this decision will follow a logical sequence of events, including: 
1. Completing a list of performance criteria which will be used 
in judging the ability of each candidate system to meet the mission 
goals. An additional task will be to define an acceptable or desirable 
standard of performance for each criteria. 
2. Weighting the list of performance criteria to reflect the 
relative importance of each in achieving the mission goals. 
3. Establishing the performance record of each viable candidate 
so that an estimate can be made of its ability to meet predetermined 
performance standards. 
4. Selecting a suitable performance/cost model which results in 
"quantified'"' estimates of a candidate's overall worth. 
Performance Criteria 
A partial listing of these criteria was suggested in the text 
section on concept design optimization, Part 3. Specifically, those 
criteria pertinent to a preliminary estimate of size, weight and power 
required were discussed: (1) static stability, (2) dynamic stability, 
(3) drag under tow (mobility), (4) freeboard, and (5) station keeping 
properties. Future studies should consider also extendability, covert- 
ness, dependability, vulnerability and maintainability. 
Extendability. This is a measure of the possibility of increasing 
the capacity of a system. For some systems the probability of increasing 
the platform's size and/or expanding its mission applicability is quite 
high. Also accounted for in this criterion is the amount of reworking 
necessary to extend a system's capacity. 
Covertness. Covertness refers to a system's capability to remain 
undetected during operations at sea. This may become an important 
consideration for certain reconnaissance missions employing the small 
size platform. The great size of the larger platforms probably renders 
this criterion meaningless. 
Dependability. This is a measure of a system's conventionality 
i. e., the degree to which the system exceeds the state-of-the-art. 
Vulnerability. MOBS will be vulnerable to attack from a variety 
of weapons systems. In addition, the natural environment poses a threat. 
Although operations from MOBS may be restricted to moderate sea conditions, 
the platform must be capable of surviving storms of record magnitude. 
Maintainability. Maintainability is an important consideration 
since it can have a great effect on operating costs and system life. 
One problem, closely allied with vulnerability, is the relative ease 
of repair or replacement of damaged buoyant elements. 
