ABSTRACT
The selection of an objective - a mission, aim, or purpose of one's efforts - is the first and the most important step in planning for war or for undertaking any military enterprise. It is the most important principle both in a major war and in a low-intensity conflict. The primary objectives of any war are not at sea or in airspace but on land. Yet, naval warfare can contribute to the accomplishment of the overall aim of the war and may render enemy forces on the coast impotent.1 Nowhere is this truer than in a war in a typical narrow sea. In general, the ultimate object of naval warfare is to keep the sea open for the unrestricted use as a means of transportation for one's forces, while denying its use for such purpose to the enemy. Thus, the proper objective of a navy operating in a narrow sea is to defeat the enemy fleet. However, a success over the enemy fleet is meaningless unless it contributes to the war's overall objective. After victory has been won and peace has been established it is still necessary to enforce the conditions of peace and both the politicians and the military leaders must keep this in mind at all times. All efforts must be directed to accomplish the selected or assigned objective. Without a clearly stated and attainable objective, the entire military effort becomes essentially pointless.2 However, determination of the objective is usually the most difficult part of any military operation.
