text: Chapter 6
  and denied or degraded ports (ATP 4-15). The shallow draft, adaptable cargo space, and ramp of these vessels
  support delivery and follow-on support of land forces at a wide variety of points and locations. Army landing
  craft can accomplish this without the need for improved port facilities and the added footprint of terminal
  service operators. These vessels include the following:
  • Logistics Support Vessel.
  • Landing Craft, Utility 2000.
  • Landing Craft, Mechanized 8.
  • Maneuver Support Vessel-Light.
  6-7. Mines are one of the greatest threats Army watercraft may encounter while operating in the littorals.
  There are many varieties of shallow water, magnetic influence, and bottom mines that pose risks for
  watercraft. Leaders must account for these and other threats and plan measures to mitigate these risks. ATP
  4-15 provides additional information on threats faced by watercraft. Potential sources for security in the
  littorals and mine clearance services include the United States Coast Guard, United States Army divers, the
  United States Navy, and the host nation. Additional threats that landing craft may face include—
  • Small watercraft armed with weapons.
  • Vessel ramming.
  • Aircraft.
  • Unmanned aerial systems and loitering munitions.
  • Stand-off attacks (snipers, missiles, torpedoes).
  ARCTIC REGION
  6-8. The maritime environment includes littoral regions within the Arctic. Title 15 USC, Section 4111 defines
  the Arctic as all U.S. and foreign territory north of the Arctic Circle and all U.S. territory north and west of
  the boundary formed by the Porcupine, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers; all contiguous seas, including the
  Arctic Ocean and the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas; and the Aleutian Islands chain. The vastness of
  the Arctic can be described as including eight countries, three CCMDs, and two primary transit routes (the
  Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route). Harsh environmental conditions in the land, sea, and air
  domains present challenges for the conduct of sustainment operations. Some of the environmental conditions
  include, but are not limited to—
  • Extreme cold temperatures.
  • Seasonal changes in terrain.
  • Unpredictable and rapidly changing weather.
  6-9. The extreme cold temperatures in the Arctic can slow the pace of sustainment operations and impact
  personnel by causing cold weather injuries. Sustainment leaders must understand the requirements and
  conduct extensive planning to protect personnel and materiel from the effects of cold weather. Buildings,
  shelters, and tents used for maintenance and storage operations will have increased heating requirements.
  Sustainment operations in the extreme cold of the Arctic require special POL products, traction enhancement
  devices (for example, chains and snow tires), and crew heaters. Embarked vehicles and equipment must be
  prepared for Arctic operations prior to arrival, and considerations must be given to keeping engines warm
  and out of the weather, started at regular intervals, or the additional fuel additives or recirculation cycles that
  may be needed to prevent congealing of fuel. Vessels may also require special preparation for Arctic
  operations, and planners must consider the maritime ice capabilities and restrictions of vessels and crew.
  6-10. Seasonal changes provide another challenge to sustainment operations in the Arctic. Mobility is at its
  highest during the winter months when the ground LOCs are frozen solid. During the spring thaw, many of
  the roads become nearly impassable due to melting snow and ice and thawing permafrost. These challenges
  with roads continue in the summer months as well. Regardless of season, sustainment leaders must be aware
  of the mobility challenges in the Arctic.
  6-11. Sustainment operations in the Arctic can be severely impacted when ports of debarkation become
  unusable or unavailable due to changing conditions. Changes in sea ice can either reduce availability of ports
  or open additional passageways for transit through the Arctic. The ability of Army watercraft to execute
  logistics over-the-shore operations provides sustainment planners with options to overcome loss of port
  facilities in the Arctic. Army watercraft also provide the ability to support the maneuver of forces and
  movement of materiel along open waterways, rivers, and estuaries in the Arctic. This capability is only