Networked Logistics: Turning the Iron Mountain into an Iron Network
Abstract
The current Marine Corps logistics structure distributes resources from a central point commonly known as the Iron Mountain to combat units throughout the battlespace. The Iron Mountain presents a substantial target for adversaries with precision-guided weapons or large-scale attack capabilities. This study explores the effects of replacing the Iron Mountain with a distributed network of mobile logistics support nodes. This Iron Network creates a smaller unpredictable target that is harder to locate while still providing logistics support to combat units. We create a simulation model to explore the factors affecting the resupply capabilities of an Iron Network and Iron Mountain in terms of time for service, unfulfilled requests, and resource requirements. The major findings of the modeling and simulation analysis indicate that this Iron Network structure is possible, but it requires some specific enablers. Asset and supply level visibility across the network are critical for success, as is responsive global logistical support. The best response times occur when vehicle utilization remains below 40 percent. Given enough vehicles and an accurate picture of the networks resources, the Iron Network proves to be 79 percent faster than the Iron Mountain, while using 22 percent less vehicles and associated fuel and leaving 94 percent fewer requests unfulfilled.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1080325
Entities
People
- Gregory E. Lynch
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School