What is the greatest military orginiztion of the 20th century?

[Gemenii XIII]

I would have to say hands down The United States Marine Corps. No other service has such a magnificent battle record in the history of the world . We dont loose battles its plain and simple.

But you do loose wars

[Kraxis]

Gawain, you setthe rules in the first post and had plenty of time to correct the mistake of not putting 'major org.' in it. Yet you didn't. Suddenly when people start making quite good arguments for other organizations you backpedal and make certain that none but the Marines can be selected.

If you are going to say Corps size then sure the Marines are by far the best (and that was established long ago here), why? Because they are the only non-full Army out there of that size. Meaning the only contestants are others nations' armies. Also about 90% of all nations are out of the contest being that their armies are too small. That is very much a weighted discussion in my mind.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

If you are going to say Corps size then sure the Marines are by far the best (and that was established long ago here), why? Because they are the only non-full Army out there of that size. Meaning the only contestants are others nations' armies. Also about 90% of all nations are out of the contest being that their armies are too small. That is very much a weighted discussion in my mind.

Wrong . They are better than any organization thats bigger than them either. Its not because they are the only unit of that size but that they are the best trained and most motivated unit of that size or larger.

Gawain, you setthe rules in the first post and had plenty of time to correct the mistake of not putting 'major org.' in it. Yet you didn't. Suddenly when people start making quite good arguments for other organizations you backpedal and make certain that none but the Marines can be selected.

I admitted quite early on that I wasnt talking about special units. Of course their better than the Marines. We have had threads on those and I think the SAS comes in first there. Im talking about being able to fight major battles with records in war of having done so.I also gave a time thread and over the last 100 years no ones battle history even comes close .

[Duke Malcolm]

Major organizations? The British Army is a major Organization and I would say that it is better than the U.S. Marine Corps.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Major organizations? The British Army is a major Organization and I would say that it is better than the U.S. Marine Corps.

It has so many losses its not funny. Nothing like the Corps. Heck it couldnt even beat a bunch of armed farmers over here nevermind the Marines . How big is the British army by the way?

[Duke Malcolm]

I believe that it is 200000 men strong, the best-trained regular soldiers in the world, excellent equipment, and if the U.S. Marines had been around for as many battles as the British Army, you could bet that it would have lost a fair sight more than the Black Watch.

[Meneldil]

I always read the SS were in fact quite a sucky and uneffective military organisation, whose main aim was to kill thousands of innocent civils.

The SS who invaded France are especially recorded as being really loosy compared to the common german soldier.

[Zizka]

Gawain of Orkeny - you are a hypocrite. You stated earlier that the Marine Corps is the best all round major independent armed force and yet you then dislude the Waffen SS because they used armour. You should state what you want to argue, that the USMC is the best all round light infantry amphibious assult force.

You also say that the USMC uses second hand equipment after bragging about how they field air and artillary support that other countries do not even have.

If you want to talk about accomplishments the 3rd US Army in the second world war took more prisoners, captured more land and destroyed more enemy equipment than the USMC have managed in their entire history.

As to the best MAJOR military organization of the 20th Century, basing this on having never been deafeated (the USMC has), never reatreating and few losses I would have to say the Vaticans Swiss Guards (and that is a Major organisation judging from ratio to population).

Bah, good grief mate, the USMC is only great in the eyes of its members. It has far yet to go in order to reach the fame of the Waffen Schutzstaffel or the Legion Estrange.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Gawain of Orkeny - you are a hypocrite. You stated earlier that the Marine Corps is the best all round major independent armed force and yet you then dislude the Waffen SS because they used armour. You should state what you want to argue, that the USMC is the best all round light infantry amphibious assult force.

I didnt dislude the Waffen SS because they used armour but because they lost. The Maines dont lose.

You also say that the USMC uses second hand equipment after bragging about how they field air and artillary support that other countries do not even have.

Again you should learn to read. I never stated that. I said we are the only organization that has its own airwing. I never even mentioned artillery.

If you want to talk about accomplishments the 3rd US Army in the second world war took more prisoners, captured more land and destroyed more enemy equipment than the USMC have managed in their entire history.

Its far larger , lost many more men and had many more defeats. Its record of success pales compared to the Marines.

As to the best MAJOR military organization of the 20th Century, basing this on having never been deafeated (the USMC has), never reatreating and few losses I would have to say the Vaticans Swiss Guards (and that is a Major organisation judging from ratio to population).

Theve never had to fight.

Bah, good grief mate, the USMC is only great in the eyes of its members. It has far yet to go in order to reach the fame of the Waffen Schutzstaffel or the Legion Estrange.

You obviosly dont know what your speaking of.


As to great German orgainzations. They loost and are gone while the USMC continues its traditions of excellene on the battlefield as we speak.