The term
blue-water navy is a
colloquialism used to describe a
maritime force capable of operating across the deep waters of open oceans. While what actually constitutes such a force remains undefined, there is a requirement for the ability to exercise sea control at wide ranges. The term used in the
United Kingdom is
expeditionary.
Capabilities of a blue-water navy
Blue-water (high seas) naval capability means that a fleet is able to operate on the
high seas. While traditionally a distinction was made between the coastal
brown-water navy (operating in the
littoral zone to 200 nautical miles (370 km)) and a seagoing blue-water navy, a new term
green-water navy has been created by the
U.S. Navy.
Green-water navy appears to be equivalent to a brown-water navy in older sources. The term
brown-water navy appears to have been reduced in U.S. Navy parlance to a
riverine force.
In modern warfare, the term
blue-water navy implies self-contained force protection from sub-surface, surface and airborne threats and a sustainable logistic reach, allowing a persistent presence at range. In some maritime environments, such a defence is given by natural obstacles, such as the
Arctic ice shelf.
Few navies can operate as blue-water navies, but "many States are converting green-water navies to blue-water navies and this will increase military use of...
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