Some Two-on-Two Homogeneous Stochastic Combats

Abstract

In this reprint we consider two versions of two-on-two homogeneous stochastic combat and develop expressions, in each case, for the state probabilities. The models are natural generalizations of the exponential Lanchester square law model. In the first version, a marksman whose target is killed resumes afresh the killing process on a surviving target; in the second version, the marksman whose target is killed merely uses his remaining time to a kill on a surviving target. Using the state probabilities we then compute such important combat measures as (1) the mean and variance of the number of survivors as they vary with time for each of the sides, (2) the win probabilities for each of the sides, and (3) the mean and variance of the battle duration time. As an application, computations were made for the specific case of a gamma (2) interfiring time random variable for each side and the above combat measures were compared with the appropriate exponential and deterministic Lanchester square law approximations. The latter two are shown to be very poor approximation in this case.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA218541

Entities

People

  • Antranig V. Gafarian
  • K. R. Manion

Organizations

  • University of Southern California

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Attrition
  • California
  • Differential Equations
  • Distribution Functions
  • Equations
  • Figure Of Merit
  • Gaussian Quadrature
  • Kill Probabilities
  • Logistics
  • Military Research
  • New Mexico
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Probability
  • Random Variables
  • Simulations
  • Time Intervals
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Mathematics

Readers

  • Marksmanship and Weaponry.
  • Mathematical Modeling and Probability Theory.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies