Force Ratio Calculator v3.

0 08/13/2021

Force Ratios
Friendly Forces Enemy Forces
Number Strength Type F.E. Total Number Strength Type F.E. Total
2 100% Infantry Bn (M2) 1.00 2.00 4 80% Infantry Bn (BMP-1 / 2) 0.51 1.63
1 100% Armor Bn (M1A2) 1.30 1.30 2 80% Tank Bn (MIB 40xT80) 1.00 1.60
1 100% 155(SP) Bn (M109A6)(Paladin) 1.50 1.50 3 80% 2S1 Bn 0.90 2.16
0 100% ----- 3 80% 2S3 Bn 1.05 2.52
100% 2 40% 2S5 Bn 1.13 0.90
100% 2 40% BM 21 Bn 3.15 2.52
100% 100%
100% 100%
100% 100%
100% 100%
Friendly Force Equivalent 4.80 Enemy Force Equivalent 11.34
Ratio of Friendly to Enemy Ratio of Enemy to Friendly
0.42:1 2.36:1
Deliberate Defense <- Mission -> Hasty Attack
40% <- Est. Losses -> 25%
11 Instructions:
12
1. Select type of unit from drop down list.
10
Relative Combat Power 2. Input number and type. If less than a whole
8
6
5 unit use fractions (e.g. 1 Btry = .33 Bns).
3. Use comparison of force ratios (graph) and
4
historical planning ratios.
2 4. To calculate damage to each unit, select the
0 friendly and enemy mission from the list.
Historical minimum planning ratios.
Friendly mission Friendly : Enemy Position Remember: Relative force ratios do NOT
Delay 1:6 necessarily indicate the chance for success
Defend 1:3 Prepared or fortified for either force!
Defend 1 : 2.5 Hasty
Attack 3:1 Prepared or fortified
Attack 2.5 : 1 Hasty
Counterattack 1:1 Flank

536582561.xls
Created by MAJ J. Craig, CGSC 99-00, Staff Group 15D Force Ratios
Force Ratio Calculator v3.0 Force Equivalents 08/13/2021

A B C D
1 Friendly Enemy
2 Force Force
Type Equivalent Type Equivalent
3
4 Infantry Bn (M113) 0.71 Infantry Bn (BTR-50 / 60) 0.29
5 Infantry Bn (M2) 1 Infantry Bn (BTR-70 / 80) 0.36
6 Infantry Bn (Light) 0.48 Infantry Bn (BMP-1 / 2) 0.51
7 Infantry Bn (Airborne/Air Assault) 0.7 Infantry Bn (BMP-3) 0.65
8 ----- Infantry Bn (Light / Air Assault) 0.35
9 Seperate Brigade (Armored) 5.3 Infantry Bn (Airborne) 0.5
10 Seperate Brigade (Mech) 4.7 -----
11 Seperate Brigade (Light) 3.1 Recon Bn 0.2
12 ----- AT Bn 0.45
13 Armor Bn (M1A1) 1.19 AT Bn (AT Bde / Div) 0.45
14 Armor Bn (M1A2) 1.3 AT Bn (IMIBn / AT Regt) 0.5
15 ----- Tank Bn (MIB 40xT55) 0.77
16 Armored Cav Regiment 7.6 Tank Bn (MIB 40xT62) 0.77
17 Armored Cav Squadron 2.2 Tank Bn (MIB 40xT64 / T72) 0.89
18 Regimental Aviation Squadron 0.91 Tank Bn (MIB 40xT80) 1
19 Cav Troop (Ground) 0.5 Tank Bn (TR 31xT55 / T62) 0.6
20 ----- Tank Bn (TR 31xT64 / T72) 0.69
21 105(T) Bn (M102) 0.8 Tank Bn (TR 31xT80) 0.78
22 105(T) Bn (M119) 0.8 Indep Tank Bn (51xT55) 0.98
23 155(SP) Bn (M109A5) 1 Indep Tank Bn (51xT62) 0.98
24 155(SP) Bn (M109A6)(Paladin) 1.5 Indep Tank Bn (51xT64 / T72) 1.13
25 155(T) Bn (M198) 0.8 Indep Tank Bn (51xT80) 1.28
26 MLRS Bn 4.5 -----
27 ATACMS Bn (B2) 7.5 2A36 Bn 0.75
28 ATACMS Bn (B1) 8.8 2A65 Bn 0.75
29 ----- 2S1 Bn 0.9

30 Div Cav Squadron (AASLT, Abn, Lt Div) 0.7 2S3 Bn 1.05

31 Div Cav Squadron (Heavy Div) 3.8 2S4 Bn 0.45
32 ----- 2S5 Bn 1.13
33 Atk Helo Bn (24xOH58D) 2.1 2S7 Bn 1.28
34 Atk Helo Bn (24xAH64) 4.5 2S9 Bn 0.6
35 ----- 2S19 / 23 Bn 1.35
36 ADA Bn (Avenger) 0.21 9A52 Bn 3.6
37 Patriot Bn 0.59 BM 21 Bn 3.15
38 ---------- BM 21V Bn 1.04
39 MARFOR . 9P140 Bm 3.6
40 Infantry Bn 0.8 BM 24 Bn 3.6
41 Tank Co 0.3 D20 Bn 0.77
42 LAV Co 0.2 D30 Bn 0.63
43 AAV Co 0.2 FROG Bn 0.22
44 FA Bn 1.5 M46 Bn 0.78
45 AH-1 Co 1 M240 Bn 0.4
46 MEF (Fwd) 5.6 SCUD Bn 0.8

