A blue-water navy is a maritime force capable of operating across the deep
waters of open oceans. A term more often used in the United Kingdom to describe
such a force is a navy possessing maritime expeditionary capabilities.
While definitions of what actually constitutes such a force vary, there is
a requirement for the ability to exercise sea control at wide ranges.
The Defense Security Service of the United States has defined the blue-water
navy as, "a maritime force capable of sustained operation across the deep
waters of open oceans. A blue-water navy allows a country to project power far
from the home country and usually includes one or more aircraft carriers.
Smaller blue-water navies are able to dispatch fewer vessels abroad for
shorter periods of time." Attributes of a blue-water navy
Blue-water capability refers to an oceangoing fleet able to operate on the
high seas far from its nation's homeports. Some operate throughout the
world. It implies force protection from sub-surface, surface and airborne
threats and a sustainable logistic reach, allowing a persistent presence at
range. A hallmark of a true blue-water navy is the ability to conduct
replenishment at sea, and the commissioning of underway replenishment
ships is a strong sign of a navy's blue-water ambitions. Despite the above
however, there is no agreed definition of the term.
In public discourse, blue-water capability is identified with the
operation of iconic capital ships such as battleships and aircraft carriers.
For instance, during the debate in the 1970s whether Australia should replace
HMAS Melbourne, a former Chief of Navy claimed that if Australia did not
replace her last aircraft carrier, she "would no longer have a blue-water
navy". In the end Australia did not buy a new carrier, but former Parliamentary
defence advisor Gary Brown could still claim in 2004 that her navy remained "an
effective blue-water force". The Soviet Navy towards the end of the Cold War is
another example of a blue-water navy that had minimal carrier aviation,
relying instead on submarines, missile-carrying surface ships, and
long-range bombers based on land. While traditionally a distinction was
made between the coastal brown-water navy and a seagoing blue-water navy, the
new term green-water navy has been created by the U.S. Navy. Green-water
navy appears to be equivalent to a brown-water navy in older sources. The
term brown-water navy appears to have been altered in U.S. Navy parlance to a
riverine force. The term blue-water navy should not be
confused with the capability of an individual ship. For example, vessels of
a green-water navy can often operate in blue water for short periods of time. A
number of nations have extensive maritime assets but lack the capability
to maintain the required sustainable logistic reach. Some of them join
coalition task groups in blue-water deployments such as anti-piracy patrols
off Somalia. While a blue-water navy can project sea
control power into another nation's littoral, it remains susceptible to
threats from less capable forces. Maintenance and logistics at range have
high costs, and there might be a saturation advantage over a deployed
force through the use of land-based air or surface-to-surface missile assets,
diesel-electric submarines, or asymmetric tactics such as Fast Inshore
Attack Craft. An example of this vulnerability was the October 2000 USS
Cole bombing in Aden. = Classification=
In his 2012 publication, "Sea Power and the Asia-Pacific", Assistant Professor
of political science Patrick C. Bratton outlined what he termed as "concise
criteria" with regards to the classification of brown, green and
blue-water navies. He writes: ...a brown-water navy standing for a
navy capable of defending its coastal zones, a green-water navy for a navy
competent to operate in regional sea and finally [a] blue-water navy described as
a navy with capability to operate across the deep waters.
Bratton goes on to say that even with such a definition and understanding of
naval hierarchy, it is still "ambiguous". For example, while France
and the United States may be considered blue-water navies, he states that the
"operational capability and geographic reach of both navies are definitely
different." = Overseas basing=
Historically, and to present day, blue-water navies have tended to
establish overseas bases to extend the reach of supply lines, provide repair
facilities and enhance the "effective striking power" of a fleet beyond the
capabilities provided by the nations homeports. Generally, these overseas
bases are located within areas where potential conflicts or threats to the
nations interests may arise. For example, since World War II the Royal
Navy and later the United States Navy have continued to base forces in Bahrain
for operations in the Persian Gulf. The military importance and value of
overseas basing is primarily dependent on geographical location. A base located
at choke points in narrow or enclosed seas can be of high value, especially if
positioned near, or within striking distance of an enemy's sea lines of
communications. However advanced operating bases can be equally as
valuable. Naval Station Pearl Harbor acts as a "gateway" for the US Navy to
"operate forward" in the Pacific Ocean. Navies described as being blue-water
navies These are navies that have been
described by various defense experts or academics as being blue-water navies.
