The Center of Gravity for Operation Torch

¶ … 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." Requirements are listed below, beginning on page two of this exam. Read each question carefully! Section A: Theater Strategic level, the North African Campaign 1.

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. In your words, describe the operational environment. [Your answer should be one to five sentences.] The operational environment is North Africa, extending from Morocco to the Suez Canal, or the Atlantic to the Red Sea. Control of the Suez Canal is the goal.

The Spanish are neutral in Morocco and so far pose no threat, but they could join the Axis forces. Vichy France is in French Morocco but their loyalty to the Axis is questionable. The main threat is in Rommel's Panzar division in Libya and Egypt. b. In your own words, describe the Allies' M/NATO theater-level desired end state.

[Your answer should be one to five sentences.] The Allies' M/NATO theater-level desired end state is to control North Africa and the route to oil in the Middle East through the Suez Canal by annihilating Axis forces in the entire region. This is important because who controls access to the oil controls the industry needed to continue the war. The control of North Africa and the entrance to the Middle East also opens the door to an Allied invasion of Southern Europe.

Control must extend from French (possibly Spanish) Morocco to the Red Sea, with complete annihilation of Axis forces in the region. c. Concisely describe the problem or obstacle that is preventing the Allies from achieving their end state. [Your answer should be one to five sentences.] Axis forces obstruct the Allies' path to the Suez Canal, with Rommel's Afrika Korps acting as a considerable obstacle in the Libyan/Egyptian Desert.

The Axis control most of Northwest Africa and now threaten to cut the Suez Canal, which is a necessary link in the supply chain of the Allied forces. The desert conditions are not suitable to long supply chains so this has been problematic. Thus, capturing important port cities like Oran and Algiers is essential -- and so too is sealing off Gibraltar and ensuring that Spain does not become a threat and that Vichy remains indifferent at best. 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.] a.

What is the Axis desired end state (not objectives)? [Your answer should be one to five sentences.] The desired end state of the Axis is to cut the Suez Canal and control access to the Persian Gulf. This would seriously undermine Allied power and allow the Axis to boos industrial production. It would serve to keep the channel open for the Allies into the Mediterranean and allow a southern invasion of Europe so as to relieve the Soviets.

It would also open up the oil reserves to Allied forces and crush German industry. b. Complete the quad chart below. Type your answers into the 4 text boxes; the text boxes will expand to fit your answer. The CCs are needed for the total control of North Africa. The CRs are needed in order to suppor t the Panzars The CoG is required to gain cut Suez. The CV must be controlled so as to maintain dominance of the region.

The Axis needs to control Gibraltar as well as the port cities. The Panzars cannot maintain su fficient supplies without these and strongholds in Libya and Egypt will fall. Gibraltar is vu lnerable because of Spanish neutrality and questionable allegiance of Vichy. The Panzars in Libya/Egypt. Rommel's Afrika Korps in Northwest Africa, Vichy in French Morroco. 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 to the Allies plan begins with the immediate objective of establishing control of Gibraltar by combining land, sea and air forces in an assault on Algeria. The assault phase will also include attacks on important ports of Oran, Algiers and Bone. Spain is neutral so should not pose a military threat, but the region should be secured so as to prevent Axis forces from using Vichy France.

At Oran, one regimental combat team at the Gulf of Arzeue and another at Bay Des Andalouses will be needed to execute pre-dawn landings. Three assault loaded combat teams and a light armored force will be additionally needed in order to secure the sea port and surrounding airports at La Senia and Tafaroui.

At Algiers, a regimental combat team at Sidi Perruch, Castiglione and Ain Taya will be needed as well as three assault loaded teams and a light armored one to gain control of the sea port of Algiers and the air ports of Maison Blanche and Hussein Dey. At Bone, a combat team executing a pre-dawn landing at Cape de Garde will be needed. A U.S. Ranger battalion plus British support will be needed in order to secure the sea port of Bone and the airport of Dozzerville.

Eastward from Algiers, the position will need to be consolidated by six divisions. Westward from Oran, the position will be consolidated by seven divisions. These divisions will open up routes along the desert of North Africa so that supply chains can be supported. The essence of the campaign is to destroy the Axis forces and to eliminate the Panzar division of Rommel by capturing Axis strongholds in the important ports.

This would incapacitate the Axis forces and cause Germany to find a new source of oil for its industry, without which it cannot wage a war for long. Section B: Major Operation. Operation TORCH 4.

