Littoral (military)

In military context, the littoral includes areas of water, close to coasts, from which shore-based weapons can be a threat to major vessels afloat, where submarines can hide silently on the bottom, and small craft can make speedy attacks from hiding places. Amphibious warfare is also likely in the littoral environment.

See littoral warfare for techniques used for combat in these areas, sometimes called "green water" to distinguish them from the "blue water" of the open ocean.