Amphibious warfare

Amphibious warfare, coordinated use of land and sea forces to seize a beachhead, an area from which to carry on further military action. Although naval and ground forces have often cooperated since the earliest days of warfare, the strategy of modern amphibious military operations did not develop fully until World War II. Specially outfitted ocean vessels were constructed, and landing craft were designed, capable of making long voyages to transport troops, weapons, and supplies, and then unload them ready for combat if they met concentrated enemy opposition. Allied operations against the Japanese in the Pacific and in the landings in Italy and Normandy during World War II were typical of this strategy.