Military Fuel Consumption

[SethB]

I'm in the early stages of a project on how the military uses fuel, and how that shapes the force and the way they fight.

I first became interested in the project after I read a pair of reports by the Defense Science Board. Collectively, they argue that fuel isn't only a tremendous cost for the military, but also a logistical burden, since 50% of the Army is logistics and 70% of what they carry by weight is JP8.

The argument, of course, is that reducing fuel consumption in end use (MFE units) has a disporportionate effect on support units, especially as as much as half of the fuel used in theater is used to deliver more fuel.

In other words, reducing fuel consumption (without sacrificing other performance) may be a way to sharpen the tooth to tail ratio.

I'd welcome any assistance or guidance that any of you can give on these topics, as well as the single fuel concept, the burdened cost of fuel, future vehicle design etc, or anything else that you may find salient.

I'll be building a bibliography today and perhaps I can add that to this thread later, if anyone is interested.

[shloky]

Lemme know if you didn't get an email from me.

[davidbfpo]

The only book I have on logistics and excellent when read now thirty years ago is Martin Van Creveld's Supplying War; Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton (Pub. Cambridge University Press 1977). Might provide some context for you.

davidbfpo

[SethB]

shloky, reply sent via email.

david, I will look into that. Thank you.

[JeffWolf]

seems to generate some "hits" (via the "If you like this, you might also like" feature):

Lifeblood of War: Logistics in Armed Conflict (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/Lifeblood-War-.../dp/0080417760

Thanks
Jeff

[SethB]

I said that I would come back with resources as I gathered them. So here I will begin to add some in case anyone would like to look into this as well.

Department of Defense Energy Strategy. Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks.

DoD Energy Security Task Force.

More Capable Warfighting Through Reduced Fuel Burden.

More Fight - Less Fuel.

And perhaps the most interesting piece, from a visceral level:

Army Energy Security "The Way Ahead"

It contains a note with the following information:

Fuel deliveries to FOBs in millions of gallons: 431
Fuel trucks needed: 140,075
Convoys needed: 9,332
Soldiers per convoy: 120
Soldier trips: 644,360
Soldier trip reduction per 1% JP8 savings: 6444

As you can see, reducing consumption has operational benefits, not including the fact that some 50% of fuel used in theater is used to move fuel in theater. This means that end use (FOB generators and tactical vehicle) fuel savings are multiplied as the second and third order effects reduce the logistical burden across the military.

[shloky]

Hmm. Didn't make it through the tubes. Refire or PM?

[JeffWolf]

official histories of, say, Desert Storm, or OIF I, and then trying to extrapolate fuel requirements from them? I think, also, OIF I's official history has a footnote on the Red Ball Express (I think Van Creveld also references it as an example of diminishing returns at the end of his book on logistics). You might also want to look at Pagonis, "Moving Mountains" (I think that's what it's called).

Thanks
Jeff