Opportunies and challenges in wargaming military logistics

Authors:

  • Johan Elg
  • Sten Ternblad

Publish date: 2020-12-09

Report number: FOI-R--5038--SE

Pages: 35

Written in: Swedish

Keywords:

  • wargaming
  • military logistics
  • logistics
  • game
  • wargame
  • analysis
  • board games
  • hobby wargames

Abstract

This report supports a Swedish Armed Forces study, 'Developing Methods for Logistical Wargaming', during the year 2020. The purpose of the study is to develop and improve defence logistics, as well as support its potential growth, through wargaming. This report contributes to knowledge and understanding of wargaming military logistics. The report identifies and describes phenomena regarding possibilities and challenges in wargaming military logistics. The question formulation concerns how challenges, regarding wargaming military logistics, can be reduced, and how possibilities can be increased. Initially, wargaming (i.e. 'game') and military logistics are explained and problematized. Then, a selection of hobby wargames (commercial board games) are presented on how they represent military logistics. This spans from not at all to a relatively complexed and detailed representation. Finally, the results from interviews and a workshop, regarding possibilities and limitations in wargaming military logistics related to the Swedish Armed Forces, are presented. The authors make the following recommendations. Operational/tactical commanders should participate in wargaming in order to decide the required context for logistics. In addition, wargaming should include concrete logistical dilemmas that need to be solved. Logistical experts, supported by user friendly adjudication material and tools, are needed to propel the game forward and to achieve results. In order to present up-to-date situational logistics reports, different forms of visualisations need to be developed and/or implemented. As a final note, it is the authors' opinion that hobby wargames can inspire to consider alternative rules and solutions of visualisation.