Partial automation of landing force embarkation planning

Abstract

This thesis describes EMBARK, a system of computer programs developed to automate one of the phases of embarkation planning. These programs are designed to accumulate the information and produce the loading forms required to prepare the loading plan for a Marine Corps amphibious landing. The system will print the following documents: Unit Cargo Manifest, Cargo and Loading Analysis Form, Vehicle Summary and Priority Table, and Unit Personnel and Tonnage Table. In the past, these forms were prepared manually from information accumulated manually: a slow, laborious process. Today, the time element in warfare has become critical. Amphibious operations which formerly could be planned and executed over a period of months must now be accomplished in weeks. In order to reduce the planning and execution times, it is necessary to mechanize the preparation of the loading forms. The EMBARK system was developed to accumulate the necessary information, process it, and produce the loading forms. The methods of the system are described and illustrated. Finally, the use of computers to solve other amphibious planning problems is considered.