Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations - Historic Naval Ships ...

Approach to Planning and Primary DecisionsPRIMARY DECISIONS RESPONSIBILITIES MATRIXPRIMARY DECISION1. Determine Amphibious ForceMission(s)2. Select Amphibious ForceObjective(s)May be contained inthe order initiatingthe amphibiousoperationDecisionDecisionmade notlater thanstepX MUTUAL 1XMUTUAL13. Determine Courses of Actionfor DevelopmentXMUTUAL24. Select Course of ActionMUTUAL45. Select Landing AreasMUTUAL46. Select Landing BeachesMUTUAL47. Determine Sea Echelon PlanCATF48. Select Landing ForceObjectivesCLF49. Select Landing Zones andDrops ZonesCLF410. Select Date and Hour ofLandingCATF Commander, Amphibious Task ForceXMUTUALCLF Commander, Landing Force4Figure IV-2. Primary Decisions Responsibilities Matrixprocess, amphibious force planners mustfurther develop COAs based on the guidancefrom the amphibious force commanders.Normally, the LF planners will provide an LFCOA for the ATF planners to build asupporting COA. At a minimum, COAsinclude the general area for a landing (whichmay already be specified by higherheadquarters), designation of the main effort,the scheme of maneuver, and the taskorganization. The selected COAs will bewargamed and compared based on criteriaestablished by the commanders. The selectionof amphibious force COAs is a mutualdecision.c. No later than during “COAComparison and Decision,” the fourth stepof the amphibious planning process, thefollowing decisions must be made.• Select Course of Action. At this point aCOA is selected and the CONOPS(including fire support planningguidance) is prepared. The CONOPS isusually a written and graphicrepresentation, in broad outline, of theintent of both of the commanders withrespect to their portion of the operation.It gives an overall picture of theoperation, including the transit, formationfor landing, and the scheme of maneuverfor accomplishing the amphibious forceobjectives. Both commanders preparemutually supporting CONOPS.• Select Landing Areas. The landingarea is that part of the operational areawithin which the landing operations ofan amphibious force are conducted. Itincludes the beach, the approaches toIV-5