The modern naval fortress: an additional sea denial option for coastal states

Abstract

As fixed facilities, naval fortresses seem unlikely to be important in a sea denial strategy which is usually about mobility, but new defence technologies and the changing geostrategic environment may revive the concept of the fortress. Extended ranges of anti-ship means allow onshore firepower to engage enemies over distance, even beyond the economic exclusive zones where most maritime territorial disputes occur. In the face of size limits on missile warheads that constrain their destruction of hardened targets, various active and passive defence technologies against missiles can enhance the survivability of onshore fortresses. Furthermore, onshore locations give fortresses the advantage of being unsinkable and able to accommodate greater energy and firepower capacity in contrast to vessels, as well as other mobile platforms. The onshore nature of fortresses also gives a different political meaning to being attacked, for the clear violation of sovereignty, as opposed to vessels and aircraft in a disputed space. However, the fact those fortresses are not invincible means cooperation with other existing capabilities still necessary. The case of Vietnam demonstrates how fortresses could strengthen the inferior defence capability of a coastal state vis-à-vis. a stronger sea power.

Keywords:

• Sea denial
• fortress
• coastal states
• China
• Vietnam

Notes

1. For example, the maximal range of the successful British Armstrong 12 pounder in the mid-nineteenth century was slightly more than 8 km.

2. During World War One, a variety of field guns were able to reach ranges more than 10 km.

3. During the Second World War, two kinds of German coastal guns, 305 mm SK L/50 and 406 mm SK C/34, and one American model of 16-inch, M1920, could reach more than 50 km.

4. Most warheads of precision guided munitions are less than 1500 kg.

5. The largest naval gun in service is the American 155 mm advanced gun system, and its shells would be about 50 kg. The largest warhead of land-attack or cruise missile is about 500 kg, except for several types of Soviet/Russian heavy anti-ship missiles.