By Kris Osborn, Warrior
Warrior spoke with Maj. Gen. Gavin Gardner, Commander, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, US Army Pacific Command
US Army — Watercraft in the Pacific
From Maj. Gen. Gavin Gardner
“The Army has that responsibilities first and foremost to provide that transportation that’s right out of Title 10. Additionally, our job is to sustain forces from the water, just like we do on the land within, those littoral brown water commons, I’ll call it.” Gardner said.
“If you look over time in history in particular, whether we’re starting back in the War of 1812, the Army had boats then more prominently, especially out here in the Pacific campaigns, both with Admiral Nimitz in the central quarter and General MacArthur. The Southwest approach against the Japanese army watercraft were essential to the amphibious operations. The ability of the army to deliver logistics over the shore led to the ultimate conquest and victory over the Japanese in the Pacific theater during World War two,” Gardner said.
New Maneuver Support Vessel Light — MSV L
“Army watercraft allow you to do joint logistics over the shores what we do. It’s an exciting time. Currently today, the Army has its prototype Maneuver Support Vessel Light MSV light. It’s here with us in an Oahu and we’re going to run it through its paces,” Gardner said. It’s designed to move 1 70 ton tank, two Bradleys, two HIMARS, two Strykers or a company plus infantry and really take them out that last tactical mile up to a 300 mile range. This is another way that you can deliver combat power to any beach on the planet at a high speed under our timing and tempo that we want. This is about using army watercraft to do operational maneuver that puts us in a position to deliver precision fires and precision force protection.
Future Army Pacific Watercraft Expansion
“The plans are to expand the Army’s presence really in that what we call the first island chain….. this case Japan, Korea, Philippines down towards Singapore and then also to the second island chain, which is a Guam, Papua New Guinea parts of Australia and then here in Hawaii. We have started to grow that force. We just stood up a fifth composite watercraft company in Japan,” Gardner said.
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Several Warrior ESSAYS on the Way – Stand by
