Coastal Defense Warfare and Coastal Defense Navies

Abstract

This chapter examines the various elements of coastal defense. It begins by defining the coastal zone or littoral and identifies the geographical extent of the area included in coastal defense. The various maritime zones established by the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) agreement are defined and their relationship to coastal defense is discussed. The second part of the chapter is reserved for examining coastal defense as a distinct form of naval warfare. This is followed by a description of the coastal defense navy as a distinct type of navy, distinguishable from the four other naval types profiled in Chapter 2. Finally, the components which comprise a ‘model’ coastal defense navy are presented.