MPS해상사전배치선단-한영문 이시우 2005/09/20 381

육군 사전배치물자

“해외 분쟁 발발시 미군 병력과 장비의 규모보다 더 중요한 것이 미군이 배치되는 속도다.” 미국의 군사전문가 스튜어트 카프만 캔터키대 정치학과 교수의 말이다.

그토록 중요한 배치 속도를 증가시키기 위해 미 육군은 신속배치부대 외에도 온갖 제도를 고안해 냈다. 육군 사전배치물자(APS·Army Prepostioned Stocks)도 그중 하나다.

카프만 교수는 1990년대 후반을 기준으로 한국에서 분쟁이 발생할 경우 2개 기계화사단이 배치되는 데 1개월, 5~6개의 육군·해병대 사단이 완전 배치되는 데 70일 이상이 소요될 것이라고 지적한 바 있다.

신속배치부대가 아닌 일반 기계화사단을 이동시키는 데 시간이 이토록 많이 소요되는 것은 항공 수송 능력의 한계 때문이다.

전차와 장갑차 등을 보유한 중무장 기계화사단도 대형 수송기를 동원한다면 항공 수송을 통해 신속하게 분쟁지역으로 이동시키는 것이 불가능한 것만은 아니다.

하지만 92년 미국의 기동소요연구(MRS)에 따르면 1개 기계화사단을 주요 분쟁지역으로 투입하는 데 드는 항공 수송 비용은 450~600억 달러에 달할 것으로 추정됐다. 더구나 전체 항공수송능력 자체에 한계가 있기 때문에 현실적으로 기계화사단 수송에 수송기를 모조리 투입하는 것은 불가능하다.

여러 문제를 고려할 때 기계화사단 등 중무장부대의 항공 수송은 어려운 것이다.

이처럼 전시에 분쟁지역으로 중무장부대를 빨리 보내는 데 한계가 있기 때문에 전시에 사용할 장비와 물자를 해외에 미리 배치하는 것이 APS 제도의 개념이다. 미 본토 주둔 병력이 몸만 가지고 신속하게 분쟁지역으로 이동한 후 사전배치된 장비로 전투를 수행토록 하자는 것이다.

미 육군이 장비와 물자의 해외 사전배치를 처음 시작한 것은 67년 독일에서부터다. 냉전이 절정에 달한 85년 무렵에는 독일을 포함한 유럽 각지 13개소에는 유사시 미 육군 6개 사단과 1개 해병여단이 사용할 수 있는 장비를 비축했다. 당시 유럽에 주둔한 미 육군 4개 사단의 장비보다 사전배치 장비가 더 많았던 것.

냉전 종식 후인 90년대 중엽, 유럽에 집중 배치됐던 미 육군의 장비는 세계 각지로 분산됐다. 96년 전차와 장갑차 등 1개 중여단이 사용할 수 있는 규모의 장비가 한국에 사전배치된 것도 그 일환이다.

미 육군의 사전배치 물자는 현재 미 본토에 배치된 APS-1, 유럽의 APS-2, 해상에 배치되는 APS-3, 한국을 포함한 태평양지역의 APS-4, 중동의 APS-5 등으로 구분된다. APS-2는 3개 여단, APS-3은 1개 여단, APS-5는 2개 여단 규모의 장비를 보유하고 있다.

육상 사전배치의 경우 주둔국에 토지와 저장시설을 마련, 장비를 비축하는 방식이다. 디에고가르시아 등에는 미 육군 소속 선박에 장비와 물자를 탑재한 채 항구 주변에서 대기하는 해상 사전배치 물자도 운용하고 있다. 미 육군의 해상 사전배치 물자는 해군·해병대의 해상 사전배치선(MPS)과 별도로 운용되는 것이다.

< 출처 : 국방일보=밀리터리 리뷰, 2005. 9. 5 >

http://www.militaryreview.com/CS/mrboard/bbs.php3?db=gen46&inc=read&no=521&page=1&search=&search_part=

http://www.usfk.or.kr/kr/events/preposition.php 해상사전배치선단에 관한 주한미군의 보도자료
http://www.msc.navy.mil/ 미해군해상수송사령부 홈
http://www.msc.navy.mil/pm3/ 해상수송사령부사전배치선단
http://www.msc.navy.mil/mpsone/ 제1해상사전배치선단 홈
http://www.msc.navy.mil/mpstwo/ 제2해상사전배치선단 홈
http://www.msc.navy.mil/mpsthree/제3해상사전배치선단 홈

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/sealift-mps.htm

Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS)
Sealift

Sealift Ships
Maritime Prepositioning Ships
Combat Prepositioning Ships
Logistics Prepositioning Ships
Ready Reserve Force
National Defense Reserve Fleet
Maritime Security Fleet

