A survey of approaches to the modeling of land combat.

Abstract

This thesis surveys various methods for modeling land combat and examines the assumptions underlying each method. The users of land combat models are identified according to the nature of the problems that they are trying to solve: weapons system life-cycle management/ tactical planning and doctrine/ force structuring/ education and training/ and research and methodology. The distinction between models and the modeling process is made and some of its consequences explored. A survey of modeling methodologies is presented: it includes high-resolution Monte Carlo simulations/ Lanches ter-type models, analytical models, manual war games/ firepower scores models, the hierarchy of models concept/ and the Quantified Judgment Method of Analysis. Finally/ a basic reading list on models is provided for the beginning military operations research analyst.