Modern navies no longer possess the large guns associated with classic monitors, yet they still need to support forces moving ashore. The design question includes whether a contemporary support craft can afford to sacrifice speed as heavily as a monitor did. An Indonesian tank-boat concept provides a small escort able to accompany landing craft and add close firepower during the approach. The escort assists the mission, while a landing vessel carrying tanks and perhaps hundreds of troops is the mission. Commanders must protect both, yet may rationally expose the smaller escort to reduce the risk to the more valuable assault load.
Notable Point · 1:03:11-1:05:28
The modern problem of protecting a landing force
The video connects the monitor's mission to modern amphibious warfare, where supporting ships can protect landing craft and the troops or vehicles they carry.