Future Employment of Corvettes in Confined and Shallow Waters (CSW)

Future Employment of Corvettes in Confined and Shallow Waters (CSW)  | © Deutsche Marine

With the omission of the east west conflict the likeliness of a symmetric warfare conflict diminished. At the same time regional conflicts become more intense and started to influence world policies. Therefore the former blue water orientated navies had to focus more on operations in confined and shallow waters. Whereas the former potential adversaries were states in the new conflict situation failed states, terrorists and criminal organizations came into focus of the operations.


Throughout the world, an increasing number of countries procure corvettes, offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and other Multi role combat vessels to fill the gap between the blue water capabilities of their frigate program and the rather coastal capabilities of a fast patrol boat. These vessels are intended to operate in confined and shallow waters and in general characterized by high maneuverability and endurance.

In light of decreasing defense budgets and an increasing number of operations other than war the role of corvettes will change in future. Whereas the number of personnel on board will be less than today a broader variety of capabilities is expected at the same time. The proficiency of individual crew members,    focusing on single warfare areas today, will have to be broader assisted by automated systems. Training time will be limited and not all skills can be trained with the same priority. Capabilities, training and manning may have to be prioritized according to the mission.

As the employment of unmanned vehicles in all areas increase their role in enhancing the war fighting capacities of a corvette is to be examined with respect to their contribution to improving and ease mission accomplishment.
COE CSW will identify potential missions of corvettes in 2020+. These will include law enforcement tasks, reconnaissance and surveillance as well as the typical warfare areas. From these missions required capabilities will be derived. Whereas some of these will be standard minimum required capabilities like self-defense other may only be needed according to the mission. In consequence modular design of certain capabilities may be an option in tackling future tasks in the wide variety of the mission profile. This in turn will have effects on training of the crew, exercise design and shore installations needed for training, simulation and logistic support.

The project will give orientation for future employment and needed capabilities of corvettes as well as guidance for training, simulation and exercise design.

Findings from the project will give orientation for future employment and needed capabilities of corvettes as well as guidance for training and exercise design

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