel required to operate the Containerized Maintenance Facility (CMF) during the initial deployment and build incrementally to a full company operation.

3-4. SUMMARY. Doctrine drives force structure requirements, which, in turn, determines equipment (watercraft) required quantities. All Army watercraft requirements that are resourced are either Active Army or USAR units; one of the three Engineer Port Construction Companies will be an Army National Guard unit. TAA-05 requirements were determined by doctrinally based allocation rules. TAA-07 will be conducted in 1998 and 1999.

 

"Our Army is changing! We must not fear the change - rather, we must engage it - lead it - take it to a rational, well formed future...[We have] an absolutely key role in ‘seeing’ that future and in keeping us a trained and ready force as we head toward it. We will fill that role."

William W. Hartzog, General, United States Army,
Commander, Training and Doctrine Command