Some have successfully used their blue-water capabilities to exercise
control on the high seas and from there have projected power into other nations'
littoral waters. It should be noted that there is no definitive definition of the
term 'blue-water navy' and any navy described as such is based on the
writers own interpretation. = China=
The Peoples Liberation Army Navy has been described as a blue-water navy by
British naval historian and professor, Geoffrey Till. It has also received a
significant amount of attention regarding its blue-water ambitions, most
notably from the United States Congress and the United States Department of
Defense. In a 2014 report for the US Congress, experts highlighted that while
China's naval expansion is primarily orientated towards projecting maritime
power in the First and Second island chains, the country will also seek to
displace US influence in the Western Pacific Ocean and consolidate China's
status as the "leading regional power and a major world power". In a 2013 US
Department of Defense report to Congress, defense experts asserted that
over the coming decades China will gain the capability, if needed, to project
power across the globe and conduct high intensity operations for a number of
months - similar to the United Kingdoms 1982 Falklands War.
In the opinion of former US Rear Admiral Michael McDevitt, by 2020 the PLAN will
be “the second most capable ‘far seas’ navy in the world.” He highlights that
China could have as many aircraft carriers as Britain or India, as many as
6-7 nuclear-attack submarines, and a similar number of AEGIS like destroyers
as all the other non-US navies combined. = France=
The French Navy[a] operates a single nuclear-powered aircraft carrier which
forms the centrepiece of the Navy's principal expeditionary task group. In
addition to this, the navy maintains a secondary Amphibious Group based around
the Mistral-class amphibious assault ships. Both these formations are part of
the Force d'action navale. The 'Forces sous-marines' operates four
nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and six nuclear-powered fleet
submarines. France retains a network of overseas naval facilities around the
world; from Fort de France in the Caribbean, to Le Port, Réunion in the
Indian Ocean, Papeete in the Pacific and in several other parts of the world too,
including the Gulf, South Atlantic and the Western Pacific.
The Navy's operational duties include the protection of French interests
abroad and the security of the nation's many overseas departments and
territories, as such the Navy undertakes a number of standing commitments
worldwide. = India=
A number of experts have described the Indian Navy as being a blue-water navy.
India initially outlined its intentions of developing blue-water capabilities
under the 2007 Maritime Capabilities Perspective Plan. The navy's priority is
the projection of "power in India’s area of strategic interest". Since 2007 the
navy has increased its presence in the Persian Gulf and the Horn of Africa to
the Strait of Malacca, and routinely conducts anti-piracy operations and
partnership building with other navies in the region. It also conducts routine
two to three month-long deployments in the South and East China seas as well as
the western Mediterranean simultaneously. The navy has listening
posts stationed in Madagascar, Oman, Seychelles and Mauritius.
The navy operates two carrier task forces centered on INS Vikramaditya and
INS Viraat, with a third aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, expected to be
commissioned by 2018. The navy also possess an amphibious transport dock,
INS Jalashwa. In addition, the Indian Navy currently leases one Akula-class
nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia. In 2009 India launched its first
indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS
Arihant. It is expected to achieve full operational clearance by the end of
2015. = Russia=
The Russian Navy has been described as a blue-water navy by British naval
historian, Professor Geoffrey Till. The Soviet Navy maintained naval forces able
to rival those of the United States Navy, however following the end of the
Cold War and subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the fleet
experienced a severe decline due to lack of funding. It wasn't until 2007, under
then President Vladimir Putin, that "naval ambition broadened in scope and
aimed at re-creating a large blue-water navy". Analysts have mentioned that as
opposed to the focus on submarine operations in the North Atlantic during
the Cold War era, Russia's strategic emphasis has shifted towards the Pacific
regions where a rising China and the United States 'Asia-Pacific Pivot' are
potential threats. Russia maintains a single overseas naval
facility in Tartus, which hosts a Soviet-era naval supply and maintenance
facility, under a 1971 agreement with Ba'athist Syria. The facility provides
technical maintenance and logistical support to Russian warships deployed in
the Mediterranean. = United Kingdom=
The Royal Navy[a][b][c] supports a number of standing commitments worldwide
