Phase I. The gaining and maintaining of air superiority 
over RHODES and SCARPANT0.
 
     Phase II. Airborne and amphibious landing operations
against RHODES and SCARPANT0 to secure airdromes and a port. 
 
     Phase III. Continuing operations to seize RHODES. 
 
     Phase IV. Further operations to seize and occupy the
entire archipelago.
 
    9. Terrain estimate.
 
     a. General.
 
              All the islands in the DODECANESE are mountainous. 0nly 
the two largest, RHODES and KOS, have stretches of fairly 
flat land. Except on RHODES and SCARPANT0, where there are 
coastal plains, the mountains rise direct from the water's 
edge. The coasts are irregular and indented by numerous bays, 
at the head of most of which there are small sand beaches 
which are suitable for landings.
         Winds. In winter the prevailing winds are from the
    north and may raise a heavy sea among the northern islands. 
         Visibility is good as a rule. Fog is rare. 
         Temperatures are moderate to warm.
                   Precipitation comes chiefly in the winter, almost no 
    rain falling from May to October.
 
     b. RHODES.
 
                This, the easternmost island in the Aegean Sea, is the 
largest and most important of the DODECANESE. It is approxi-
mately 46 miles long and has a maximum breadth of 15 miles. 
It is about 260 miles west of CYPRUS. There are numerous 
stretches of sandy beaches around the island that are suitable 
for landings. It has a good road net. There is only one 
port, the city of RHODES, which is situated on the extreme 
northern tip of the island. The island is well supplied with 
water, although in summer almost all of the rivers are dry.
 
 
 
 
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