Combat loading

A cargo hold of an attack cargo ship, ready to be combat loaded. The upper level is the main deck, with cargo-handling winches visible. The lower level is the floor onto which cargo is combat loaded. In between is the mess deck where the crew eats their meals.

Combat loading is a method of loading cargo into the ships that will carry it to the site of an amphibious landing. It gives primary consideration to the ease and sequence with which troops, equipment, and supplies can be unloaded ready for combat, rather than to the efficient use of cargo space. The latter method is called administrative loading.

The art and science of combat loading were developed in World War II, and contributed greatly to the success of Allied amphibious campaigns. Attack cargo ships were assigned a specially-trained Marine Corps officer called the "Transport Quartermaster" or "Combat Cargo Officer" to oversee their proper combat loading.

When a ship is combat loaded, each item must be stored so it can be unloaded at a time and in a sequence that will most effectively support the planned activities ashore. Whenever possible, the loading scheme must also provide flexibility to accommodate changes in the tactical plan, and to allow access to cargo that is required to meet emergency calls for equipment or supplies.

Methods

While combat loading is most often considered with respect to individual ships, it applies equally well to multiple ships in a landing force, and the individual landing craft and aircraft of attack waves. Failure to think the problem through on a force-wide level can result in disaster if the enemy sinks the one ship that carries the bulk of communications equipment or heavy weapons.

Individual ship

There are three basic methods of arranging items in a cargo hold:

Horizontally

Where a single item or class of items—say, rifle ammunition—is stored in a layer that fills the hold from side to side and front to rear. This allows maximum access to the item once it is uncovered.

Vertically

Where like items are stored in columns that go from the top of the hold on down, so that several types of items are available during any stage of emptying the hold. This means that if four different items, such as food, water, medical supplies, and ammunition, are stored in a single hold, each of these supplies would have be accessible without first unloading a layer of another one.

In blocks

Where assortments of various types of items are made up and loaded together. With this system, a balanced proportion of the entire cargo can be unloaded without disturbing the rest of the cargo.

Combat loading normally requires the use of each of these methods, with the vertical and block method predominating.

Packaging

Combat loading is not only a matter of where packages are stored, but also that they are properly packaged for movement in landing craft (and vertical takeoff aircraft when used) and onto a temporary storage area. Equipment and supplies that will be damaged by getting wet are useless, even if arranged in a logical order.

Adapting to circumstances

Especially with modern forces with computerized inventory, machine-readable labels, and power handling equipment, the loading should be adaptable to changes in tactical conditions. If, for example, earth-moving equipment is not scheduled to land until the second day, but the first wave encounters swampy land that needs to be bridged, the engineer equipment has to be retrieved out of order.

References

• U.S. Marine Corps: Introduction to Amphibious Embarkation Planning