Page:Aircraft in Warfare (1916).djvu/92



§ 33. The n-square Law in its Application to a Heterogeneous Force. In the preceding article it was demonstrated that under the conditions of modern warfare the fighting strength of a force, so far as it depends upon its numerical strength, is best represented or measured by the square of the number of units. In land operations these units may be the actual men engaged, or in an artillery duel the gun battery may be the unit; in a naval battle the number of units will be the number of capital ships, or in an action between aeroplanes the number of machines. In all cases where the individual fighting strength of the component units may be different it has been shown that if a numerical fighting value can be assigned to these units, the fighting strength of the whole force is as the square of the number multiplied by their individual strength. Where the component units differ among themselves, as in the case of a fleet that is not homogeneous, the measure of the total of fighting strength of a force will be the square of the sum of the square roots of the strengths of its individual units.

§ 34. Graphic Representation. Before attempting to apply the foregoing, either as touching the conduct of aerial warfare or the equipment of the fighting aeroplane, it is of interest to examine a few special cases and applications in other directions and to discuss certain possible limitations. A convenient graphic form in which the