The coastal defense doctrine applied in air basis surface self-defense

Abstract

The general goal of this work was to investigate how the coast defense doctrine elaborated by the Land Force contributes to the ground defense planning of coastal air bases. For that, an applied, exploratory and qualitative research was developed, with data collection in documental, bibliographical and survey forms. First, in the doctrinal documents of the Brazilian Army, the specific characteristics of greater relevance for the planning of coastal defensive operations were identified, represented by flexibility, mobility, integration, “position defense” tactics and vigorous resistance on the beach. Then, the importance of these factors was confirmed, after being compared with the principles of amphibious warfare defended by Gatchel, Clausewitz, Jomini, Corbett, Gorshkov and Furse, whose works were taken as a referential theory for this research. A survey with these factors were submitted to the Air Force Infantry officers, who are responsible for preparing the ground defense plans of the air bases. All aspects of littoral defense doctrine were considered contributing factors in the ground defense planning of coastal air bases. The ground defense plans of the coastal units were consulted and did not contain the employment hypothesis of coastal defense actions. The difference between the referential theory and the procedures contained in the plans demonstrated that the coastal defense doctrine has the potential to provide improvements to the defensive actions of the FAB units.