Worst military mistakes.

**We shall fwee...Wodewick** · 07-25-2008, 02:55

Partly inspired by the pathetic characters thread, What are the biggest mistakes made in the theatre of war throughout the ages. I will start with just a few. However if you have an insignificant yet random/funny mistake like the one I'm including, I wanna hear it.

Charge of the light Brigade - 'you see that fortified valley with artillery at the end? Charge at it lads.'

A minor action in the Korean war - A british unit was under intensive attack and taking heavy fire and casualty and when asked how heavy the fighting was, he told the american radio operater that it was "getting a bit sticky". Unfortunatly, the American didn't understand typical British Understatement and the unit suffered heavy casualty when no reinforcements or support was sent to them. Always remember the language barrier in war when dealing with multinational armies.

On a side note which you shouldn't discuss here. And I'm WARNING YOU! This Website is the funniest thing I Have EVER READ! Not this specific blog, but it's general themes I find hilarious as they are A) Completly Juxtaposed to my own, and B) Mainly mad. http://depleteduranium.blogspot.com/...ycott-bbc.html

**||Lz3||** · 07-25-2008, 04:17

operation barbarosa... WWII ... ,that war front anhihilated the german army
Teutoberg forest... surely there were ways to avoid it...
Carrhae
Cannae

the list goes on and on...

**Majd il-Romani** · 07-25-2008, 04:50

Carrhae
Cannae
Phyrrus war with Romans
Iraq War
USSR war in Finland
WW1 period
1967 war between Israel and Arabs

**Poulp'** · 07-25-2008, 07:21

WWI war of position period.

We're stalled ? Alright, time for another offensive. Machine guns and artillery ? Nothing that can't be dealt with a bit of bravery...
Or, in more general terms, applying 19th century warfare in the first 20th c. war.

**Megas Methuselah** · 07-25-2008, 07:41

War in general?

**Zarax** · 07-25-2008, 08:06

Metaurus aka: why using fabian tactics doesn't work in Italy if you aren't the romans.

**AntiTank** · 08-01-2008, 14:14

Originally Posted by Poulp'

WWI war of position period.

We're stalled ? Alright, time for another offensive. Machine guns and artillery ? Nothing that can't be dealt with a bit of bravery...
Or, in more general terms, applying 19th century warfare in the first 20th c. war.

For the Allies quite true. Not so for the Germans who used small unit tactics and infiltration.

See John Mosier's "Myth of the Great War" for a true account of the first World War

**ServiliusAhala** · 07-30-2008, 10:01

Anyone posted battle of Salamis? Yes trust GREEK slaves...

**Tellos Athenaios** · 07-30-2008, 11:00

Actually there is a *lot* more to that story (unless you talk about a different battle of Salamis?), but to cut it short:

A) The Persians had until then no reason not to believe Greek 'traitors'/subjects/w/ever; so far they had proven themselve to be both loyal and rather useful.
B) The Persian fleet didn't really have much of a choice; because it plainly could not winter as no Greek harbour would be quite large & protected enough to weather storms. (You know; a sizeable portion had already been lost to storms; and we're talking autumn. The real tough season had yet to start...)
C) Without the fleet close by to guard the already precarious supply lines; the army would be utterly doomed. Winters in Greece don't really make for a pleasant camping season, certainly not in some of the more 'strategical' positions (most notably mountain passes); or so I heard anyway?

**||Lz3||** · 07-30-2008, 18:26

What about Phyrros when he left a city completely under his gallic mercenaries and they revolted...

**panosha** · 07-30-2008, 21:00

Antiochus having Hannibal and not using him properly

**ServiliusAhala** · 07-31-2008, 17:08

Hadn't the persians captured the Harbour at Athens, Piraeus or something? Or did they burn that with it? But my knowledge of the subject isn't extreme...