International Journal of Naval History

The Combined Strategic Alternative: The Naval Dimension to Modern Localised Conflicts, 1990-2002

The Combined Operations Project

Between 18 and 27 July 2005 the Sea Power Centre-Australia hosted a visit by the Combined Operations Project. The Project, a joint initiative of the United States Navy, Canadian Navy, Royal Navy, and Royal Australian Navy, is examining the history of selected combined operations since 1990. By looking at multinational interception operations in the Arabian Gulf 1990-2000, Operation SHARP GUARD in the Adriatic 1993-96, Operation STABILISE in East Timor 1999, and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan 2001-02, the Project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of recent combined operations and explore how naval roles, missions and capabilities are changing and adapting.  Emphasis is being placed on operations, training and interoperability.

The Combined Operations Project Team consists of Dr Gary Weir, Team Leader, Dr Jeff Barlow and Dr Randy Papadopolous from the Naval Historical Centre in Washington; Captain Chris Page and Stephen Prince from the Naval Historical Branch in Portsmouth; Dr Stephen Harris and Robert Caldwell from the Directorate of History and Heritage in Ottawa, and Dr David Stevens from the Sea Power Centre-Australia in Canberra. During the visit the team presented their preliminary findings at five venues in Sydney, Canberra and Western Australia in addition to presenting scholarly papers at the King-Hall Conference in Canberra.

The Project will conclude in April of 2006 after a similar set of presentations for the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom.