NAVS 410
Amphibious Operations
SDSU Classroom ENS-106
T/Th 1100-1215
(3 Units)
Maj Michael Nelson
Office Hours: Thursday after class and by appointment
E-mail: nelsonma@sandiego.edu
Phone: USD – (619) 260-6834
S. H. 122 (USD)
Phone: SDSU – (619) 594-3730
Comm 130 (SDSU)
Course Description
This course studies common themes prevalent in amphibious warfare. While not a history class,
historical studies are integral to understanding how amphibious doctrine, techniques, tactics, and
equipment have changed. Beginning with a foundational basis on amphibious doctrine and terms,
the course concludes with exploring future threats and challenges.
Course Objectives/Candidate Outcomes
Naval Science Professional Core Competency Objectives:
1. The student will understand the nature and evolution of amphibious operations.
2. The student will know the significant events of history relating to amphibious operations.
3. The student will understand how amphibious operations relate to the fundamentals and
principles of warfare, citing historical examples.
4. The student will understand how the U.S. Marine Corps employs amphibious doctrine today.
Textbook Readings
Bartlett, Assault from the Sea (AFS)
Potter, Sea Power (SP)
MCDP-1, Warfighting (WAR)
MCDP-3, Expeditionary Operations (EO)
MCDP 1-0, Marine Corps Operations, (MCO)
Moorehead, Gallipoli (GAL)
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Reference Books to be used for specific presentations:
Isely and Crowl, U.S. Marines and Amphibious War (AW)
Millett, Allan R., Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States Marine Corps (SF)
Supplemental readings posted on Blackboard, as directed by the instructor
Course Requirements/Activities
1. Reading Assignments: Students are to read all assigned material prior to each class session.
Proper preparation will be reflected in performance on quizzes, exams, and class
discussion/participation.
2. Quizzes/Discussion Questions: Students must be prepared to participate in each class by
completing assigned reading and assignments. Each class begins by either turning in answers to
discussion questions or completing a quiz.
3. Individual Presentation: Delivering a presentation will develop your command presence
skills as well as develop your ability to use the power point software to convey your thoughts.
Each student will be required to deliver an individual presentation on one of the amphibious
operations from history. Focus on relating the amphibious operation against the foundational
principles presented during module I.
Individual presentation topics:
Caesar’s Invasion of Britain, 55-54 B.C.
Hastings, 1066
Vera Cruz, 1847
Invasion of the Crimea, 1854
Roanoke Island, 1862
Fort Fisher Campaigns, 1864-5
Gallipoli, 1915
Zeebrugge, 1918
Guadalcanal, 1942
Tarawa, 1943
Sicily, 1943
Salerno, 1943
Anzio, 1944
Saipan, 1944
Tinian, 1944
Iwo Jima, 1945
Inchon, 1950
Vietnam, 1965
Grenada, 1983
Mogadishu, 1991
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4. Group Presentation: All students will participate in a group presentation. Working as a
team and learning to capitalize on each other’s strength is the foundation for teamwork. The
presentation is a 60-minute oral presentation on a historical case study that ties in to the themes
and concepts common with amphibious operations. The class will be broken up into three
presenting groups. Each group will cover one of three case studies listed below. One half of the
members in each group will present on the amphibious assault force. The other half of the group
will present on the defending force. No videos or guest speakers are permitted to support the
presentation. Additional guidance will be provided as students begin their work.
Group Presentation Topics:
Normandy, 1944
Okinawa, 1944
Falklands, 1982
5. Point Paper: Written communication skills are a critical requirement as an officer. Being
able to conduct research, frame an argument and present it in a concise manner with
recommended courses of actions is a process you will continually encounter throughout your
career as an officer. The point paper format will be provided to you as well as a more detailed
description of this requirement.
6. Exams: Three exams will be given; one at the end of each module. These exams will be
comprehensive, as the concepts covered in class will be reoccurring. These exams will focus
more on the students understanding of theories and concepts rather than memorization of facts
and details. Of course, the student will have to support their understanding of the theories and
concepts using specifics, examples and details learned throughout the course. Exam formats will
be discussed in class.
7. Preparation and Participation: Because of the compact format of this course, it is important
that students are prepared and participate in all class sessions. When you are unprepared for class
sessions, you miss the opportunity to practice skills and receive feedback necessary for your own
self-development. When you are unprepared, you also deprive your classmates of your feedback
on their comments, which diminishes their learning potential. A peer evaluation will be used to
determine level of participation in the group presentation.
