Conventional War - Abnormal? - Page 2

bub · 05-10-08, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billo_Really

It is becoming that way.

What do you precisely mean, Billo?

Doc Howl · 05-13-08, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obvious Child

In the past 50 years of conflict, can conventional war be considered abnormal?

In the past 24+ conflicts in the past 20 years, how many of them have been conventional?

Every so often, the nature of war changes.

You can always tell when it happens, because the old guard generals start whining that the other side isn't playing fair.

obvious Child · 05-18-08, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Howl

Every so often, the nature of war changes.

You can always tell when it happens, because the old guard generals start whining that the other side isn't playing fair.

LOL. I love that comment from the Military Brass on Vietnam.

"We could have won if they played as we did."

Wow. Apparently the notion of utilizing one's strengths and undermining the strengths of your enemies is still lost on them.

Doc Howl · 05-25-08, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obvious Child

LOL. I love that comment from the Military Brass on Vietnam.

"We could have won if they played as we did."

Wow. Apparently the notion of utilizing one's strengths and undermining the strengths of your enemies is still lost on them.

Meh. The last time the Israelis went into Beirut, they brought these wonderful Merkava IV infantry tanks (neat concept, an MBT that carries troops).

Hezbollah had dug a load of tunnels, and would pop up behind them with that new tandem-warhead RPG29, and own the crap out of them.

The Israelis - who should have known better by now - continued to treat it as a mechanized warfare engagement, and snatched a tie from the jaws of victory.

Tashah · 05-25-08, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Howl

Meh. The last time the Israelis went into Beirut, they brought these wonderful Merkava IV infantry tanks (neat concept, an MBT that carries troops).

Hezbollah had dug a load of tunnels, and would pop up behind them with that new tandem-warhead RPG29, and own the crap out of them.

The Israelis - who should have known better by now - continued to treat it as a mechanized warfare engagement, and snatched a tie from the jaws of victory.

The last time the IDF visited Beirut was in 1982-1984. The Israeli Merkava-4 main battle tank only entered into full production in 2001. Your time line is well off. So is your understanding of Merkava-4 technology. This tank is equipped with four hardened exterior cameras which provide a 360° peripheral view displayed on internal plasma color video monitors. If used properly, this MK-4 technology mitigates the very scenario that you articulated above.

I think you probably had the 2006 Lebanon War in mind. If I remember correctly, around 55 tanks (not all MK-4) sustained missile/RPG/IED damage. Five damaged tanks could not be returned to service. A post-conflict general overview of MK-4 performance concluded that most of the damage sustained was the result of tactical (human) shortcomings rather than tank capability.

All the same, Israel has since equipped its battle tanks with the 'Trophy' active protection system. This digital system detects and destroys incoming missiles and RPG rounds with a shotgun-like blast of dense munition.

Red_Dave · 05-27-08, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obvious Child

Malayan/African civil wars as unconventional compared to Korea/Desert Storm

So wars in which one professional soldiers fight other professional soldiers are conventional and wars in which something else happens [e.g irregulars fight a regular army] are unconventional? I dont see how the former is any more conventional then the latter.