ABSTRACT
This chapter points out some characteristics of maritime materiel which are of most interest to a medium power in planning for what it thinks it needs to do. By way of reminder, the maritime interests of a medium power include the maintenance of territorial integrity and political independence, trade and access, economic exploitation, overseas commitments and stability. Like man, the surface ship is a creature of the interface, following the natural laws of gravity, buoyancy and stability without trying too hard by the aid of machinery to circumvent them. The surface ship also has the advantage of high sustainability. The distinguishing characteristic of an aircraft is that it defies gravity. The aircraft is particularly sensitive when getting into, or returning from, the air; it habitually needs specially constructed facilities, and may require certain conditions of wind or weather or light, to enable it to do so safely. If the aircraft defies gravity, the submarine defies buoyancy.
