MILITARY DECISIONMAKING PROCESS TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES
(MDMP TTPs)
Section VII. CORPS COURSE OF ACTION STATEMENT AND SKETCH
NLT 150900 Aug 98 (H-92), XII (US) Corps defends in sector to defeat the 11 TA north of a line Muscotah- Effingham- Lancaster to deny the enemy main effort the ability to interdict our corps ground LOC south and west of Kansas City.
Corps employs a mobile defense using two mechanized divisions forward to block and deny the enemy use of the western (Topeka) avenue of approach and contain the eastern (Lawrence) avenue of approach by shaping a salient for the 8 CAA north of a line Marysville- Sabetha- Muscotah- Valley Falls- Ozawkie- Oskaloosa- Leavenworth. This will enable the corps to employ two striking force armored divisions to defeat the 11 TA and thus cause the enemy to lose its will to fight and culminate offensive operations south of the Northland- Centralia border.
SECURITY OPERATIONS AND MBA FIGHT:
The corps aviation brigade, corps artillery, and assets from the corps MI brigade occupy positions between PL ORANGE and PL PURPLE and conduct deep operations into EAs MIAMI, DENVER, and CHICAGO (H to H+2) to interdict the first-echelon divisions of the 8 CAA so the CTF Border Brigade can withdraw and pass rearward to preserve its combat power.
After the rearward passage of the CTF Border Brigade, the corps covering force (a supporting effort with a balanced brigade in the west and an ACR in the east) will conduct covering force operations between PL ORANGE and PL BROWN. The balanced brigade interdicts (H to H+24) reconnaissance units, advance guards, and forward detachments from route 77 west of Wymore to route 99 north of Burchard to route 4 west of Bernadt to influence the 8 CAA commander to adopt the eastern avenue of approach. The ACR covers (H to H+24) from Tecumseh to the Missouri River north of PL PURPLE so the eastern mechanized division can complete its main battle area (MBA) preparations.
During the corps covering force fight, corps deep operations will be initially directed into EAs TAMPA, DALLAS, and ATLANTA to interdict (H to H+24) the second-echelon brigades of the 4 MID and 79 TD so the 8 CAA Commander will adopt the eastern avenue of approach and allow the covering force to conduct a rearward passage without being under pressure. After completing a successful 24-hour delay, the corps covering force will conduct rearward passage and battle handover with MBA forces at PL PURPLE (BHL).
The balanced brigade will move to and occupy AA READY and become the corps reserve. Priority of commitment will be to the eastern MBA division to defeat enemy penetrations of PL BLUE and prevent the 8 CAA from seizing crossing sites over the Kansas River in the vicinity of Lawrence. The ACR will occupy a sector on the corps western flank and screen from Manhattan to Council Grove to protect the corps rear area from attacks out of the 1st (Centralian) Corps sector.
Once battle handover with the covering force is complete, the corps will defend in sector with a mechanized division in the east as a supporting effort to contain and a mechanized division (minus) as a supporting effort in the west to block the 8 CAA north of a line running Marysville- Sabetha- Muscotah- Valley Falls- Ozawkie- Oskaloosa- Leavenworth.
The corps will execute a mobile defense by blocking 8 CAA forces in the west while shaping a penetration of the 8 CAA in the east. This will allow the corps to commit its striking force, the main effort, to defeat the 11 TA and bring about the final defeat of the enemy.
A mechanized division (minus) in the west will defend in sector (H+24 to H+120) to block the 4 MID and elements of the 79 TD along a line Marysville- Sabetha- Muscotah- Valley Falls- Ozawkie to deny the enemy use of highways 99, 63, and 75 as avenues of approach to Topeka and the Kansas River to create maneuver space for the corps striking force and initially protect its northern flank once committed.
A mechanized division in the east will delay in sector and contain (H+24 to H+120) the 120 MID, 9 TD, and elements of the 79 TD along a line running Ozawkie- Oskaloosa- Leavenworth. This will cause the NCF commander to commit the 11 TA to his perceived success in the east and create an assailable flank for the corps striking force.
Two armored divisions, the corps striking force, occupy AAs SPROCKET and TRACK, respectively, and prepare to attack in zone to defeat the 11 TA north of PL GREEN. This will deny the NCF the ability to mass on the Lawrence avenue of approach and thereafter the corps ground LOC south of Kansas City.
