The Selection of a Marine Artillery Battery Fire Direction Computer System.

The artillery fire direction systems currently used by the U.S. Marine Corps are inadequate to meet the demands of today's battlefield. The lack of a modern artillery fire direction computer system degrades the Marine Corps overall combat effectiveness. This thesis presents a cost effectiveness analysis of four fire direction computer systems which can significantly enhance an artillery battery's combat effectiveness. As a result of the analysis, the author recommends the procurement of the Magnavox Artillery Computer System (ACS). The author further recommends that the ACS be adapted for use as a battalion level fire direction system on an interim basis until the introduction of MIFASS. Additionally, a number of recommendations which are representative of the types of action needed to assist in the resolution of the Marine artillery fire direction problem are provided.