Maihinnousu

Maihinnousu is a Finnish term used to describe an amphibious landing operation, defined as a military operation in which troops and equipment are transported by sea and landed on a coastline to establish a foothold. The primary objective is to secure a beachhead and allow the forces to move inland, typically under the protection of naval and air support.

A maihinnousu involves planning across naval, landing, air, and ground components, and often includes engineers to overcome obstacles, logistics to sustain the landing, and assault forces to seize defined objectives.

Common elements include landing ships and craft, close air support, naval gunfire, and a coordinated timetable to minimize defender preparation. Success depends on factors such as sea state, weather, surprise, and the ability to rapidly consolidate the beachhead against counterattacks. Modern maihinnousu operations emphasize combined arms, rapid seizure of objectives, and the establishment of secure supply routes for onward operations.

Historically, amphibious landings played a decisive role in several 20th-century campaigns, notably in World War II and subsequent battles in the Pacific and Europe. The concept continues to inform modern military doctrine and training, including coastal defense planning and crisis response missions where forces need to be projected from sea to land.