Containerized Ammunition Delivery System in the Republic of Korea: A Study to Determine the Shortfalls and Logistical Infrastructure Requirements

In the event of a second Korean War, the United States must be able to sustain its Air Force with food, fuel, and above all, ammunition. This paper is a comparison argument that examines the existing Department of Defense standards for supporting containerized ammunition delivery systems with the results of various staff and unit level reports, US Transportation Command sponsored exercises, and expert interviews. The analysis presented indicates widespread deficiencies in the ammunition-receiving infrastructure at United States Air Force bases in the Republic of Korea. There are inadequate railhead facilities, container handling pads, base road systems, vehicle support, and in-transit visibility capabilities. The analysis finds that the current system cannot support efficient and safe containerized ammunitions operations without great risk to both munitions handlers and base personnel. Furthermore, the present system does not meet the intermodal requirements mandated by Joint Vision 2010's operational concept Focused Logistics. The paper provides specific recommendations for building adequate infrastructure support for a safe and efficient containerized ammunition delivery system. Correcting these systemic deficiencies will require the dedicated support of the United States and South Korean governments, the Department of Defense, and the US Air Force.