During the corps MBA fight, corps deep operations will initially interdict route 136 (H+24 to H+40) west of EA DALLAS in the vicinity of Tecumseh to deny the 9 TD access to the Topeka avenue of approach. Corps deep operations then shift to interdict the 9 TD (H+40 to H+43) in the vicinity of EAs RENO, BOSTON, and ALBANY to cause a delay in its commitment and allow the eastern MBA division the time to contain the first-echelon divisions. On commitment of the 11 TA, corps deep operations will interdict its first-echelon divisions (H+46 to H+48) in the vicinity of EAs DENVER and CHICAGO, giving the eastern MBA division the time to successfully shape the penetration in the east. Corps deep operations will then shift to EAs TACOMA and WACO (H+52 to H+54) to interdict the second-echelon division and ground LOC of the 11 TA, causing their delayed arrival in the MBA and providing the corps striking force time to begin its movement forward toward the LD/LC and accomplish its purpose.
The corps covering force initially provides forward security to the MBA divisions as they prepare their positions. When the covering force begins its rearward passage, MBA divisions are responsible for providing their own flank and forward security during the course of the operation.
A balanced brigade is assigned as the corps TCF to defeat Level III threats in the corps rear area with priority of protection to the area in and around Topeka. This will allow logistics flow into the corps rear area and allow the unimpeded crossing of the corps main effort striking force across the Kansas River.
The corps aviation brigade initially establishes the corps airfield in AA TALON and deploys forward to support deep operations.
Course of Action. Security Operations/MBA Fight.
COMMITMENT OF THE STRIKING FORCE:
Corps will commit the striking force, as the corps main effort, once the corps MBA forces have successfully contained the 8 CAA attack north of a line running Marysville- Sabetha- Muscotah- Valley Falls- Ozawkie- Oskaloosa- Leavenworth, caused the 8 CAA to assume a defensive posture, and forced the 11 TA to be committed in the eastern portion of the corps sector.
When the striking force is committed, corps deep operations will destroy the first-echelon brigade and DAG of the eastern first-echelon division of the 11 TA in the vicinity of EA DAYTON so the corps main effort can achieve its purpose and deny that division the ability to continue offensive operations.
The corps continues to defend in sector to block and contain the 8 CAA, with a mechanized division (supporting effort) containing in the east and a mechanized division (minus) (supporting effort) blocking in the west. The corps prepares to commit its main effort to defeat the 11 TA to bring about the defeat of the NCF.
Prior to the arrival of the first-echelon divisions of the 11 TA in the decisive area bounded by Horton- Baker- Everest- Lancaster- Monrovia- Effingham- Muscotah, an armored division occupying AA TRACK attacks in zone (H+74 to H+120) as the corps main effort to defeat the western first-echelon division and subsequently defeat the remaining elements of the eastern first-echelon division of the 11 TA. This will deny the NCF the ability to seize crossing sites over the Kansas River in the vicinity of Lawrence and Bonner Springs and prevent it from threatening our ground LOC south of Kansas City.
An armored division occupying AA SPROCKET simultaneously attacks in zone (H+74 to H+120), as the supporting effort, to contain the second-echelon division of the 11 TA north of a line running Wetmore- Powhattan- Robinson- Highland in order to protect the northern flank of the corps main effort from the second-echelon division of the 11 TA so the corps can accomplish its mission.
The ACR continues to screen along the corps western flank (H+24 to H+120) between Manhattan and Council Grove to protect the corps rear area from attacks out of the 1 (Centralian) Corps sector. Striking force divisions will be responsible for providing their own forward, flank, and rear security during their commitment. When the operation is completed, the mechanized division (minus) in the western portion of the MBA and the supporting effort of the striking force will defend in sector between PL PURPLE and PL ORANGE so the corps can reconstitute and continue offensive operations.
A balanced brigade will continue to be the corps reserve and will follow the corps main effort with priority of commitment to that division (H+74 to H+120) to defeat the eastern first-echelon division of the 11 TA northeast of Huron.
A balanced brigade will continue to be the corps TCF. Priority of protection continues to be logistics sites south of Topeka and crossing sites over the Kansas River in the vicinity of Topeka.
The corps aviation brigade continues to occupy AA TALON and deploys forward to support deep operations.
Course of Action. Commitment of Striking Force.
ENDSTATE:
At the conclusion of this operation, the corps will have contained and defeated both the 8 CAA and the 11 TA north of a line running Marysville- Sabetha- Muscotah- Valley Falls- Ozawkie- Oskaloosa- Leavenworth, denying the NCF the ability to seize crossing sites over the Kansas River and threaten our rear ground LOC south of Kansas City. The corps will be arrayed with a mechanized division (minus) and an armored division defending in sector along a line Marysville- Sabetha- Falls City- Rulo to defeat the 13 TA if committed in our sector. The remainder of the corps will conduct reconstitution to increase operational readiness to 85 percent in preparation for offensive operations to restore the Northland-Centralia border.