Statistical Analysis of WWII Combatant Performace
Statistical Analysis of WWII Combatant Performace
Hello to you all
I am a statistics geek. Partly because of my profession, partly because I am an absolutist when it comes to numbers and performance.
I know that both sides of the war did extensive statistical analysis both during the war and after it to assess battlefield performance and that those studies fundamentally changed the way war was waged later on. Authors like Zetterling expanded on such research and had interesting theories that expanded our knowledge about battles like Kursk and Normandy.
My point here is simple, I am very interested in finding out if there were statistical studies done on a number of issues and whether those studies had any effect on battles.
The first issue I want to enquire about is air power and whether air defence was more effective than interceptors or not. This is largely because by 1944 Germany proper had roughly 1 million soldiers manning air defences, troops who would be useful in other places, despite producing a record number of fighters and the introduction of Jets.
The second issue is replacement system efficiency of all combatants. How effective was it in keeping troop levels constant and how resilient was it during times of enemy pressure.
Thank you.
I am a statistics geek. Partly because of my profession, partly because I am an absolutist when it comes to numbers and performance.
I know that both sides of the war did extensive statistical analysis both during the war and after it to assess battlefield performance and that those studies fundamentally changed the way war was waged later on. Authors like Zetterling expanded on such research and had interesting theories that expanded our knowledge about battles like Kursk and Normandy.
My point here is simple, I am very interested in finding out if there were statistical studies done on a number of issues and whether those studies had any effect on battles.
The first issue I want to enquire about is air power and whether air defence was more effective than interceptors or not. This is largely because by 1944 Germany proper had roughly 1 million soldiers manning air defences, troops who would be useful in other places, despite producing a record number of fighters and the introduction of Jets.
The second issue is replacement system efficiency of all combatants. How effective was it in keeping troop levels constant and how resilient was it during times of enemy pressure.
Thank you.
Re: Statistical Analysis of WWII Combatant Performace
Light, intense and accurate: U.S. Eighth A.F. strategic fighters versus German flak in the ETO.AJFFM wrote: The first issue I want to enquire about is air power and whether air defence was more effective than interceptors or not. This is largely because by 1944 Germany proper had roughly 1 million soldiers manning air defences, troops who would be useful in other places, despite producing a record number of fighters and the introduction of Jets.
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Re: Statistical Analysis of WWII Combatant Performace
The first question is to ask is was airpower able to do what it was claimed it could, which is win the war on its own?
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Re: Statistical Analysis of WWII Combatant Performace
A few recomendations.
Dig out a copy of John Ellis s 'Brute Force' Aside from the 54+ tables and other statistics the Bibliography wil lead you to a number of other statical or data sources. Ellis also has some things to say in his own analysis
Among the original sources is the US Stratigic Bombing Survey. This started as a USAAF survey of the effects of bombing on industry & along the way a large amount of related industrial and weapons/resource data was collected.
The 'Hyperwar' web site is a good stating point for searching out data. The writers there are fairly good a identifying sources and a few hours working that web site can lead to some solid data on specific subjects.
Dig out a copy of John Ellis s 'Brute Force' Aside from the 54+ tables and other statistics the Bibliography wil lead you to a number of other statical or data sources. Ellis also has some things to say in his own analysis
Among the original sources is the US Stratigic Bombing Survey. This started as a USAAF survey of the effects of bombing on industry & along the way a large amount of related industrial and weapons/resource data was collected.
The 'Hyperwar' web site is a good stating point for searching out data. The writers there are fairly good a identifying sources and a few hours working that web site can lead to some solid data on specific subjects.
Re: Statistical Analysis of WWII Combatant Performace
The answer on that question is :definitively no .steverodgers801 wrote:The first question is to ask is was airpower able to do what it was claimed it could, which is win the war on its own?
Re: Statistical Analysis of WWII Combatant Performace
I would read the book- Numbers, Predictions & War by Colonel T.N. Dupuy
It mostly covers WW2 land warfare.
It mostly covers WW2 land warfare.
Re: Statistical Analysis of WWII Combatant Performace
But be aware that a US Army study raised major questions about the data for the Italian Campaign engagements quoted by Dupuy.Dann Falk wrote:I would read the book- Numbers, Predictions & War by Colonel T.N. Dupuy
It mostly covers WW2 land warfare.