Numerical Analysis of a Battle from History

Abstract

A numerical method and computer programs for computing the probability of the outcomes of a type oof heterogeneous battle model can be found in AD-A129 468. The method requires the numbers of weapons involved, their relative effectiveness, and the loss levels at which victory is attained. In order to test the method and its applicability, Professor N H Gibbs, formerly Professor of the History of War at Oxford, was asked to provide suitable numerical data from historical battles. No restriction was placed on the period from which the battles might be taken. Data regarding three battles of the Hundred Years War was provided, namely Crecy, Poitier, and Agincourt. These battles were of a similar type. In all cases a smaller, well disciplined, and better armed force, in a good defensive position beat a much larger force. In this paper we consider the battle of Crecy. We give first an edited version of the material provided by Professor Gibbs. We then consider the choice of appropriate attrition functions. Some examples of the computed results are given.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA129469

Entities

People

  • T. G. Weale

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army
  • Attrition
  • Battles
  • Casualties
  • Coefficients
  • Computational Science
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Infantry
  • Losses
  • Numerical Analysis
  • Probability

Readers

  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Regression Analysis.