ABSTRACT
United States Joint Doctrine defines what it calls the 'maritime domain' as 'the oceans, seas, bays, estuaries, islands, coastal areas, and the airspace above these, including the littorals' and this definition is the one adopted for the maritime operating environment. A study of the maritime environment cannot, therefore, begin where the waves lap the shore but must encompass that portion of the land that can be used to have a direct bearing on activity at sea and that may also be subject to direct influence applied from the sea. According to North Atlantic Treaty Organization doctrine the littoral region is defined as follows: 'In military operations, a coastal region consisting of the seaward area from the open ocean to the shore that must be controlled to support operations ashore, and the landward area inland from the shore that can be supported and defended directly from the sea.
