Suppression and risk are inseparable from amphibious assault

Modern missiles make a landing frightening, but the need to suppress shore defences is not new. At San Carlos British forces suppressed and captured an enemy platoon overlooking the anchorage, while D-Day, Operation Torch, and Operation Husky also confronted defended coasts. No plan can remove every danger, so the political and military question is whether the objective is important enough to risk ships and personnel. Risk acceptance remains a strategic judgment even though amphibious ships cannot be made invulnerable.