Sealift References
Units
MPF – Maritime Prepositioning Force
Maritime Prepositioning Squadron 1
Maritime Prepositioning Squadron 2
Maritime Prepositioning Squadron 3

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The Marine Corps’ Maritime Prepositioning Force [MPF] mission is to support the rapid deployment of Marine forces by providing mobile, long-term storage of equipment and supplies near areas of potential trouble. When trouble arises — such as Operation Desert Storm or Restore Hope in Somalia — these ships can respond immediately to provide rapid deployment forces with critical sustaining support. 분쟁이 발생했을 때 사막의 폭풍 작전이나 소말리아 지원작전 같은- 이들 배들은 즉시 긴급한 유지와 함께 신속전개 전력을 제공한다.
The MPF concept calls for Marines and Sailors to fly into a secured airfield to link up with the MPF ships. 해상사전배치군은 사전배치선단과 함께 연계된 보호 공역안에서 해병과 해군이 날기위한 개념이라고 할수잇다. More than 17,000 Marines and Sailors can be flown in on fewer than 250 aircraft sorties. 17000명 이상의 해병과 해군을 250회이하의 항모출격으로 밀려들게 할 수 있었다. If the equipment on the ships had to be flown in with the Marines and Sailors, it would take more than 3,000 sorties. 만약 배위의 설비들과 함께 해병과 해군을 밀려들게 하려면 3000이상의 출력을 해야 할것이었다.
Some MSC prepositioning ships are specially configured to transport supplies for the US Marine Corps.
몇몇 해상선단부대의 사전배치선박은 특별히 미 해병대를 위해 운송지원을 위해 구성되었다.
Known as the Maritime Prepositioning Force, these ships were built or modified in the mid-1980s and are on location in the western Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
알다싶이 해상사전배치전력과 이들 선단은 서태평양과 인도양 그리고 지중해에 위치해 있고 1980년대 중반 건설되었다.
Ships from one MPSRON are interchangeable with ships from any other.
하나의 해상사전배치선단 (분대)로부터 배들은 다른 배들과 함께 상호 호환성을 가진다.
The Maritime Prepositioning Ships, or MPS, contain nearly everything the Marines need for initial military operations — from tanks and ammunition to food and fuel to spare parts and engine oil.
해상사전배치선단은 탱크와 탄약 음식 연료 나머지부분과 엔진오일로부터 초기 군사작전을 위해 모든 해병대의 요구와 밀접히 연관되어 있다.
An MPF operation is the rapid deployment and assembly of a Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) in a permissive area using a combination of strategic airlift and forward-deployed Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS).
해상사전배치전력작전은 신속전개와 전방전개된 해상사전배치선단과 전략항공수송의 결합이 사용되는 허가구역안의 해병공지기동부대의 집결이다.
Each maritime prepositioning ship squadrons (MPSRON) has been assigned to a specific Marine Expeditionary Force [MEF] to support a designated regional Commander-In-Chief (CINC).
각 해상사전배치선단(분대)는 지정된 지역사령관을 지원하기 위해 특별히 해병원정부대가 할당되어 왔다.
Each squadron is embarked to support two Force Modules (FM).

The largest FM is a 16,500 – 17,600-man MPF Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) supported from all the ships of a MPSRON with additional FIE supported by strategic airlift. Each MPSRON prepositions sufficient Maritime Prepositioning Equipment and Supplies (MPE/S) to sustain a MPF MEB for 30 days. The smallest FM is a 2,700-2,800-man MPF Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). An MPF operation may consist of one ship and an appropriate-sized Fly In Echelon (FIE) such as a Marine Expeditionary Unit, or at the other end of the scale, all three maritime prepositioning ship squadrons combined support a MEF sized unit. Each individual squadron is prepositioned with the concept of interoperability, so each MEF must be prepared to utilize any or all MPSRONs during contingency or exercise planning.

MPF and amphibious operations are complementary capabilities; one is not an equivalent substitute for the other. Amphibious operations provide the means for forcible entry, while MPF permits rapid deployment into permissive areas where force introduction is essentially unopposed and is expected to remain so through the arrival and assembly phase. Amphibious operations can be used in the same environment as MPF, but the inverse is not true. The MPF possesses heavier forces with greater sustainment than that typically available to amphibious forces. MPF and Amphibious operations are complementary capabilities; One is not an equivalent substitute for the other. MPF is not Joint Logistics Over The Shore (JLOTS), strategic sealift, or a floating warehouse to be used for spare parts or sustainment. Such inappropriate use of equipment and supplies would significantly degrade MPF capability and could jeopardize the CINC’s ability to employ the MAGTF.

