Which characteristic of the offense involves "attacking at a time or place or in a manner which enemy forces did not prepare or expect"?

• A. Surprise
• B. Concentration
• C. Audacity
• D. Tempo

Answer: (A)

Surprise is the offensive characteristic described. It means striking at a time, place, or in a manner the enemy did not expect, catching them off guard and disrupting their plans. When you create surprise, you force the defender to react with less than optimal timing and coordination, giving your forces the initiative to seize an advantageous position or tempo. The description in the question—attacking in a way that the enemy did not prepare for or expect—captures this idea precisely.

Concentration refers to massing forces at a decisive point to overwhelm the enemy, tempo is about the speed and rhythm of operations to maintain initiative, and audacity is boldness in action. While these can contribute to success, they do not define the element of catching the enemy unprepared in the exact way that surprise does.