ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part focuses on the concerns of the surface community were written by a number of world-class experts. A lot of people say the surface forces have had their day, but every time there is an incident like the ones in Lebanon and the Falklands or a need for ships off the coast of Central America, they call out the carriers. They often call out the submarines, too, but the surface forces are always there no matter what the contingency. The surface force has become somewhat of a forgotten fleet in this post-World War II era.