There are three MPS configurations which are typically referred to by the name of the operating company: AMSEA (American Overseas) , Maersk and Waterman. Each of these configurations could be considered functionally equivalent to a ship class. The three MPS operating companies are Maersk Line Ltd. (Maersk), Waterman Steamship Corp. (Waterman), and American Overseas Marine Corporation (AMSEA). The MPS operating companies each operate their respective class of MPS for MSC. Each of the 13 MPS have their own separate time charter. These charters are all very similar in the terms and conditions with the exception of differences with the MPS ship classes (e.g., contract speed, fuel consumption, deadweight carrying capacity).

One additional Maritime Prepositioning Force vessel was added to each squadron. Unlike the current ships which are all under long-term charters — the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced) ships, or MPF(E), will be U.S. government-owned vessels crewed by contractor-employed mariners. Fiscal year 2000 saw the delivery and deployment of the first Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced) vessel, USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin. The ship loaded at Blount Island, Fla., and deployed to Maritime Prepositioning Ships Squadron One in the Mediterranean Sea in June. The ship improves the squadron’s current capabilities by carrying expeditionary airfield, Seabee and fleet hospital cargo. USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin is MSC’s first Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced) vessel.

The MPS are divided into three MPS Squadrons that report to their respective COMPSRONs as follows: (* Denotes Flagship/Alternate Flagship with COMPSRON staff embarked and secure communication capabilities.)

CLASS SHIP NAME CLASS Flag

MPS-1 / MPSRON ONE : MEDITERRANEAN
AK 3005 AK 3006 PFC E. A. OBREGON Waterman *
AK 3005 AK 3005 SGT MATEJ KOCAK Waterman
AK 3005 AK 3007 MAJ S. W. PLESS Waterman
AK 3008 AK 3008 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO Amsea *
AK 3015 AK 3015 1st Lt Harry L. Martin MPF (E)

MPS-2 / MPSRON TWO : Diego Garcia
AK 3000 AK 3000 CPL L. HAUGE, JR Maersk *
AK 3000 AK 3001 PFC WILLIAM B. BAUGH Maersk
AK 3000 AK 3002 PFC J. ANDERSON, JR Maersk
AK 3000 AK 3003 1ST LT A. BONNYMAN Maersk
AK 3000 AK 3004 PVT FRANKLIN J. PHILLIPS Maersk *
AK 3015 AK 3017 Gysgt Fred W. Stockham MPF (E)

MPS-3 / MPSRON THREE : Guam
AK 3008 AK 3009 PFC D. T. WILLIAMS Amsea
AK 3008 AK 3010 1ST LT B. LOPEZ Amsea
AK 3008 AK 3011 1ST LT JACK LUMMUS Amsea *
AK 3008 AK 3012 SGT W. R. BUTTON Amsea *
AK 3015 AK 3016 LCpl Roy Wheat MPF (E)

The MPS are organized into three squadrons, each commanded by a Navy captain. MPS Squadron One, usually located in the Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea, has five ships; MPS Squadron Two, usually located at Diego Garcia, has five ships; and MPS Squadron Three, normally in the Guam/Saipan area, has five ships.

Each MPS squadron carries sufficient equipment and supplies to sustain 17,000 Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force personnel for up to 30 days. Each ship can discharge cargo either pierside or while anchored offshore using lighterage carried aboard. This capability gives the Marine Corps the ability to operate in both developed and underdeveloped areas of the world.

Partial list of a sample loadout of the four MPSRON One ships

Quantity Item
5.2 Million gallons cargo fuel
2,174 50,000-pound cargo containers
76 TOW missile launchers
24 Light armored vehicles (LAV)
105 Amphibious assault vehicles (AAV)
30 Combat tanks (M1A1)
30 155mm howitzers
123 Electrical generators
1 Field hospital (200 beds)
14 50,000-pound container handlers
8 25-ton cranes
16 7.5-ton cranes
47 Floodlight sets
7 Tactical airfield fuel dispensing systems
6 Motorized road graders
4 Wheeled scraper trackers
104 3,000-gallon collapsible fabric tanks
50 Tractors (various types)
107 Forklift trucks (various types)
41 Reverse osmosis water purification units
203 Cargo trailers
89 Powered trailers (various types)
282 5-ton cargo trucks
42 5-ton dump trucks
22 5-ton wrecker trucks
530 Cargo/troop carriers (HMMWV)

