Differential-Game Examination of Optimal Time Sequential Fire-Support Strategies

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Authors
Taylor, James G.
Subjects
Differential Games
Military Tactics
Fire-Support Allocation Strategies
Tactical Allocation
Lanchester Theory of Combat
Optimal Distribution of Supporting Fire
Combat Dynamics
Time-Sequential Combat Games
Advisors
Date of Issue
1976-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Optimal time-sequential fire-support strategies are studied through a two-person zero-sum deterministic differential game with close-loop (or feedback) strategies. Lanchester-type equations of warfare are used in this work. In addition to the max-min principle, the theory of singular extremals is required to solve this prescribed-duration combat problem. The combat is between two heterogeneous forces, each composed of infantry and a supporting weapon system (artillery). In contrast to previous work reported in the literature, the attrition structure of the problem at hand leads to force-level-dependent optimal fire-support strategies with the attacker's optimal fire-support strategy requiring him to sometimes split his artillery fire between enemy infantry and artillery (counterbattery fire). A solution phenomenon not previously encountered in Lanchester-type differential games is that the adjoint variables may be discontinuous across a manifold of discontinuity for both players' strategies. This makes the synthesis of optimal strategies particularly difficult. Numerical examples are given.
Type
Technical Report
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Operations Research (OR)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
NPS-55Tw76091
Sponsors
Funder
Navy Analysis Programs (Code 431)
Office of Naval Research
Foundation Research Program of the Naval Postgraduate School
Format
58 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
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