on a continuous basis and maintains an expeditionary task force known as the
Response Force Task Group. The Royal Navy Submarine Service operates four
nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and six nuclear-powered fleet
submarines which operate globally. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary maintains a number
of ships which support Royal Navy operations at range and augment its
amphibious capabilities. The United Kingdom maintains four overseas naval
facilities, including a refuelling station at Sembawang, Singapore in the
Far East. The U.S. Naval War College identifies
the Royal Navy's tasks as fighting wars, conducting distant expeditions,
maintaining good order at sea and preventing and deterring conflict. As
such, the Navy views the retention of its "world-class" high-end disciplines
in anti-air and anti-submarine warfare as strategically important. The Royal
Navy has shown many examples of its expeditionary capabilities, such as the
1982 Falklands War, the 1990-91 Gulf War, Sierra Leone, the War in
Afghanistan, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and during the 2011 military
intervention in Libya. = United States=
The United States Navy has been described as a global blue-water navy,
operating in the deep waters of every ocean simultaneously. The USN maintains
nine carrier strike groups, of which six are deployed or ready for deployment
within 30 days, and two ready for deployment within 90 days under the
Fleet Response Plan. The USN also maintains a continuous deployment of
nine expeditionary strike groups that embark a Marine Expeditionary Unit with
an Aviation Combat Element of Landing Helicopter Docks and Landing Helicopter
Assault. The US Military Sealift Command is the largest of its kind in the world
and is responsible for delivering military transport and ship
replenishment around the globe. The US Navy has seen several examples of
blue-water combat capabilities from the Korean War to Operation Enduring Freedom
and has the ability to project force onto the littoral regions of the world,
engage in forward areas during peacetime, and rapidly respond to
regional crises. From green-water to blue-water
Few countries today maintain blue-water navies, but some green-water navies have
ambition towards the development of blue-water capabilities.
While considered to be a green-water navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense
Force is undergoing transition to develop blue-water capabilities. It
began in 1981 when Prime Minister Zenkō Suzuki put forward a new doctrine
requiring the JMSDF to expand its operations by 1,000 miles for defense of
the nation's sea lines of communication. To respond to the growing blue-water
requirements, the JMSDF has been developing impressive capabilities, most
notably the creation of destroyer flotillas centered on large helicopter
destroyers and large AEGIS equipped destroyers. The first post WWII overseas
naval air facility of Japan was established next to Djibouti-Ambouli
International Airport, which supports a number of Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime
patrol aircraft. The Republic of Korea Navy also has
ambitions to develop blue-water capabilities. In 2001, the then South
Korean President, Kim Dae-jung, announced plans to build a "Strategic
Mobile Fleet". The plan includes the construction of up to three Dokdo-class
amphibious assault ships, with a ski-jump for the operation of V/STOL jet
fighters being considered for the second vessel currently under construction.
The Brazilian Navy is experiencing a "shift in maritime priorities" with
ambitions of developing a blue-water navy. While it maintains a mix of
capabilities enabling it to operate in the wider South Atlantic Ocean, the
Brazilian government wishes to be recognized as "the leading maritime
power in the Southern Hemisphere" and is seeking to develop a naval shipbuilding
industry. See also
Brown-water navy Green-water navy
Maritime geography Expeditionary warfare
Power projection Notes
1. ^ Professor of International Politics, Adrian Hyde-Price, highlights
that in the post-Cold War era both Britain and France have re-focused their
attention "towards expeditionary warfare and power projection. Power projection
has always been an element of British and French military thinking given their
residual over seas interests, but it has now moved centre stage."
2. ^ Royal United Services Institute: "As a permanent member of the UN
Security Council, the independent ability to deploy a credible and
powerful conventional force that enables access to most of the globe by sea is
compelling. This force offers Britain the opportunity to commit political
support in emerging crises to deter, prevent, coerce or – if necessary –
destroy an aggressor, as envisaged in the UK’s National Security Strategy."
3. ^ The Royal Navy does not typically use the term blue-water navy, but rather
the term "expeditionary". "The Navy is always expeditionary and is able to deal
with threats to our nation’s interest at range."
References External links
Description of the Falklands War