47 SCUD-B Bn 0.4

536582561.xls
Data
Source: CGSC ST 100-7
Force Ratio Calculator v3.0 Force Equivalents 08/13/2021

A B C D
48 SS-21 Bn 0.6
49 9A51 Bn 3.78
50 Hind- D Bn 3.33
51 HOKUM / HAVOK Bn 5.53
52 Hind-E Bn 4.17
53 -----
54 SA-4 Bn 0.46
55 SA-6 / 8 Bn 0.11
56 SA-11 / 12 Bn 0.54
57 SA-17 Bn 0.76
58 S-60 Bn 0.34
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76

536582561.xls
Data
Source: CGSC ST 100-7
Force Ratio Calculator v3.0 Force Equivalents 08/13/2021

E F G H I J K L
1

2
Source: CGSC ST 100-3, Back Cover
3
4 Instructions:
5 See CGSC web page at
6 http://www-cgsc.army.mil/ctac/refpubs/st100-3/index.htm
7
8 Feel free to change force equivalents based on
9 your expertise and experience.
10
11 Add additional friendly or enemy units and their
12 appropriate force equivalents at the bottom of the table
13
14
15
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17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
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30
31
32
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47

536582561.xls
Data
Source: CGSC ST 100-7
Force Ratio Calulator v3.0 Battle Damage Table 08/13/2021

F to E force ratio 1:4 1:3 1:2 1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1

Friendly vs Enemy 0.25 0.33 0.5 1 2 3 4
Deliberate Attack vs Deliberate Attack N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Deliberate Attack vs Deliberate Defense 60% 10% 30% 15% 20% 20% 40% 15% 20% 20% 15% 30% 10% 60%

Deliberate Attack vs Hasty Attack N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Deliberate Attack vs Hasty Defense 85% 5% 60% 5% 50% 10% 25% 25% 10% 50% 5% 60% 5% 85%

Deliberate Defense vs Deliberate Attack 60% 10% 30% 15% 20% 20% 15% 40% 10% 65% 10% 30% 10% 60%

Deliberate Defense vs Deliberate Defense N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Deliberate Defense vs Hasty Attack 50% 20% 40% 25% 30% 25% 25% 50% 10% 50% 10% 35% 20% 50%

Deliberate Defense vs Hasty Defense N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Hasty Attack vs Deliberate Attack N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Hasty Attack vs Deliberate Defense 50% 20% 35% 10% 50% 10% 50% 25% 25% 30% 25% 40% 20% 50%

Hasty Attack vs Hasty Attack N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Hasty Attack vs Hasty Defense 60% 10% 40% 10% 30% 15% 15% 15% 15% 30% 10% 50% 10% 60%

Hasty Defense vs Deliberate Attack 85% 5% 60% 5% 50% 10% 25% 25% 10% 50% 15% 50% 5% 85%

Hasty Defense vs Deliberate Defense N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Hasty Defense vs Hasty Attack 60% 10% 50% 10% 30% 15% 15% 15% 15% 30% 10% 40% 10% 60%

Hasty Defense vs Hasty Defense N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Meeting Engagement vs Meeting Engagement 85% 50% 60% 10% 35% 15% 10% 10% 15% 35% 10% 60% 50% 85%
Friendly Losses

Enemy Losses

Friendly Losses

Enemy Losses

Friendly Losses

Enemy Losses

Friendly Losses

Enemy Losses

Friendly Losses

Enemy Losses

Friendly Losses

Enemy Losses

Friendly Losses

Enemy Losses
Source: BTCP brief (9/6/95),
slide 47

Missions: (choices) Explanation (example): If friendly unit conducts a hasty attack against an enemy
Meeting Engagement in a hasty defense and friendly-to-enemy force ratio is 2:1, then the friendly unit
Hasty Attack suffers 15% casualties and the enemy suffers 30%.
Deliberate Attack
Hasty Defense Look at the source. If you have a better guess, type it in. It's your tool; you should
Deliberate Defense be comfortable with the numbers.

Instructions: Change ONLY the numbers in this table. Changing anything else
may destroy linkages and lookups on the force ratio calculator page!

