ABSTRACT

After obtaining command of the sea, a blue-water navy or a coastal navy must maintain that control. This encompasses a number of strategic and operational tasks that must be carried out both sequentially and/or simultaneously. Exercising control includes, among other things, broad strategic tasks such as projecting power ashore, preventing the enemy's invasion from across the sea, weakening of the enemy and protecting one's maritime trade. There is a great difference in exercising control of the sea in the case of a typical narrow sea in terms of size/mix of force, extent of the area, and duration compared with similar tasks carried out on the open ocean. One of the most important features of narrow seas is that the conduct of major naval operations and even tactical actions require the highest degree of cooperation between all services of the armed forces.