Staple David F. The optimization of the allocation of personnel effort to mine warfare

Monterey, California: U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, 1958. — 19 p.The investigation undertaken here is to determine if there can be found an optimum allocation of personnel effort to mine countermeasures, and to determine the effects of a failure to locate or to comply with this allocation if it exists. The solution proceeds with the application of the formulas of probability as related to mine warfare and with the use of Lanchester's Square Law for calculating casualties to personnel in a combat situation. The graphs presented in Figs. 1 and 2 demonstrate the optimum allocation of personnel, obtained for each of several values of a numerical parameter of effectiveness of mine combatting gear assumed to be used. From these graphs may also be inferred the practical desirability of developing an equipment with the highest possible value of this parameter.