The british approach to operational art

The End-state

• … that state of affairs which needs to be achieved at the end of a campaign either to terminate or to resolve the conflict on favourable or satisfactory terms …

• JWP 5-00

The Campaign Planning Concepts

• End-state
• Centre of Gravity (CoG)
• Decisive Points (DPs)
• Joint Activities
• Lines of Operation
• Sequencing and Phases
• Branches and Sequels
• Culminating Point
• Operational Pause

The Centre of Gravity

• That aspect of the adversary’s overall capability which, if attacked and eliminated, will lead either to his inevitable defeat or his wish to sue for peace through negotiations
• JWP 5-00

Alexander the Great had a strong army but a very weak navy; he identified in his campaign against the Persians that his success depended upon gaining control of the Mediterranean Sea and he determined that the Persian CoG was their shore bases. Securing those bases with his army …… meant that he was able to gain control over the sea without a naval battle ….

• Alexander the Great had a strong army but a very weak navy; he identified in his campaign against the Persians that his success depended upon gaining control of the Mediterranean Sea and he determined that the Persian CoG was their shore bases. Securing those bases with his army …… meant that he was able to gain control over the sea without a naval battle ….
• UKOPSDOC, Chapter 3

The Campaign Planning Concepts

• End-state
• Centre of Gravity (CoG)
• Decisive Points (DPs)
• Joint Activities
• Lines of Operation
• Sequencing and Phases
• Branches and Sequels
• Culminating Point
• Operational Pause