Report says U.S. military needs to wean itself from oil
A report commissioned by the Pentagon says the U.S. military needs to break its oil addiction. The country used an average of 16 gallons of fuel per soldier per day in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006, compared to four per soldier per day in the Persian Gulf War and one per soldier per day during World War II. The increase is attributed to cuts in troops and the use of centralized bases farther from conflicts. Also, this administration doesn't give a hoot about conservation. The study says the rising cost and shrinking supplies of oil could compromise effective military response, and recommends alternative fuel and energy efficiency. "We have to wake up," said National Defense Council Foundation President Milton R. Copulos, as Melissa Etheridge began to strum softly. "We are at the edge of a precipice and we have one foot over the edge. The only way to avoid going over is to move forward and move forward aggressively with initiatives to develop alternative fuels. Just cutting back won't work."
source: The Boston Globe, Bryan Bender, 01 May 2007
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millwright Posted 7:43 am
01 May 2007
The Red Ball Express was conceived as a desperate attempt to keep Patton's armoured troops supplied. It almost doubled Patton's fuel requirements.
The current Iraqi situation is one of mobil troops responding to threats in multiple small unit actions. This increases logistical load as troops require more transport, armour support and it, in turn increases the damand on support/supply simply by operating. ROEs also determine how much logistical load is added.
Our troops are also operating far from a seaport with consequent long truck-mounted LOCs themselves driving up fuel requirements.
One fallacy in the cited post is the comparison with the ETO. With the exception of Patton, it was largely a "ground pounders" war. Troops marched more often than rode. In today's highly mobil military, with current heavy combat loads, riding is the only effective means of putting boots on the ground when and where its neccessary. >MW
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