Submariners want larger role in joint expeditionary combat.

• Author: Tiron, Roxana

The submarine force is seeking to redefine its role in the U.S. military arsenal. The robust firepower and intelligence-gathering capabilities available on submarines, officials said, make them valuable players in joint expeditionary operations.

It is not yet clear, however, exactly how the other services would work more closely with the undersea force. In an attempt to improve the interservice dialogue, Navy submarine officers have been trying in recent months to get out the message that they want to become less isolated and more integrated with naval surface, ground and air forces.

"Submarine capability should be a big part of this joint expeditionary warfare that we are all talking about," said Adm. Frank Bowman, the director of naval nuclear propulsion.

Bowman has been, for years, an advocate of making the submarine a centerpiece of network centric warfare and elevating its role in the naval battle group. He spoke during an industry conference on expeditionary warfare, in Panama City, Fla.

The submarine force, he said, is seeking input from the other services to help the Navy figure out novel ways for the submarine to contribute to the joint fight. It's important for the Navy, he said, to understand what the services really need.

Bowman is urging agencies such as the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, the Army Training and Doctrine Command and the Air Force Air Combat Command to contact the commander of naval submarine forces, Vice Adm. John Grossenbacher, "and get our operational forces talking."

Meanwhile, Grossenbacher said that some inter-service discussion already is under way, specifically with the Air Force and the Marines, who generally work hand-in-hand with the Navy.

At the core of the Navy's war-fighting strategy is the overarching concept known as Sea Power 21. The elements of Sea Power 21 are "sea-shield," "sea-strike" and "sea-basing," glued together by ForceNet, which is the networking capability to integrate the different elements of the force.

Sea-shield refers to the power to dominate the seas and ensure access to coastal areas for the U.S. military services and allies. Sea-strike is about providing long-range, sustained firepower ashore. Sea-basing means the ability to launch operations from the sea, without having to secure a beach-head. "I would argue, just like we did in the initial phases in Afghanistan," said Bowman.

Another new concept that would change the traditional role of submarines is the...