Optimization Model for Sea-Based Logistics Supply System for the Navy and Marine Corps

摘要

The United States is moving into a new era in which the enemy no longer provides symmetric opposition. The Navy and Marine Corps will face new challenges in the way they deploy and conduct future operations. One important way in which these challenges will be met involves sea-based operations, which provide the sustainment necessary for prolonged operations and prevent unwanted operational pauses. Recent combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) demonstrated difficulties when sustaining forces from logistics bases ashore. For example, advancing the Army and Marines to Baghdad in OIF consumed large amounts of fuel and ammunition. The resupply could not replenish supplies and an operational pause began on 29 March, 2003. To prevent operational pauses, rapid movement from the sea to the objective must be implemented. This thesis analyzes the problem of finding an optimal mix of Combat Logistics Force shuttle ships required to sustain the sea base. This is accomplished through two optimization models. The first one determines a shuttle mix that guarantees minimum inventory levels at the sea base at all times. Since this requirement may cause some shuttles to be partially loaded, the second model manually assigns the shuttle mix and then minimizes unmet demand. This model yields a mix of shuttles that strikes a balance between shuttle cost and meeting sea-base demand. The analysis in this thesis involves three Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) scenarios. The scenarios differ by distances from the closest ALSS to the sea- base. Each scenario emulates a small-scale contingency war and the supported war is tailored to a 2015 Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The operation lasts 45 days in all tested scenarios. The commodities dealt with in these scenarios are fuel, provisions, and ordnance. Demand is initially consumed at a 5-day surge rate and the remaining 40 days of the operation are consumed at a sustain rate. (7 tables, 10 figures, 20 refs.).