Amphibious operation
Also called: Amphibious landing · Topic: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management in India · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
An amphibious operation is a military operation launched from the sea, in which naval ships carry troops, vehicles and supplies and put them ashore on a coast. The landing is made with small landing craft, helicopters, or ships that run straight onto the beach. This is called "beaching". A key ship type is the Landing Platform Dock (LPD), a large ship with a dock inside that can be flooded, from which landing boats sail out. Amphibious operations are meant for war, but they are very useful in disaster relief. After a cyclone or tsunami, ports and roads may be broken, and a landing from the sea may be the only way to bring in rescuers, food and medical teams.
Example
In the 2025 India–US exercise Tiger Triumph, forces practised disaster relief with an amphibious landing at Kakinada, on the Andhra Pradesh coast of the Bay of Bengal. India's Landing Platform Dock INS Jalashwa took part. The drill included beaching operations and helicopter support.
Don't confuse with
- Tabletop exercise (TTX): the plan is worked out on paper and in discussion, and nobody actually lands. In an amphibious operation, troops and equipment really do go ashore.
- Joint vs combined operation: an amphibious operation is usually joint, which means more than one service (navy and army) works together. It is combined only if more than one country takes part.