Seaborne Assault
Amphibious Warfare in Modern Conflict
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Naval Institute Press
Publishing:30th Jul '26
£38.99
This title is due to be published on 30th July, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
Seaborne Assault offers a comprehensive study of amphibious operations, showcasing their challenges and strategic importance through case studies of twentieth-century conflicts.
Amphibious warfare is among the most demanding forms of military operations, requiring precise coordination across land, sea, and air forces. Seaborne Assault examines twelve case studies spanning four major conflicts: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Falklands War. These operations ranged from large-scale assaults, as in the battles of Normandy and Leyte Gulf, to smaller, strategically significant missions such as Operation Albion and the Falklands landings. Each chapter, crafted by seasoned historians, provides a detailed account of planning, execution, and outcomes, offering readers a clear understanding of the challenges involved.
While amphibious operations fall into several categories—assault, raid, withdrawal, demonstration, and support—the book concentrates on the first of these. It addresses logistical hurdles, strategic decisions, and leadership dynamics that shaped their outcomes. For example, the Normandy landings demonstrate the importance of air and naval supremacy, while the Falklands campaign highlights the difficulties of operating far from home. The study of Tarawa underscores the critical role of junior leaders in overcoming obstacles, and Inchon reveals the impact of bold strategic decisions.
Seaborne Assault illustrates the geographic and tactical intricacies of each operation. It also emphasizes lessons learned, such as the necessity of interservice cooperation, effective communication, and adaptability in unpredictable conditions. Whether analyzing the logistical demands of landing forces on hostile shores or the strategic implications of securing beachheads, this book provides valuable insights into the enduring relevance of amphibious warfare. Military professionals, historians, and enthusiasts alike will find this work an essential resource for understanding the complexities of projecting power ashore.
“Seaborne Assault highlights the importance of amphibious expeditions throughout the 20th century. Through level-headed analysis, the authors underscore the primacy of intelligence, risk assessment, operational tempo, and cross-service cooperation in amphibious warfare. Lay readers, professional students of war, and historians alike will benefit from this study." — Chris K. Hemler, author of Delivering Destruction: American Firepower and Amphibious Assault from Tarawa to Iwo Jima
“Seaborne Assault expands modern understandings of this most difficult form of warfare: the amphibious operation. As the world’s powers again look to the sea as a means of projecting power, the lessons and studies here will prove valuable to practitioners, planners, scholars, and leaders alike.” — Timothy Heck, editor, On Contested Shores: The Evolving Role of Amphibious Operations in the History of Warfare (vol 1 and 2)
“Gregory Fremont-Barnes’ Seaborne Assault: Amphibious Warfare in Modern Conflict provides a carefully curated selection of campaigns highlighting the challenges and risks that must be conquered to secure victory on a distant shore. Through lessons learned from each operation, readers will appreciate how amphibious warfare from the past can still shape the ebb and flow of geopolitics among the great powers, despite the transformations and proliferation of options in power projection in the 21st century.” — David S. Nasca, author of The Emergence of American Amphibious Warfare, 1898-1945
ISBN: 9798899190117
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
424 pages