Naval Coastal Warfare (United States)

The Navy's Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF) is the main combat unit assigned to Naval Coastal Warfare (NCW).

[1] In 2020 NCW underwent a major overhaul and transitioned units to the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF).

[2] NCW involves the employment of mobile sensor systems (e.g., radar, sonar, electronic warfare support (ES), and visual) and small, armed patrol craft to provide a surveillance and interdiction capability against waterborne threats in the inshore/coastal environment.

Coastal Riverine Force (CRF) Squadrons (renamed in 2020 to MESF) deploy worldwide to detect, deter, and defend an area, unit, or High Value Asset.

Units conduct force protection of strategic shipping and naval vessels operating in the inshore and coastal assets, anchorages and harbors, from bare beach to sophisticated port facilities.