Operation Husky Strategic Analysis

During Operation Husky, weaknesses were demonstrated at the operational level in the Allies ability to conduct command and control along with the integration of joint functions. The joint functions command and control (C2) and integration at the operational level will be applied to evaluate Operation Husky. For the joint function of C2 the three attributes of mission command: commanders intent, mutual trust and understanding will be used as evaluation criteria. For integration, fires along with movement and maneuver, two of the six joint functions will be used as evaluation criteria. Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily was decided at the Casablanca Conference to be the next campaign after Operation Torch in North Africa.
The joint function C2 during Operation Husky will be evaluated using three criteria: commander’s intent, mutual trust and understanding. These joint doctrine mission command attributes, will be used as the standard to evaluate operational level C2. Command uses both authority and responsibility with available personnel and resources to
This capability should have shifted their focus on movement and maneuver integration to Messina. This would enable the Allies the ability to reach Messina much earlier and cut off the large scale evacuation of the German forces. Operation Husky planning needed more focus on achieving operational reach and securing positional advantage over the enemy. This could have been accomplished with a joint plan that included all phases of the operation. The early Allied plan covered detailed amphibious operations, but was vague beyond that. A detailed land operations plan would have allowed them to make adjustments during execution and keep them from developing a plan as operations unfolded. A detailed and phased land component plan would have eased the coordination and increased the availability of combined air and naval