(Washington, D.C.) As formations which can launch 5th-generation stealth attacks from the ocean, dispatch heavily armed ship-to-shore vehicles loaded with Marines and weapons, operate Osprey Tiltrotors for troop transport behind enemy lines and command fleets of surface, air and undersea drones, U.S. Navy Amphibious Ready Groups could almost operate as adapted, tailorable, multi-mission Carrier Strike Groups.
This would be particularly true in maritime environments such as the Pacific where there are many island chains, coastal areas and sea-land domain operational requirements. Unlike Carrier Strike Groups which, having large, deep-draft blue-water ships such as carriers and destroyers, Amphibious Ready Groups can perform maritime combat operations in both open blue water and in littoral areas as well.
In terms of the kinds of immediate combat missions which could emerge and quickly become necessary in the Pacific, many of the possibilities would likely require capabilities associated with an ARG.
Pacific Operations
Perhaps this is part of why the U.S. Navy is now operating its America Amphibious Ready Group in the Pacific, conducting patrols and security operations in the Philippine Sea.
An ARG in the Pacific would not only have an ability to launch amphibious ship-to-shore attacks in island areas or along contested enemy coastline, but they can also launch the F-35B vertical take-off-and-landing 5th-Gen stealth air asset which can perform strikes over land, attack enemy surface ships, support advancing amphibious forces or even conduct forward reconnaissance and targeting missions.
In this respect, an ARG introduces a measure of mission versatility less possible with a heavier, longer-range Carrier Strike Group, while still ensuring the possibility of 5th-gen air support.
There are so many potential scenarios in the Pacific which might require or benefit from the presence of amphibious forces. Should Taiwan or Japan fall victim to some kind of Chinese attack, an ARG could immediately bring thousands of Marines to support defenses, launch F-35s to attack approaching forces and quickly reinforce supplies, troop reinforcements, weapons and equipment to the shorelines under attack.
