Final answer:
The U.S. Army supports over-the-shore operations by constructing strategic infrastructure such as pontoon bridges and airfields, securing logistics through shipbuilding and the convoy system, and enabling strategic operations like island hopping in warfare.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Army Supports Over-the-Shore Operations
The U.S. Army plays a crucial role in supporting over-the-shore operations during military missions and peacekeeping efforts. For instance, during the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia in 1995-1996, Army engineers built a pontoon bridge to facilitate the movement of supplies and support troops, highlighting the strategic importance of engineering units. When the U.S. mobilized its military forces to transport troops and equipment overseas, it built ships at an unprecedented rate to secure logistics and support operations across the Atlantic. Additionally, during WWI and WWII, the Army adopted convoy systems protected by sonar-equipped destroyers to defeat submarine threats, ensuring safe passage for the personnel and materials essential for these operations.
In strategic operations, such as the Pacific theater during WWII, the strategy of island hopping was critical. The Army would secure strategic islands and establish military bases, which played a pivotal role in setting up supply bases necessary for extending operations toward the target areas. Specific over-the-shore logistic supports also included the construction of airfields on these islands to counter Japanese kamikaze attacks, safeguarding carrier-based and land-based air support necessary for the broader military campaign.