The water approaches to beaches, harbors, and other possible landing points constitute the forward area of German coastal defenses, and responsibility for this area rests in the German Navy. To engage enemy forces before they reach land, the Navy not only employs surface units of all types, but also controls a certain number of land installations, including long-range batteries, some antiaircraft batteries, and a line of lookout stations. The responsibility of the German Army for land defense begins on the beach, the fortifications and other positions of which are manned by defensive coastal commands as well as by offensive troops.