Wow..I learn so much from my fellow freepers(and you guys make me laugh with your funny comments too). What is Litoral zone naval combat?
Imagine trying to perform submarine operations, or even surface naval ops there. Bathymetry may be changeable and complex. Fresh, brackish, and salt water masses may be present and mixing (which would significantly complicate sonar interpretation). Turbidity may mask visual sightings from the air as well.
It is an environment especially well suited to shallow draft, fast, maneuverable vessels, and can provide a significant home turf advantage.
Small, quiet subs which can lay doggo in the right places and fast gunboats/missile boats would be especially well suited to fight in this environment.
Survivability might be low, but the emphasis is on destroying superior forces with lesser vessels(--right up a jihadi's alley).
Air power can be a decisive factor.
All things being equal, though, I guess it would be the equivalent of a bar room brawl on a school bus, driving in and out of darkened tunnels.