536582561.xls Damage Table

CGSC Student Text 100-3, Chapter 8, 1 Jul 99
http://www-cgsc.army.mil/ctac/refpubs/st100-3/c8/8Chp.htm

BATTLEFIELD CALCULATIONS

Section III. RELATIVE COMBAT POWER

8-6. ANALYZING RELATIVE COMBAT POWER

Combat power is the effect created by combining maneuver, firepower, protection, and leadership,
the dynamics of combat power, in combat against the enemy. By integrating and applying the effects
of these elements with any other potential combat multipliers (CS and CSS arms as well as other
service assets available) against the enemy, the commander can generate overwhelming combat
power to achieve victory at minimal cost. This task is difficult, at best. It requires an assessment of
both tangible and intangible factors as well as consideration of an inordinate number of those factors
either directly or indirectly affecting the potential outcome of the battle.

However, by analyzing relative-force ratios and determining and comparing each force’s most
significant strengths and weaknesses as a function of combat power, planners can gain some
insight into:
- Friendly capabilities pertaining to the operation.
- What type operations may be possible from both friendly and enemy perspectives.
- How and where the enemy may be vulnerable.
Although some numeric relationships are used in this process, it is not like the former-Soviet
mathematically substantiated computation for the correlation of forces. Rather, it is only a largely
subjective estimate. The COAs must not be based strictly on mathematical analyses. Pure, logical
approaches are often predictable, sacrificing the surprise that bold, audacious action can achieve.

Planners can initially make a rough estimate relative-force ratios. Figure 8-2 shows a corps-level
analysis in which planners are counting maneuver and field artillery brigades as roughly equal to
enemy equivalents.
When the staff finishes its computations, it draws conclusions about friendly and enemy relative
capabilities and limitations as they pertain to the tactical situation. These computations give the staff
a feel for relative strengths and weaknesses, but not absolute mathematical answers as to what
friendly or enemy forces will do. Numerical relative-force ratios do not include the human factors of
warfare. Many times human factors may be more important than the number of tanks or tubes of
artillery. Therefore, the staff must carefully consider and integrate them into their comparisons. By
using historical minimum-planning ratios for various combat missions and carefully considering
terrain and enemy templating assumptions, planners can generally conclude what type of operations
they can conduct (fig 8-3).
 Relative strengths and weaknesses can be further refined by attempting to derive the single
greatest strength and weakness of each force, at a minimum, in each of the four dynamics of
combat power. By comparing friendly strengths against enemy weaknesses, planners may be able
to deduce particular vulnerabilities for each force that may be exploitable or may need to be
protected. These deductions may further lead planners to gain insights on potential decision points.
They can then determine the ratio of friendly units required. (The ratios are for developing COAs
only and not for actual combat.) Historical experience shows that a defender has about a 50-50
probability of successfully defeating an attacking force approximately three times his equivalent
strength. The defender has many advantages: full use of cover and concealment, selection of the
ground on which to fight, weapons sighted for maximum effectiveness, choice of firing first, and use
of obstacle value of the terrain. Therefore, as a starting point, the commander might attempt to
defend on each avenue of approach (AA) with, roughly, a 1:3 force ratio expressed as a friendly unit
arrayed against the next-higher-level enemy unit. (For example, a friendly battalion would defend
against an enemy regiment.)
A planner first compares the relative force ratios with the ratios in column 2 of figure 8-3. He can
then determine if his unit has the odds that would give him the flexibility to conduct any type of
operations he desires. The G2/S2 will also know if the enemy has that capability. In a defensive
situation, the planner would know the enemy must conduct a penetration. In an offensive situation,
he would know he cannot conduct offensive operations without massing his forces and accepting
risk in some area. He would be able to use this information when he begins developing a scheme of
maneuver. If he identifies a ratio closer to one of the other planning ratios, he could draw other
conclusions indicating another type of possible operation. This step provides the planner with a
notion of "what to"; not "how to." There is no direct relationship between force ratios and attrition or
advance rates. Relative-force ratios do not necessarily indicate the chance for success.
Force Ratio Calculator v3.0 Read Me! 08/13/2021

What's new in this version (3.0)

Display New bar chart shows relative combat power of friendly (blue on right)
and enemy (red on left)
Strength Color Coding Friendly and enemy strength is color coded (green 100-75%,
yellow/amber 74-50%, red < 50%)
Damage Estimates Based on BCTP table, select the missions for the friendly and enemy
(new to v3.0!) and the spreadsheet claculates the estimated damage based on the
force ratios. Use this as a VERY rough guide, only!

Some TTP from CGSC wargaming

Save results for later While wargaming, save a separate sheet for each engagement (Edit-
>Move or Copy Sheet->check the "Copy" box). Change the name of
the tab to the name of the engagement (e.g. "MBA" or "CR Battle").
Do the calculation and printout the sheet. The printout will have the
name of the sheet (engagement) and you can post it, with the bar
graph and damage estimates to refer to later. That way you can go
back and relook each engagement later.

How to count mixed Bn When wargaming battalion task forces, consider each company
TFs (whether mech or armor) as .25 of a battalion. So a balanced TF
might be .5 of a mech bn and .5 of an armor bn. We also "counted"
the DS FA Bn in.

536582561.xls Readme
Created by MAJ J. Craig, CGSC 99-00, staff group 15D