main effort

{{Short description|Unit assigned to the most critical action}}

In maneuver warfare doctrine, the main effort is the unit assigned responsibility for accomplishing the action most critical to the overall success of a command's mission. It serves as the focal point upon which converges the combat power of the force, and receives priority support of any kind when requested. While a commander always designates a main effort, it may shift during the course of an operation as events unfold.{{Cite book |url=https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCDP%201-3%20Tactics.pdf |title=Marine Corps Doctrine Publication 1-3, Tactics |publisher=United States Marine Corps |year=1997 |location=Quantico, Virginia |pages=32–33 |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Walters |first=E. M. |title=Main Effort Primer |url=https://smallwarsjournal.com/documents/Main_Effort_Primer.pdf |journal=Small Wars Journal}}