Using simulation to understand Interim Brigade Combat Team munitions logistics

Abstract

Today, military leaders have limited options when reacting to the wide range of current threats existing in our world. These threats demand forces be able to deploy rapidly while possessing combat capabilities to stabilise a hostile area quickly. The Army’s answer to this requirement is the Interim Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). Logistically supporting the IBCT will require the Army to develop support organisations that exploit available technologies to automate support activities, enhance situational awareness and minimise the overall logistics footprint. We have developed an ARENA 5.0 discrete event simulation model to analyse the receipt, storage and distribution of ammunition stocks to the various units that make up the IBCT. Our model focuses on the operation of the ammunition transfer point (ATP) specified in current army guidance to provide ammunition to the IBCT. We examine a number of different operating conditions and conduct a statistical analysis to reveal significant factors influencing ATP performance.

Keywords:

• Simulation
• Military logistics
• Analysis of variance