Sea based logistics: Distribution problems for future global contingencies

Abstract

Evolving doctrine in the U. S. Marine Corps emphasizes small, highly-mobile forces, supported from the sea rather than from large, land-based supply points. We introduce some emerging problems in sea based logistics, and show how simulation might be used to address them. We describe a simulation model of the o ff load of supplies to support a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, and show how to determine the number and allocation of di fferent material handling devices for such an operation.