DISTRIBUTION OF COMBAT CASUALTIES BY CAUSATIVE AGENTS

An analysis of the relation between the distribution of casualties by causative agent and the variable factors in the combat environment revealed worthwhile results. The two multilinear-regression equations provide restricted methods for estimating the percentage of friendly casualties caused by artillery and by small arms. A review of the signs of the regression coefficients of all the quantified variables explained these equations and provided a generalized concept of the effects of increasing friendly and enemy forces, firepowers, and ratios on the distribution figures. The multiple regression methods also disclosed an equation to predict the friendly casualty rate. In addition an examination of the data reveals a close relation between both the casualty distribution and casualty rate and the specific type of combat action in which the friendly forces are engaged. Thus, despite the difficulty in compiling and analyzing data on a primary-source level, the method used in this study for analyzing battle data proved feasible. (Author)