The Navy-USMC maritime prepositioning program was begun in the late 1970s as a result of a DOD strategic mobility enhancement initiative to improve response times for SWA contingencies. Until the full Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) capability (specially built or converted ships) was achieved in the mid 1980s, an interim measure known as Near-Term Prepositioning Ships (NTPS) was created in 1980 to provide an initial response capability. The NTPS ships were on station at Diego Garcia by July 1980 and contained the equipment and 30 days of supplies for a USMC Brigade. By early 1985, the first combination RO/RO and breakbulk ships specifically built or converted for the Navy had been commissioned and were loaded with prepositioned vehicles, equipment, and supplies. By 1987, a total of 13 ships organized in three squadrons had been commissioned, crewed with civilian mariners, loaded, and deployed. The ships were more than just floating warehouses. Each of the three ships carried equipment for a Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), along with enough supply sustainment for at least 30 days. The squadrons were associated with a specific MEB to ensure effective planning and training. MPS-1, associated with the 6th MEB and stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, was deployed in the western Atlantic; MPS-2, associated with the 7th MEB in California, was anchored at Diego Garcia; and MPS-3, associated with the Hawaii-based 1st MEB, was home ported at Guam and Saipan. Together, each squadron and its associated MEB become an MPF.

The Marine Corps deployment in the Gulf War was a confirmation of the efficacy of maritime prepositioning ships. The MPS squadron at Diego Garcia was ordered underway on 10 August, and it arrived in the port of Al Jubayl on the 16th. The personnel of the 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) flew in, “married up” with their equipment, and were in defensive positions north of Al Jubayl by 25 August. The Army 82d Airborne Division had troops on the ground earlier, but it was the Marines, with the armor and artillery delivered by the MPS ships, that offered the first credible deterrence to a mechanized attack.

The MPF concept performed largely as expected during the Persian Gulf War, due to an aggressive training, exercise, and maintenance program carried out during the 1980s. Exercises had established planning goals of about 250 strategic airlift sorties to deploy a MEB; this figure was confirmed by the 7th MEB, which deployed to Saudi Arabia using 259 sorties. (The additional nine sorties reflected the addition of an infantry battalion and more helicopter antitank assets to the MEB.) The expected time of 10 days to unload ships and marry equipment with arriving units was met by all three MPFs. In fact, 7th MEB combat elements occupied defensive positions near Al-Jubayl in August within four days of their arrival. The only problem encountered during initial deployment of the 7th MEB centered on refueling support to Marine fixed-wing aircraft flying from CONUS, which competed for scarce assets with other Service aircraft. Elements of 1st MEB and ll MEF, although deployed using MPF concepts, did not do so as complete units. Instead, their air, ground, and logistics elements were deployed and integrated into I MEF as they arrived, drawing their equipment from their associated MPS ships.

MPS Squadron One ships prepositioned in the Mediterranean participated in exercises Northern Lights and Sharkhunt in fiscal year 1999. Northern Lights exercised a multinational fleet of NATO maritime forces in crisis-response operations in the north Atlantic. Sharkhunt validated U.S. units’ proficiency in undersea warfare in a very challenging Mediterranean acoustic environment.

In October and November 1999, MPS Squadron Two vessel MV Hauge participated in exercise Bright Star. The exercise was designed to improve interoperability between coalition forces during joint operations. Hauge’s participation consisted of a partial download of the vessel’s cargo for use during this eleven nation exercise.

MPS Squadron Three vessels assigned to Guam and Saipan participated in a range of fleet support and training operations in 1999. The vessels also deployed to Gladstone, Australia, for exercise Crocodile 99, showcasing the versatility of the MPS and validating the full range of pierside, at anchorage and liquid cargo off-loads of which these ships are capable. The ships also participated in exercise Tafakula 99, promoting relations between the United States and the Tongan navy.

Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future) MPF(F)
The Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future) will be the true enabler of entirely seabased operations. As this force becomes operational, its role will expand beyond providing the equipment to prepare a fly-in force for combat. MPF(F) will serve four functions not provided by the current MPF: (1) at-sea arrival and assembly of units, (2) direct support of the assault echelon of the ATF, (3) indefinite seabased sustainment of the landing force, and (4) at-sea reconstitution and redeployment of the force.

Currently, the Navy and Marine Corps are evaluating potential ships and configurations for MPF(F). The Mission Needs Statement for MPF(F) has been approved and initial design efforts have begun. Alternatives to accomplish these tasks range from a large strategic sealift ship similar to the current medium speed Roll On/Roll Off (RO/RO), to a Mobile Offshore Base capable of landing large transport aircraft.

The implementation of seabasing with MPF(F) is dependent upon high-speed, reliable and survivable surface craft and aircraft able to deliver logistics support where and when needed. The HLCAC, LCU(R), and the employment of the MV-22 and other improved air assets will answer this requirement. Examples of other logistics innovations the Navy and Marine Corps are exploring include unmanned delivery systems, advanced lighterage, containerization, predictive maintenance, and standardization of equipment.