Chapter XXVI: Section V: will include a decision as to the essential elements of

information desired. The decision will be in sufficient detail to serve as a general plan (or a basis therefor), to be developed into a detailed plan for obtaining information and for converting it into intelligence.

A detailed intelligence plan will include appropriate information and assumptions. It will state the general plan for obtaining intelligence. This statement will include the essential elements of information desired. The plan will include appropriate tasks for information-collecting agencies, with times and destinations for reports of information. The task for each collecting agency will be based on the general plan (above); such task will also be synchronized with the projected operations prescribed for such agency in current Operation Orders (Chapter VIII). The agency's inherent capabilities--its limitations as well as its powers--will be given due consideration. Requests to be made on collecting agencies not under the commander's control will be noted in the information (as to own forces) given in the plan (see above).

Logistics arrangements will include, for example, provisions for handling prisoners of war, the disposition of captured documents and other materials, and the supply of maps, charts, and photographs. Counter intelligence measures will be specified where applicable. These include such matters as censorship, press relations, camouflage, and propaganda. Finally, the plan will include provision for the rendition of routine and special reports, for special charts (or maps) accompanying or pertinent to such reports, and for any intelligence conferences.

The essential elements of information desired are frequently stated in question form. Each question deals with an enemy course of action or with one or more of the enemy operations pertaining to such a course (page 161).

The tasks assigned to collecting agencies, or the requests made on collecting agencies not under the commander's control, will call for information (negative, if desired, as well as positive) as to specific indications of the enemy's action--past, present, or intended--and of the characteristics of the theater as related thereto. The indications to be sought for and reported are carefully determined by the commander in expectation that information obtained as to such matters will enable him to draw conclusions which will answer the questions posed by the essential elements of information.

For example, essential elements of information, with corresponding indications, may be as follows:

Essential Elements Indications

1. Will the enemy patrol the a. Presence or absence of enemy
trade route from A to B? forces (number and types of
vessels) between meridians--and--,
as far north as--and as far
south as--.

b. Times enemy forces observed
in area noted.

c. Apparent activity of enemy
forces so noted.

2. Will the enemy cover focal a. Presence or absence of enemy
points M and N? forces (numbers and types of
vessels) in (a specified area
or areas).

b. Times enemy forces observed
in areas noted in a, above.

c. Apparent activity of enemy so
noted.

d. Has M or N been prepared
as a naval base; an air base
for seaplanes, for land planes?
Is M or N readily accessible to
enemy battleships? What are
the characteristics of the
available entrances to sheltered
anchorages? (Etc.)

Another type of subsidiary problem which may call for a separate subsidiary plan relates to logistics (page 162). This problem is particularly applicable to the planning stage, because the contingencies which it involves can, to a considerable degree, be foreseen. In this case the situation which the commander usually desires to bring about is adequate freedom of action with respect to supply and related matters. He wishes to solve this problem so completely during the present step that a logistics plan, concurrently executed with his basic plan, will require minimum subsequent attention.

A logistics estimate by the procedure distinctive of the first step will include in Section I-A a summary of the pertinent features of the existing strategical and tactical situation, and of contemplated strategical and tactical operations. It will also include a statement of the salient features of the existing logistics situation. The incentive, to be found in a previous decision of the commander, will be noted. The assigned objective will be the making of adequate provision for logistics support. The mission will be:--

(Task) to make provision for adequate logistics support,

(Purpose) in order to contribute to freedom of action in the
operations contemplated. (In each particular case the
operations contemplated will be indicated by proper
phraseology in the mission or by reference to the summary of
the situation).