The focus of a campaign or major operation is the achievement of the military end state "that defines achievement of all military objectives." Considering the strategic guidance provided to General Eisenhower in the Directive for Commander-in-Chief Allied Expeditionary Force, and based on the TORCH outline plan, what defines the military end state for Operation TORCH? [Do not exceed one-half of a typed, double-spaced page.] The military end state for Operation TORCH is defined by the annihilation of Axis forces in North Africa and the total control of the Suez Canal and Persian Gulf oil.

This end state is to be achieved by dividing and conquering the Axis stronghold through simultaneous assaults using air, land, and sea forces to take Gibraltar, Oran, Algiers, and Bone, which will provide total cover in both east and west directions. This will cut off Rommel's Panzars and prevent them from cutting the Suez.

Without supply lines for the Panzars and without unbroken communication among the Axis forces, North Africa will be incapable of being secured by the Axis and the Allied forces will be open to push through to the Suez and secure the Persian Gulf for its own purposes. 5. Centers of Gravity (COG) are linked to objectives that achieve the military end state. COGs can be derived from an ends, ways, and means analysis and have associated critical factors -- critical capabilities, critical requirements, and critical vulnerabilities.

You will identify the Allied Center of Gravity for Operation TORCH and its critical factors. [Do not exceed one typed, double-spaced page.] a. What is the Allied main objective(s) at the operational level for TORCH? [Your answer should be one to five sentences.] The main objective is to annihilate Axis forces in North Africa and secure the Suez Canal and access to the Persian Gulf. The Axis possesses nearly all of Northwest Africa and is pushing forward to the Suez Canal.

If the Allies can capture the important ports behind Axis (Oran, Algiers, Bone) it can cripple Rommel's supply lines and cut off the Panzar division from vital necessities. b. Complete the quad chart below. Type your answers into the 4 text boxes; the text boxes will expand to fit your answer. The CCs are needed for the total annihilation of Axis forces in North Africa: it must be a sweeping invasion at several points, simultaneously undertaken so as to move into control with one direct action.

The CRs are needed in order to support this decisive action, which will require considerable force. The CoG is required to support the force in every direction (communication, air cover, land assault). The CV must be controlled so as to serve as the backbone of the continued support of the operation. Needed will be aviation for air cover of initial assaults, and naval forces to support land military forces and to keep sea lanes open.

Three Divisions will be needed to garrison Casablanca, Oran, and to serve as a strike force at Spanish Morocco, and thirteen divisions will be needed for the entire operation. A land, air, and sea assault on Algeria should be conducted in order to obtain control of Gibraltar. Simultaneously, assaults on Oran, Bone, and Algiers, should be conducted. The naval forces in the Mediterranean are the center of gravity, for they can support land and air operations.

Gibraltar is vulnerable and must be controlled; also the ports of Oran and Algiers so as to control westward and eastward flow. 6. How does the TORCH plan, at the Operational level, intend to attack the Theater Strategic-level enemy COG? Explain. [Do not exceed one-half of a typed, double-spaced page.] At the Operational level, TORCH intends to eliminate communication and supply lines of the Axis forces by overtaking sea and air ports in Oran, Algiers and Bone and by placing a strike force along Spanish Morocco so as to secure Gibraltar.

The divisions required for this operation will serve to consolidate forces at Oran, Algiers and Bone so that supplies and communication for the Allied powers can flow in both directions. It is the strategy of the Axis to have total control of North Africa from Morocco to the Red Sea, but by dividing this front through the various simultaneous invasions, it breaks up the stronghold and cuts off the Panzars from their supply routes.

Without supplies, they are ineffective and TORCH can achieve its aim of preventing the loss of the Suez. 7. (7 points total: 3 pts for listing the decisive points; 4 pts for the justification). A decisive point is a geographic place, specific key event, critical factor, or function that, when acted upon, allows commanders to gain a marked advantage over an adversary or contribute materially to achieving success (JP 5-0).

Decisive points (DPs) help determine how to apply friendly critical capabilities (CCs) to exploit enemy critical vulnerabilities (CVs) or defend friendly centers of gravity (COGs). [Do not exceed one typed, double-spaced page.] a. List THREE decisive points (not necessarily the objectives) you identify as important to achieve TORCH's military end state [you answered military end state in question #4]. Control of Oran Control of Algiers Control of Gibraltar b. Justify these decisive points by linking them to the CRs.