Bits or shots in combat? the generalized Deitchman model of guerrilla warfare

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bits or shots in combat? the generalized Deitchman model of guerrilla warfare

AU - Kress, Moshe

AU - MacKay, Niall J.

PY - 2014/1

Y1 - 2014/1

N2 - We generalize Deitchman's guerrilla warfare model to account for trade-off between intelligence ('bits') and firepower ('shots'). Intelligent targeting leads to aimed fire; absence of intelligence leads to unaimed fire, dependent on targets' density. We propose a new Lanchester-type model that mixes aimed and unaimed fire, the balance between these being determined by quality of information. We derive the model's conserved quantity, and use it to analyze the trade-off between investments in intelligence and in firepower - for example, in counterinsurgency operations.

AB - We generalize Deitchman's guerrilla warfare model to account for trade-off between intelligence ('bits') and firepower ('shots'). Intelligent targeting leads to aimed fire; absence of intelligence leads to unaimed fire, dependent on targets' density. We propose a new Lanchester-type model that mixes aimed and unaimed fire, the balance between these being determined by quality of information. We derive the model's conserved quantity, and use it to analyze the trade-off between investments in intelligence and in firepower - for example, in counterinsurgency operations.

KW - Combat modeling

KW - Counterinsurgency

KW - Military

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84893728296&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.orl.2013.08.004

DO - 10.1016/j.orl.2013.08.004

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84893728296

SN - 0167-6377

VL - 42

SP - 102

EP - 108

JO - Operations Research Letters

JF - Operations Research Letters

IS - 1

ER -