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Bad ideas in military history

The US now uses what amounts to a rail gun as a catapult on aircraft carriers. So, sure, that version is a dud but the concept is in use in other applications.
 
I think we can now add Moscow marching a large breakthrough force right into the jaws of the Ukrainian 3rd Army Corps to the list of brain-dead bad ideas in military history. It's amazing how completely they allowed Kiev to gaslight them as to the wisdom of this operation.
 
It was a favourite Russian tactic up to around the end of 1942.
Their other one was to let the tanks race far ahead of any supporting infantry like a mad cavalry charge right in to opposing anti tank defences.
 
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Offensive breakthroughs are not a bad idea in and of themselves. Like I think the German "Bulge" offensive made sense, given that it was a desperate measure in a desperate time. It wasn't likely to succeed, but Germany had to try something.

But breakthroughs have to be properly managed, and not blindly launched right into a prepared trap.
 
Not perhaps a 'bad idea' pe rse, but telling a bunch of SBS commandoes to grow their hair and pretend to be travel agents while performing covert security on the QE2 struck me as an odd idea.
Perhaps not as bad as giving them LAWs and phosphorous grenades....

I really think Operation WIlmot could have inspired a film in the vein of North Sea Hijack or Beyond the Poseidon Adventure involving a Libyan submarine delivering a strike force in RIBs.
 
I've been struck by the Russians' seeming current tactic of rushing penny packets of infantry deep into Ukrainian held territory and expecting them to act independently as ambush or sabotage units if by any slim chance they survive.

It chimes with another YouTube channel I've been watching (Type 56: the story of China's army - very entertaining presenter) where it's often remarked that this independent harrassing role for small infantry units which found themselves behind enemy lines was part of PLA doctrine in the '50s. It made me wonder if China had actually been advising Russia.

"Well, you're terribly equipped and you can't use heavy equipment without getting pelted by drones, but you have lots of expendable troops, so here's what we used to do when we were similarly badly equipped compared to any enemy..."

I'm sort of half serious.
 
catsmate said:
Not perhaps a 'bad idea' pe rse, but telling a bunch of SBS commandoes to grow their hair and pretend to be travel agents while performing covert security on the QE2 struck me as an odd idea.
Perhaps not as bad as giving them LAWs and phosphorous grenades....
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That all seems pretty reasonable to me:

“The voyage is a pleasure cruise for which passengers are paying up to £1000 (approx £10,500 today). Should it become known that a military response force was to be deployed aboard, it is likely, in the opinion of the Master, to be unacceptable to passengers and it could result in the cancellation of bookings. Therefore, it is considered essential that the bulk of the Military Armed Response Force operates covertly”.

And (regarding the LAWs):

“This weapon will assist the Response Force to gain entry to locked areas of the ship, and to react to terrorist action involving launches or helicopters”.

thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com

OP WILMOT - The Secret SBS Mission to Protect the QE2

Defence blog focusing on 21st century analysis of Cold War defence, security and continuity of government problems.
thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com
 
catsmate said:
Yes but blending in on the QE2......
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What practical methods would you recommend, for having SBS commandos not show up as obvious security troops on a cruise liner? Putting on civilian clothes, growing out their military hairstyles, and having some sort of cover story they can deploy during small talk seems pretty reasonable to me. It's not like they needed deep cover legends, complete with hair dye, makeup, false mustaches, and a paper trail leading back to their childhood.
 
Andy_Ross said:
You actually watch that channel?

As for the Rail Gun, that version has been abandoned for now but like all these things it will come back when there is an advance in the technology.

Same was being said of Laser weapons and they are becoming established. just not in the form they originally appeared.
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I'm not subscribed to the channel, but I did watch this video. The maturation of Laser weapons is something he talks about at the end, and it's one of the reasons why a railgun makes less sense, the other being guided missiles. There's a couple possible use cases for rail guns: one as an offensive weapon and the other as a defensive anti-drone, anti-missile weapon. Lasers seem to make more sense for the latter case, as lasers move at the speed of light, while missiles work pretty well for the former.
 
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Puppycow said:
I'm not subscribed to the channel, but I did watch this video. The maturation of Laser weapons is something he talks about at the end, and it's one of the reasons why a railgun makes less sense, the other being guided missiles. There's a couple possible use cases for rail guns: one as an offensive weapon and the other as a defensive anti-drone, anti-missile weapon. Lasers seem to make more sense for the latter case, as lasers move at the speed of light, while missiles work pretty well for the former.
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Lasers have serious problems regarding dust, smoke and rain. Projectiles do not.
However, in the medium term emag weapons make more sense as artillery.
Also, wrt missiles, shells will always be cheaper.
 
How about Vietnam for “never get into a land war in Southeast Asia”?

Hey that reminds me: anyone have a single volume book on the Vietnam War they can recommend? Preferably starting with the French Army being let back in after WW2 ended.

Asking for a friend, natch.
 
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