Assessment Plan/Grading Criteria/Rubric
Grading Scale:
93% - 100% = A
90% - 92.9% = A87% - 89.9% = B+
83% - 86.9% = B
80%-82.9%
77%-79.9%
73%-76.9%
70%-72.9%
= B= C+
=C
= C-
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60%-69.9% = D
0% - 59.9% = F
Grading Criteria:
Quizzes and Assignments
Individual Presentation
Group Presentation
Point paper
Module 1 Exam
Module 2 Exam
Module 3 Exam
Class Participation
Total
50 pts
50 pts
100 pts
50 pts
75 pts
50 pts
50 pts
75 pts
500 pts
10%
10%
20%
10%
15%
10%
10%
15%
100%
Requests for Accommodation
Reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be
made for course participants with disabilities who require specific instructional and testing
modifications. Students with such requirements must identify themselves to the San Diego State
University Student Disability Services (619) 594-6473 (USD Students should contact University
of San Diego Disability Services Office (619) 260-4655) before the beginning of the course.
Every effort will be made to accommodate students’ needs, however, performance standards for
the course will not be modified in considering specific accommodations.
Course Outline
The class schedule is provided below as a guide for the topics and timeframes in which we will
cover them.
Lesson 3 – 3 Sep
Lesson†
Introductions and Syllabus
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
ASSIGNED
Foundational Concepts –
Presentation
Intro/Expectations
Foundational Concepts Marathon
Lesson 4 – 5 Sep
Foundational Concepts
Lesson 5 – 10 Sep
Foundational Concepts
Intro to TDG and MOD I
Review
MODULE I EXAM
SP: Caesar, Hastings
SP: Vera Cruz, Crimea
SP: Roanoke Island, Fort
Fisher
Class Session – Date
Lesson 1 – 27 Aug
Lesson 2 – 29 Aug
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
6
7
8
9
–
–
–
–
12
17
19
24
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Lesson 10 – 26 Sep
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Assigned Reading
WAR Chapter 1; Blackboard: Principles of
War
WAR Chapter 2, AFS pp. 3-11,
Blackboard: Levels of War
WAR Chapter 3, Blackboard: METT-T,
Offense, Defense
WAR Chapter 4, Blackboard: Themes and
Types of Amphibious Operations, JP 3-02,
U.S. British Doctrine
AFS pp. 12-16, Blackboard: Burne
AFS pp. 74-87
AFS pp. 88-94, 95-103
Lesson 11 – 1 Oct
Lesson 12 – 3 Oct
SP: Gallipoli
Gallipoli - Movie
AFS pp. 142-153; GAL pp 11-108, 128194, 219-294, 356-369; SP 212-221
Lesson 13 – 8 Oct
Lesson 14 – 10 Oct
Gallipoli - Movie
Interwar Years and SP:
Zeebrugge
European Strategy and Africa
Lesson 15 – 15 Oct
SP: Guadalcanal and Tarawa
Lesson 16 – 17 Oct
Lesson 17 – 22 Oct
SP: Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima
SP: Sicily, Solerno and Anzio
Lesson 18 – 24 Oct
Lessons from WWII and SP:
Inchon
Lesson 19 – 29 Oct
Lesson 20 – 31 Oct
Lesson 21 – 5 Nov
SP: Vietnam, Grenada and
Mogadishu
TDG and MOD II Review
MODULE II EXAM
Lesson 22 – 7 Nov
Lesson 23 – 12 Nov
MAGTF
Expo Ops POINT PAPER DUE
Lesson 24 – 14 Nov
Maritime Prepositioning Force
Expeditionary Maneuver
Warfare (EMW)
Lesson 25 – 19 Nov
Lesson 26 – 21 Nov
Lesson 27 – 26 Nov
28 Nov
Lesson 28 – 3 Dec
Lesson 29 – 5 Dec
Lesson 30 – 10 Dec
EMW Applied/ MOD III Review
MODULE III EXAM
Thanksgiving Break – NO
CLASS
GP: Normandy
GP: Okinawa
GP: Falklands
SP = Student Presentations
GP = Group Presentations
AFS pp. 154-156, 157-194; Blackboard:
Moore
SP pp. 270-275
AFS pp. 210-218; SP pp. 317-323; AW pp.
192-252; SF pp. 344-387
AFS pp. 219-227; AW pp. 432-530; SP pp.
