PART ONE - INTRODUCTION 
by J. J. Hromadik 
BACKGROUND 
U. S. Naval power overseas is brought to bear primarily through 
fast carrier strike groups, seaborne landing forces, and missile launch- 
ing submarines. The efficient use of these forces is dependent upon 
advanced logistics, maintenance, and support facilities. The Advanced 
Base - also called Forward Area Base - is a major element in supporting 
the operating forces in remote areas. A vast real estate potential 
exists in mobile ocean basing systems; large floating platforms that 
can essentially occupy any ocean site are seen as a means for meeting 
forward area surveillance and basing requirements of the Navy in the 
mid 80's. Such platforms as shown in Figure 1.1, could increase Task 
Force effectiveness by providing a greater time on combat station; they 
avoid most of the problems of foreign bases without sacrificing any of 
the advantages of forward deployment. 
The floating platforms are seen as consisting of components mass 
produced ashore, constructed in modules, launched, towed to the site, 
and assembled. Such a capability to support occupancy of a particular 
ocean region for the performance of specified operational tasks exists. 
It does not appear to require major scientific discoveries or technical 
breakthroughs; it does require systematic development with accompanying 
RDT&E to update and extend current technology. While available materials 
of construction provide a designer's choice, concrete does appear to 
stand out. It is readily available, economical, can be mass produced 
and lends itself to repetitive large-scale constructions. With concrete, 
it is not necessary to bring the project to the industrial plant, the 
production processes can go to the site. Moreover, the history of con- 
crete in a marine environment speaks for itself. (See Part Two.) 
Raw materials™ are plentiful and are not known to be scarce even 
during periods of national crises. The cement industry is experiencing 
a steady growth. U. S. shipments reached an all time high of about 400 
million barrels per year (bpy) in 1968. New plants in operation, to- 
gether with modernization and expansion of existing plants were expected 
to increase production capacity by some 20 million bpy by 1970; the 
capacity at the close of 1968 was slightly more than 500 million bpy. 
Prognostications for cement shipments by 1980 range from a low of 625 
million to a high of 717 million bpy. 
The fastest growing segment of the rock products group is the light- 
weight aggregates. Output has increased by 80 percent in the last de- 
cade to reach an annual high of 10 million tons in 1968. Production is 
expected to double by 1975 (Grancher, 1969). 
SS PER ee SS PS Sa PN ES PE PTR = ° 
“Production quantities are discussed in Part Four. 
ou 
