What describes the difference between area defense and mobile defense?

What describes the difference between area defense and mobile defense?

• A. Area defense focuses on holding terrain in a designated area; mobile defense uses mobility and counterattacks to defeat the enemy.
• B. Area defense prioritizes rapid exploitation; mobile defense prioritizes fixed positions.
• C. Area defense uses enemy encirclement; mobile defense avoids engagement.
• D. Area defense is mobile; mobile defense is static.

Answer: (A)

Area defense centers on holding a defined piece of terrain with fixed positions, obstacles, and fires to deny the enemy access and sustain the defense in that area. Mobile defense, by contrast, prioritizes speed and flexibility—avoiding prolonged fixed engagements and using movement to disrupt the attacker, then conducting counterattacks to defeat them and regain the initiative. This contrast—holding terrain versus using mobility and counterattacks to defeat the enemy—is what distinguishes the two approaches.

Area defense centers on holding a defined piece of terrain with fixed positions, obstacles, and fires to deny the enemy access and sustain the defense in that area. Mobile defense, by contrast, prioritizes speed and flexibility—avoiding prolonged fixed engagements and using movement to disrupt the attacker, then conducting counterattacks to defeat them and regain the initiative. This contrast—holding terrain versus using mobility and counterattacks to defeat the enemy—is what distinguishes the two approaches.