“Mixed” stochastic models of reciprocal hostilities for the case of one belligerent performing a pre-emptive strike

We used the theory of continuous-time Markov processes as the basis for developing our stochastic “mixed” models of reciprocal hostilities and a numerical algorithm that makes it possible to compute main combat metrics for large forces. We show that a pre-emptive strike performed by one of the belligerents significantly affects the outcome and main metrics of combat between forces that are sufficiently similar in strength. We determine that it is not the initial numerical strengths of the two belligerents but their balance of power that affects errors shown by the method of dynamics of mean values; moreover, the errors increase with increasing the time to a pre-emptive strike.