FM 55-50 ARMY WATER TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

US Army Field Manual on CD in Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) format.

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What's inside:

In a theater of operations, all modes of transport - air motor, rail, and water - move cargo from the water's edge in the communications zone (COMMZ) through the corps and into the division areas. This manual describes the transportation doctrine and organizational structures required for Army water transport operations in a generic theater.

During a protracted contingency operation, strategic sealift transports 90 percent of the supplies and equipment required by operating military forces. Strategic sealift consists of government-owned and/or -controlled vessels and commercial merchant vessels. This group includes military specific designed ships such as auxiliary crane ships and common merchant designs such as roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ships, container ships, and large tankers. These ships transoprt supplies and equipment to a conflict area and discharge either at ports with fixed facilities or at unimproved beach locations. The Transportation Corps is the primary operator of these contingency water terminals. It must plan and conduct discharge operations and identify the watercraft resources required to accomplish assigned missions.

In a theater of operations, Army water transport units (companies, teams, and detachments) provide watercraft to support port, inland waterway, logistics-over-the-shore (LOTS), and intratheater movement operations.

This manual is primarially for unit and vessel masters, key personnel, higher headquarters staffs, theater planners, and commanders of operational allied units. It covers roles, missions, and concepts of employment for individual craft, entire units, and groups of units.

This publication implements the following international agreement: QSTAG 592, Forecast Movement Requirements - Rail, Road, and Inland Waterways, 1979.

PAGES: 131

PUBLICATION DATE: SEPTEMBER, 1993

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