VOLUME I Multinational Maritime Tactical Instructions and Procedures

primary purpose of the war diary is to provide a cohesive picture of events which have occurred, so that
higher authorities may study the operation in all its aspects and evaluate the results achieved. Additional
documents to clarify or link events, such as copies of relevant messages, should be included as necessary.
1207 — 1209 SPARE
1210 STRUCTURE FOR THE COMMAND OF MARITIME FORCE
1211 FULL COMMAND
The military authority and responsibility of a superior officer to issue orders to subordinates. It
covers every aspect of military operations and administration and exists only within national services. The
term “command,” when used internationally, implies a lesser degree of authority than when it is used in a
purely national sense. It follows that no NATO commander has full command over the forces that are
assigned to him. This is because nations, in assigning forces to NATO, assign only operational command
or operational control.
1212 OPERATIONAL COMMAND
The authority granted to a commander to assign missions or tasks to subordinate commanders, to
deploy units, to reassign forces, and to retain or delegate operational and/or tactical control as may be
deemed necessary. It does not of itself include administrative command or logistical responsibility.
Operational command may also be used to denote the forces assigned to a commander.
Operational command of maritime forces also includes retention or assignment of tactical command.
NATO commanders receiving operational command or operational control of NATO forces will
specify the mission(s) and tasking for these forces and delegate command and control authority as required.
1213 OPERATIONAL CONTROL
The authority delegated to a commander to direct forces assigned so that the commander may
accomplish specific missions or tasks which are usually limited by function, time, or location; to deploy
units concerned; and to retain or assign tactical control of those units. It does not include the authority to
assign separate employment of components of the units concerned. Neither does it, of itself, include
administrative or logistic control.
Operational control of maritime forces also includes retention or assignment of tactical command.
NOTE
Operational control is subordinate to operational command and has limited authority; its most
important limitation is its inability to allow reassignment of forces.
1214 CHANGE OF OPERATIONAL CONTROL (CHOP)
MTP 1(D), Vol. I
The date and time (GMT) at which the responsibility for operational control of a force or unit passes
from one operational control authority to another.
When it is intended that operational control of a force or unit pass from one operational control
authority to another, the operation order should state in explicit terms the manner of execution of CHOP.
This may be done in terms of time (GMT), position, or boundary crossing. Subject to the EMCON plan,
units executing CHOP should report to both operational control authorities and to the authority vested with
operational command over the force or unit. When a CHOP occurs, task organization commanders should
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