An Evaluation of the Effects of Various Task Assignment Alternatives on M109A1 Howitzer Crew Performance
Abstract
The crews of Army weapon systems must be prepared to operate and support their weapon systems under battle conditions which can have serious debilitating effects on the performance of crew members. It follows, therefore, that when decisions concerning the size and task assignments of crew members are made, the effects of these potentially debilitating parameters should be considered. The cost of studying alternative crew structures to determine the effect of even a single parameter over the course of a battle is almost prohibitive. ARI has developed a crew modeling technique that permits crews of various sizes, with different task assignments to be simulated. The crew simulation model also has the capability to modify crew member performance by the application of decrement (or increment) data from tables which represent the impact of selected parameters on human performance. This report describes the use of the crew simulation model to evaluate the effect of different divisions of the ten man howitzer crew between the operating and support tasks. Results suggest that a 5/5 crew split with each half-crew alternating between on- howitzer and support functions (including sleep) has the best chance of meeting the demands for timely artillery fire and high fire rates over periods of extended combat.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA133615
Entities
People
- Jay S. Coke
- Lloyd M. Crumley
- Robert C. Schwalm
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences