Most pathetic military unit ever?

Bosh · October 3, 2002, 20:45

Will set up a poll if I can get a few other nominations.

My own pick is the Irish Brigade that "fought" for Franco in the Spanish Civil War. It spent six months in Spain under the vastly less than competant command of the Irish fascist Eoin O'Duffy (although you've got to admire a commander of hundreds of Irishmen with the balls to say "I am proud to say that I did not observe one member of the Brigade under the influence of drink at any time, and I was in close touch with all ranks.") which they spent drinking vast amounts of cheap wine, cheering for bulls at matador thingies (while very very drunk), shooting several soldiers on their own side, and not coming anywhere close to wounding any of the enemey.

And no, the French do NOT count

loinburger · October 3, 2002, 20:47

Militia are pretty bad, but they can still take out a tank (especially if they're behind city walls).

SlowwHand · October 3, 2002, 20:55

Militia have motivation.
I'll say the Redcoats, walking in formation.
Nothing against Brits, or the Redcoats, but that was pretty dumb.

notyoueither · October 3, 2002, 21:10

A strong contender would have to be the Russian Para units that jumped into an action in the winter 41-42. Only they had no parachutes...

They figured they could get away with jumping onto a frozen lake from planes flying at stall speed (about 40 MPH).

Result. 95% casualties before they picked themselves out of the snow banks. (I may be exagerating the 95%, I am not checking a source, just going on recollection).

Tuberski · October 3, 2002, 21:16

If I can't say France, I'm not playing....

Pekka · October 3, 2002, 21:27

I'd have to say Chuay Gahn. Oh wait.. they're not military unit.. well they suck anyway.

Giancarlo · October 3, 2002, 21:34

Gotta say the Mexican Army in the war in the 1800s... Performed very poorly...

The second worse was the Russian Army during WWII. Crappy equipiment, no training... and bad morale.

Jon Miller · October 3, 2002, 21:42

yet kicked the German's asses

Jon Miller

Ned · October 3, 2002, 21:48

The Persian army who couldn't beat a lousy 300 Spartans.

Runner up: The Roman army at Cannae.

Imran Siddiqui · October 3, 2002, 21:50

Quote:

I'll say the Redcoats, walking in formation.
Nothing against Brits, or the Redcoats, but that was pretty dumb.

Kidding right? The flintlock rifles were highly unreliable. The only way to really deal any damage was to stand in line towards the other line.

And it wasn't just the Brits, but just about every European and American force as well.

Dr Strangelove · October 3, 2002, 21:56

Well, how about the British army in the 1850s. "Half a league, half a league, half a league onward into the valley of death rode the six hundred."

KrazyHorse · October 3, 2002, 22:12

They won the war. Who cares if it was a gross display of incompetence on the part of the British and French? The Russians were worse.

Tuberski · October 3, 2002, 22:16

Well, how about the American army in the War of 1812?

They lost to Canadians!

KrazyHorse · October 3, 2002, 22:29

Wutang!!

Unlike the US, Canada has never lost a war.

Cyclotron · October 3, 2002, 22:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Ned
The Persian army who couldn't beat a lousy 300 Spartans.

Yep. Losses of 20,000 just aren't as tolerable when you are only fighting 300. Darn spartans...

notyoueither · October 3, 2002, 22:35

He's looking for units. The Light Brigade definitely counts in my books.

KrazyHorse · October 3, 2002, 22:36

Why? They received their orders and obeyed them...

monolith94 · October 3, 2002, 22:36

Probably the Russian navy which sailed around the world to battle the Japanese only to be defeated most ignominiously…

notyoueither · October 3, 2002, 22:36

Most pathetic leadership might be a better topic...

KrazyHorse · October 3, 2002, 22:38

If you're going to do that then the entire upper commands of both the Allies and Central Powers during WWI need to be in top place.

notyoueither · October 3, 2002, 22:41

Quote:

Originally posted by Frogger
If you're going to do that then the entire upper commands of both the Allies and Central Powers during WWI need to be in top place.

They are definite contenders, although a lot of people would argue the French and British were a bit worse than the German. Everyone would be positively brilliant compared to the Russians.

Dis · October 3, 2002, 22:42

the air national guard unit that George Bush jr. served in

KrazyHorse · October 3, 2002, 22:44

Quote:

Originally posted by notyoueither

They are definite contenders, although a lot of people would argue the French and British were a bit worse than the German. Everyone would be positively brilliant compared to the Russians.

Yeah, but the Russian command structure by and large got what was coming to it in 1917.

orange · October 3, 2002, 23:15

Chinese junk fleets

Bosh · October 3, 2002, 23:22

bah! I want incompetant units that come with funny anecdotes!

So far we've got the russian parachuters and possibly the light brigade (although picket's charge had higher casualties IIRC)...

Maybe the Russian prisoner "mine clearing" units should also be nominated...

Dr. Nick · October 3, 2002, 23:27

NYE, the Light Brigade performed admirably in the Crimean War, including the famous charge.

Pekka · October 3, 2002, 23:37

Boshko, I feel sorry for those 'mine clearing' units. But hey, the sang some party songs and went hand to hand, shoulder to shoulder! If they refused, they were shot, naturally.

notyoueither · October 4, 2002, 00:34

Quote:

Originally posted by El Awrence
NYE, the Light Brigade performed admirably in the Crimean War, including the famous charge.

I agree. The balls they had to keep going...

Hense the discussion of leadership.

notyoueither · October 4, 2002, 00:42

Here's one for you Boshko, maybe.

Some people will remember the scene from Waterloo where Napoleon stares down Ney and a regiment of French regulars at the start of the 100 days. It actually happened, or at least something reasonably represented by that scene.

How's that? Your nation was torn by war for over 20 years. The guy 'they' blame for much of the worst of the carnage is standing in front of you. You have your weapon on him and are under orders to pull the trigger. Neither you, nor any of your fellows do it. Instead, you welcome him back as the Emperor.

Pathetic, depending on who you ask.

Ikarus · October 4, 2002, 00:52

What does everyone have against the French, besides that they were defeated in WW2. But still they had a pretty awesome military. Did you know that the French Armee de l'Air had a better kill-loss ratio than the German Luftwaffe. But besides that back to the topic.
I'd say the worst units would have to be the Japanese kamikazes. These manned suicide vehicles only proved to cause moral damage and major hits occurred when they were first utilized. After this kamikazes became easy kills and began to hurt Japan which lost so many men to no avail. The worst part is that Japan continued to use them throughout the war.