Modeling the effects of logistics on ground combat and maneuver

• Main Author: Huffaker, Joseph W.
• Other Authors: Buss, Arnold H.
• Language: en_US
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/8691

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited === Logistics can substantially affect the directions of warfare campaigns. The types of war materiel and their flow rates to field units directly impact the campaign outcome. Although many wargaming and combat simulations have been developed, few models implement the detailed effects of logistics flow. This thesis develops a theater level logistics flow model for a Blue force using a forward logistics base that is advancing upon an objective in Red defended territory. The model computes confidence intervals for Blue's short tons of various classes of supply available throughout the campaign. Logistics activity is generated at user defined rates using four periodic and event driven consumption mechanisms: movement, combat, interdiction, and interdiction repair. The model's primary function is receipt, staging, onward movement, and integration for materiel consumed by Blue. The model is implemented in MODSIM, an object-oriented simulation language providing both synchronous and asynchronous events, as well as a rich class of data structures necessary to implement the model. The basic model is replicated to desired confidence and tolerance, with statistics collected for the amounts of the various classes of supply available for the supported units. The model's output includes confidence intervals for the desired measures of effectiveness.