Area Defense is described as:

• A. Focus on destroying the enemy with a counterattack.
• B. A defensive maneuver to cover retreat and reposition.
• C. Focus on holding terrain and protecting assets.
• D. A reconnaissance-based defense.

Answer: (C)

Area defense centers on holding terrain and protecting assets within a defined area. The goal is to deny the enemy control of that space and to preserve resources and continuity of operations by occupying prepared positions, leveraging fires, obstacles, and good reconnaissance to deter and delay the attacker. This approach emphasizes maintaining and defending the area rather than going on the offensive or withdrawing. Destructive counterattacks are more characteristic of offensive actions, while covering a retreat describes a retrograde or delaying maneuver, and a reconnaissance-focused defense centers on gathering information rather than primarily securing the ground. So the best description is holding terrain and protecting assets.