Military Operational Art and Design PhD Model Answer

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It is now early September 1942. You are a staff officer with the Combined Chiefs of Staff, European Theater of Operations. As a recent CGSOC graduate, your supervisor has tasked you to review the Norfolk Group's plan and related documents (Parts 2 and 3). The Combined Chiefs will meet soon to be briefed on the planning thus far to advise President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill on the status of Operation TORCH. Your supervisor's instructions to you are:

"I want you to review this outline plan and the associated communications (Parts 2 and 3) and give me your assessment of how well TORCH supports the M/NATO theater objectives and how well TORCH includes the main elements of operational art and design. However, to do this correctly you first need to understand the M/NATO environment and situation. Use operational design methodology thinking to understand the North African campaign and how TORCH fits in it. Do not give me a national or European strategy assessment. Answer the questions I have provided, and give me some responses I can give the Combined Chiefs. Remember that TORCH is a major operation subordinate to a larger North African Theater Campaign. The Chiefs will be here in about six hours, so you don't have much time."

Section A: Theater Strategic level, the North African Campaign

1. (15 pts) Review the Operational Approach Student Aid Slide #7 for this question. Operational Design and the Operational Approach is a process of iterative understanding and problem framing that supports commanders and staffs in their application of operational art with tools and a methodology to conceive of and construct viable approaches to operations and campaigns.” (JP 5-0, III-1). In the context of the Mediterranean/North Africa Theater of Operations (M/NATO), using the contextual background notes and material provided for this exam in Parts 2 and 3, apply operational design thinking as described in JP 5-0 chapter III to answer the following.

a. (5 pts) In your words, describe the operational environment. [Do not exceed one-half of a typed, double-spaced page.]

The operational environment is the solid understanding of the problem at hand while describing the strategy for achieving the end state. The operational approach is a methodology and tool to construct a viable approach in iteratively understanding the problems to support staff and commanders in the application of operation arts with methodology and tools to construct and conceivable viable approaches to campaign and operations. The operation was the large part of North African campaign involving the British Eight Army in Egypt. Analysis of the M/NATO operational environment reveals that Vichy French Forces controlled Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco while the Axis Combat Forces (German and Italian) occupied Western Egypt and Libya. However, some Axis Service Troops were stationed in Tunisia. The Allied UK Forces stationed in Malta, Egypt and Gibraltar. The geographical scope of Operation TORCH is limited to Algeria, Fr. Morocco, Tunisia and adjacent waters since TORCH includes a major operation carried out in North Africa and Mediterranean theater of operation. Typically, M/NATO was important both for Allies and Axis because it secured or exposed the soft underbelly of Europe. Since Operation TORCH plays an important role in the North African Theater Campaign, its characterized by specific dynamics and challenges.

b. (5 pts) In your own words, describe the Allies' M/NATO theater-level desired end state. [Your answer should be one to five sentences.]

The theater-level desired end state of the Allies’ M/NATO is to develop more vigorous lines of supplies and communication. This desired end state can be realized through securing Suez Canal given that one of the operation’s major challenges is the lack of effective supply and communication lines to secure Suez Canal. The theater-level desired end state can be achieved through preventing the Axis from accessing oil by shortening the route from Britain, which will in turn make the Axis vulnerable and weak.

c. (5 pts) Concisely describe the problem or obstacle that is preventing the Allies from achieving their end state. [Your answer should be one to five sentences.]

The problem or obstacle preventing the Allies from achieving their end state is the lack of communication and supply lines. Due to lack of suitable lines of communication and supplies, the Allies’ operations are significantly hindered. As a result of this problem, the Allies are forced to utilize attack and push technique, which restrict their operations to a few miles from their operational base i.e. Alexandria. While the Allies only route is via the Cape of Good Hope, they are unable to get necessary supplies because this route is extremely long. The shorter routes through Mediterranean SLOCs are not accessible to the Allies because they have been blocked by the Axis, which complicates access to supplies.

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2. (18 pts total) Centers of gravity (COGs) can be derived from an ends, ways, and means analysis of the problem’s ‘system’ and have associated critical factors—critical capabilities, critical requirements, and critical vulnerabilities. You will identify the M/NATO theater-level adversary CoG and its critical factors. [Do not exceed one typed, double-spaced page.]

The M/NATO center of gravity is the deterioration of weather that can prevent the Allied Forces reaching their end state. It is essential to realize that weather condition such as the strong wind can prevent the Allied force at sea to reach the shore thereby stationing at the sea. The weather can also prevent the Air Force from launching their operations successfully because the foggy weather will prevent the pilot seeing clearly, which will jeopardize the M/NATO operation. The weather condition will also lead to a loss of tactical surprise, and limit the escorts and convoy remaining at sea. The inability to prevent enemy’s reinforcement is another issue that can prevent the Allied forces reaching their end state since the prevention of the Axis reinforcement is very important in achieving the Allied forces objectives. The other issue that can prevent the Allied forces reaching their end state is the lack of suitable lines of communication and supplies for their operations.

a. (3 pts) What is the Axis desired end state (not objectives)? [Your answer should be one to five sentences.]

The Axis’ desired end state is to cut the Suez Canal in order to cut the British lines of communication and supply as well as prevent them getting access to the Western Mediterranean. The other desired end state of the Axis is to weaken the capabilities of the Allied forces to secure the Suez Canal since British forces heavily depended on the Canal for access of oil and other essential raw materials for their operations. Additionally, the Axis’ desired end state is to use the Italian Ally’s operations and forces in Egypt.

b. (12 pts) Complete the quad chart below. Type your answers into the 4 text boxes; the text boxes will expand to fit your answer.

c. (3 pts) Provide a justification for the responses you provided in part b [About 1-5 sentences]:

The Axis operation as they face the Allies is characterized by some strengths and weaknesses that have major impacts on the outcome of the operation. The Axis have the advantages of strategic positioning that make it easy for them to obtain supplies with ease through Tunisia in comparison to the Allies. The strategic positioning advantage is evident in the fact that the Allies are forced to take the longer route of the Cape of Good Hope to access supplies unlike the Axis. In addition, the Axis have an alliance with the Nazis, which helps to enhance their operations. However, they have issues like lack of a strategic base of resupply of resources and effective working intelligence to enhance their operations.

Inadequate supplies and strategic bases

Poor intelligence

British-Spanish connection

Effective communication

Supply of the resources

Intelligence and planning

Strategic alliance

Strategic positioning

Control and dominance

Minimal exposure

Strategic position

3. (15 pts total) Describe an Operational Approach that explains the Allied theater campaign. “The operational approach reflects understanding of the operational environment and the problem while describing the commander’s visualization of a broad approach for achieving the desired end state” (JP 5-0, pg III-13). [Related doctrine: JP 5-0, Chapters III and IV].

Using the contextual background notes in Part 2 and the documents in Part 3 of this exam, concisely describe in narrative form the operational approach the Allies plan to take in the M/NATO campaign to achieve the desired theater end state. [Do not exceed one typed, double-spaced page.]

The operational approach of the Allied forces to achieve their desired theater end state is the use of attack and push method. They utilize this approach because of the numerous difficulties they encounter in attempts to obtain critical supplies and resources for their operations. The attack and push technique is an operational approach of the Allied forces because shorter routes for accessing supplies have been blocked by the….....

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