How do navies achieve control of the sea?

Navies achieve control of the sea by employing their warships and armed forces to protect friendly shipping while simultaneously destroying or hindering enemy commercial and military vessels. This control enables a nation to conduct essential wartime operations, such as maritime commerce and amphibious assaults, while denying the enemy the ability to navigate the seas safely.12

Achieving this objective requires a synthesis of tactical processes, including firepower delivery, scouting, and command and control (C2), alongside their respective countermeasures. Modern naval tactics involve:3

• Firepower Delivery: Utilizing aircraft carriers, submarines, and surface combatants to project power.13
• Scouting and Information Denial: Gathering intelligence through surveillance and cryptanalysis while confounding enemy scouting via radar jamming and radio silence.43
• Command and Control: Assimilating information to direct forces effectively, while simultaneously attempting to disrupt or deceive the enemy’s own command structure.3
• Countermeasures: Protecting forces through defensive maneuvers, electronic warfare, and screening to neutralize enemy threats.3

Ultimately, sea control is a fundamental function of sea power, allowing a nation to exert military and economic pressure, such as through a blockade, to secure its strategic interests.2