The Challenges for Medium Navies in an Era of Global Competition

Abstract

Based on a classification of the Armed Forces, based on the projection of their power, developed by the author himself, this article focuses on those called “Green Water Armed Forces”, which are not limited to coastal defense and do not spend most of their time in port. It analyzes how best to assess their naval strengths, using a qualitative rather than quantitative metric, based on 6 factors (Machinery, Human Resources, Manufacturing, Management, Economic Means and Mentality).
The article emphasizes the need for a debate on medium-sized navies in this era of strategic and global competition and poses some challenges under the particular approach of the German Navy.