Modern Logistic Requirements

[rtrapasso]

i think things have really increased from WW2 - i just found this little tidbit: [X(]

"In 2003, it was understood that turning a modern mechanized division loose meant supplying those troops at the rate of 80-120 liters (20-30 gallons) of fuel per man per day. As the 3rd Infantry Division moves from Kuwait to Baghdad in 2003, some 20,000 troops were involved. That required some 200 tanker loads of fuel per day."

"In addition to fuel, you need about a 45-90 kg (100-200 pounds) of other supplies per man per day (mostly ammo, but also batteries, food and the like.)"

[jomni]

More electicity is need as well, thus the battery requirement you mentioned and also generators and fuel to run them.

[tocaff]

The logistical tail grows ever larger.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

i think things have really increased from WW2 - i just found this little tidbit: [X(]

"In 2003, it was understood that turning a modern mechanized division loose meant supplying those troops at the rate of 80-120 liters (20-30 gallons) of fuel per man per day. As the 3rd Infantry Division moves from Kuwait to Baghdad in 2003, some 20,000 troops were involved. That required some 200 tanker loads of fuel per day."

"In addition to fuel, you need about a 45-90 kg (100-200 pounds) of other supplies per man per day (mostly ammo, but also batteries, food and the like.)"

"Increased"? They've become insane. 200 tanker loads per day...a few more wars like the one in Iraq and there won't be any oil left on the planet to fight over. [X(]

[rtrapasso]

Once the troops stop moving, supply requirements drop somewhat, but. as noted, there is a huge demand for generator fuel (esp for air conditioning, both for troops and for electronics which overheat maybe even more quickly than humans do)... currently, in Afghanistan, it costs ~$100/gallon for fuel at bases - almost all of the cost is for shipping. There is a huge effort being made to get in solar panels, fuel cells, etc.

The current fuel cells use fuel which is for some reason 10x the price of gasoline, but is much more efficient at generating power (per gallon) - so it is cheaper to use the more expensive fuel since they don't have to move as much... i.e., it takes only one gallon of fuel cell fuel to generate what 10 gallons of generator fuel makes**... about (say) $2 gal (no taxes) + $98/gal (shipping) x 10 = $1000 for regular generator fuel, vs. $20 + $98 (shipping) for 1 gal of fuel cell = $118, a savings of about 88% (almost all due to shipping costs).

**EDIT: This is a guesstimate... not sure how more efficient the fuel cell fuel is... btw, the Army stuff apparently uses some form of hydrogen peroxide (nasty stuff when concentrated, which i am going to say it almost definitely is going to be what they use).