VOLUME I Multinational Maritime Tactical Instructions and Procedures

continuous fire support during a landing and subsequent operations ashore is complicated and requires
planning and execution by specially trained personnel.
11014 PLANNING STAGES
Planning for an amphibious operation is a continuous process from receipt of the Initiating Directive
by CATF to termination of the operations. Amphibious planning procedures are distinguished by the necessity
for concurrent, parallel, and detailed planning by all participating forces. There are three distinct
planning stages:
a. The Initiating Directive.
b. Basic decisions.
c. Detailed planning.
11015 THE INITIATING DIRECTIVE
The Initiating Directive is issued at high level (Strategic or Operational Commander) and must contain,
at least, the following information:
a. Mission.
b. Forces.
c. Commanders.
d. Command relationships.
e. Amphibious objective area (AOA).
f. Target date(s).
g. Related supporting operations.
h. Termination details.
i. Nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.
j. Code names.
k. Operational and signal security.
11016 BASIC DECISIONS
MTP 1(D), Vol. I
In this stage the various options open to the amphibious task force are considered and an outline plan
decided upon. The various factors to be considered either jointly or by single Service headquarters are
listed diagrammatically in Figure 11-1.
11-6 CHANGE 2