Battle Analysis: The Battle of Okinawa (or Battle of Incheon) Assignment

Battle Analysis AssignmentInstructions

INSTRUCTIONS

Your Battle Analysis should be 8 pages in writing, addressing the
following items:        

The Battle of Okinawa (or Battle of Incheon)

When providing sources for your facts and figures, you will be using a footnote
style in accordance with the current edition of the Turabian style guide.

DEFINE THE SUBJECT/EVALUATE THE SOURCES:

1. Define the battle to be analyzed (where, who, when). It is essential to your subsequent analysis that you define your battle in terms of:
   1. Space. For example, if you brief Trafalgar, then set a geographic limit (say, the eastern Atlantic off the coast of Spain) so you are not distracted in your subsequent analysis by operations in the Pacific.
   2. Time. Set a time limit. For example, traditionally, Trafalgar is defined by 21 October 1805. Do not get distracted by events in Italy in the spring of 1800.
2. What sources did you use? How reliable do you believe they were?

2. REVIEW THE SETTING (SET THE STAGE):
   1944. Strategic/Operational Overview. Start big and work your way to a smaller scale. For example, if you brief D-Day, start with World War II, then the European Theater, then France in 1944.
   1945. Study the area of operations.
         1. Weather.
         2. Terrain.
   1946. Compare the principal antagonists (Operational/Tactical).
         1. Size and composition.
         2. Technology.

• Doctrine and training.

1. Logistical systems.
2. Intelligence.
3. Condition and morale.

• Command, control, and communications.
• Leadership.

1. State the mission and describe the initial disposition of the opposing forces

3. DESCRIBE THE ACTION:
   1. Describe the opening moves of the battle.
   2. Detail the major phases/key events.
   3. State the outcome.

4. ASSESS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ACTION:
   1. Relate causes to effects. What went well and why?  What went poorly and why?
   2. Establish military “lessons learned.” You can use the Principles of War (MOOSEMUSS), Battlefield Operating Systems: Maneuver, Fire Support, Air Defense, Intelligence, Combat Service Support/Logistics, Mobility/Counter Mobility/Survivability, and Command and Control (C2).