Combat modeling for Command, Control, and Communications: a primer

Abstract

This thesis is a primer for a combat modeling course for Joint Command, Control, and Communications (C3) students at the Naval Postgraduate School. It provides the students with a single document which ties together the concepts of several modeling experts pertinent to C3. The thesis examines various aspects of combat models and introduces some of their functions, applications, and results. Areas included in the primer are: combat theory and definitions for command and control reflected in that theory; modeling techniques; measures of effectiveness; attrition models, particularly Lanchester type equations; history of naval modeling; and a survey of current modeling efforts, such as simulation, Chaos Theory, and Decision Support Aids. The thesis introduces basic concepts and identifies readings from which those concepts were extracted. It does not teach students to develop combat models, though it gives insight into how the application affects proper model selection.