327-330, 348-349
AW pp. 580-590; SP pp. 275-277, 277-279
AFS pp. 331-333, 337-353 386-395; SF
pp. 475-517; Blackboard: Korean War
handout
Blackboard: Doctrine in Vietnam,
Application of Doctrine, Starlite;
Mogadishu, Eastern Exit, Fury from the
Sea
Blackboard: MAGTF Organizational Chart
and MAGTF
MCDP-3
Blackboard: MCWP 3-32: Maritime
Prepositioning Force Operations.
Blackboard: Marine Strategy, OMFTS,
EMW, STOM, MPF 2010
Blackboard: Hoffman, National Strategy
for Combating Terrorism
Wrap up and class critiques
Bibliography
MCDP-1, Warfighting. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1997.
MCDP 1-0 Marine Corps Operations. U.S. Government Printing Office, 2001.
MCDP-3, Expeditionary Operations. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1998.
Bartlett, Merrill L. Assault from the Sea. Annapolis, MD: U.S. Naval Institute, 1983.
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Potter, E.B. Sea Power, 2nd Ed., Annapolis, MD: U.S. Naval Institute, 1981.
Moorehead, Alan. Gallipoli, New York, NY: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1956.
Appendices to NAVS 410
Class Leader: One student will be selected as the class leader to ensure the room and
audiovisual equipment are ready for instruction. He or she will also take roll and document
those arriving late.
Attendance: Attendance is MANDATORY. Tardiness will not be tolerated. On the second
tardy, your final grade will be reduced by 2% (10 pts). Each subsequent tardy will reduce your
grade by an additional 2% (10 pts). Two or more unauthorized absences will result in a failing
grade. Permission for absence must be requested in advance (via phone/email to the
Instructor). Excused absence will be granted at the sole discretion of the instructor.
Responsibility: Students are expected to perform at a substantially higher level of maturity and
responsibility than that of most other students. In general, it is the student’s responsibility to
initiate action to resolve all personal issues and ensure that administrative matters are handled in
a timely manner.
Students shall attend all classes and submit papers on the due dates. Late assignments will incur
a 10% grade deduction per day late. You will turn in all work, regardless if it is late or not.
Should an emergency develop that warrants relief from this stated attendance and performance
policy, prior approval must be obtained directly from the instructor. Unless otherwise
arranged, assignments falling due on the day of an excused absence remain due on or before that
day.
Military Protocol: Since this is a course primarily designed for and required for NROTC
students, Naval protocol is emphasized and is a teaching point. As a matter of courtesy and
custom, the first individual to recognize entry into the classroom by the Instructor or by the
Commanding Officer of the NROTC Unit will call for “Attention on Deck.” Non-NROTC
students are also asked as a matter of courtesy to follow this custom. NROTC students must
adhere to the NROTC and Navy regulations for dress (no open toed shoes for men) and
grooming (e.g., men are to be clean shaven, and men and women are to maintain haircuts within
standards) in and out of uniform.
Academic Dishonesty: Honesty and moral integrity are fundamental to the character of a Navy
and Marine Corps Officer. The Midshipman Honor Code states “A midshipman will not lie,
cheat, or steal.” This applies to all students in this course. Students must work alone to
complete all homework, quizzes, assignments and exams. Substantiated charges will result in a
failing grade and possible disenrollment from the NROTC Program with an unfavorable
recommendation regarding commissioned service. The student will also be referred to the
appropriate University officials for disciplinary proceedings.
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Grade of Incomplete: The grade of Incomplete (“I”) may be recorded to indicate (1) that the
requirements of a course have been substantially completed but, for a legitimate reason, a small
fraction of the work remains to be completed, and (2) that the record of the student in the course
justifies the expectation that he or she will complete the work and obtain the passing grade by the
deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to explain to the instructor the reasons for noncompletion of work and to request an incomplete grade prior to the posting of final grades.
Students who receive a grade of incomplete must submit all missing work no later than end of
tenth week of the next regular semester, otherwise the “I” grade will become a permanent “F.”
Changes: I have made every attempt to make this syllabus an accurate reflection of how I intend
to teach this course over the semester. However, this syllabus should not be construed as a legal
contract and it may be subject to change over the semester, particularly with respect to the
schedule. I reserve the right to make modifications as necessary. I will discuss any proposed or
effected to changes to the syllabus in class. Updated versions of the syllabus will also be posted
to BlackBoard--they will not be distributed in class.
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