Reinforcing Norway, Denmark, or Iceland could not safely assume that forces would assemble and unload before war began. Moving them early would reveal a major part of NATO's war plan during an already tense confrontation between nuclear alliances. Waiting until hostilities began, however, meant that the limited ports serving those countries could already be damaged by bombers and missiles. The same specialized lift and equipment might also be required for more than one northern-flank destination, making amphibious capacity a practical hedge against disrupted infrastructure.
Chapter · 2:27-4:09
Why northern-flank reinforcement needed amphibious lift
Reinforcing Norway, Denmark, and Iceland could not safely assume intact ports, so amphibious lift remained a practical option for a northern-flank war.