Project Logistics for Regional System Installations By Virginia Hoffman
While the installation of cable systems may be perceived to be far removed from a military exercise or global disaster, the concept of logistical support for these complex project operations is analogous to a military campaign. Over the past several years, large, long distance trans-ocean cable systems have led the way to the linking and development of smaller, more decentralized regional systems. Generally, with large transocean systems, the submarine cable came ashore at one or two locations - the beginning and end of the system - with the shore end cost and risk budget comprising a small percent of the overall system total. Regional systems, comprised of shorter distances between landings and sometimes multiple landing sites, have now significantly increased shore end installation cost percentages with respect to the overall installation or project budget. This cost percentage increase then becomes of critical importance in accurately estimating and budgeting total system cost and risk. As with a military exercise or campaign, development of a logistics strategy becomes increasingly important to improve efficiency, increase cost savings, optimize resources, and reduce risk. As with many processes, evolution of the concept of logistics has been driven by military dominance and strategy - winners supply their field troops efficiently and effectively. In a classic example of the importance of military logistics, in the summer of 1944 the United States Third Army, commanded by General George Patton, was moving speedily across France when it suddenly got bogged down. The problem was not opposition from the German army - it was a lack of fuel for the vehicles. The army had gotten so far ahead of its source of supply that it had to stop and wait for fuel to
catch up. Additionally in WWII, large pieces of equipment (for example cargo ships and cargo planes) were required to be manufactured to move large quantities of supplies overseas to support simultaneous and multiple theaters of operations – Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific. You will not find it difficult to prove that battles, campaigns, and even wars have been won or lost primarily because of logistics. - General Dwight D. Eisenhower Historically, changes in the composition of military forces from isolated, small groups (for example, the Macedonian syntagma) to the global challenge of Operation Iraqi Freedom have shaped the development of logistical strategy. This evolution in how logistics is viewed has also supported the generation of an administrative function – the logistician - required to anticipate and sustain these large bodies of personnel and transportation requirements. And as armies grew larger, a natural progress in the emergence of tactical flexibility, increased geographic operations area (aero squadrons), and small groups operating within the larger army (Pacific island war fare) generated the additional need for effective communications between the support staff and field operations. A little neglect may breed mischief: for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost. - Benjamin Franklin
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