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| If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck. (Source) |
The British complained that using submarines wasn't very "sporting." Countries that can't afford battleships will buy something that is cheap and can kill battleships easier than the battleships can kill them.
The Germans in WWII noted that the Americans were overly reliant on artillery. Well, why send in a guy who might get killed when you can shoot from far away and kill their guys?
If artillery isn't available, call in an airstrike. If an airstrike isn't available, wait for artillery.
In aerial combat, kill the other guy before he knows you're there. If he doesn't see you, he can't kill you. I always felt that the old phrase "beware the Hun in the sun," while good advice, also implied that the Germans were sneaky and that they were somehow cheating.
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Apparently John Steinbeck had a number of things to say about fighting, while I can't guarantee the accuracy, nor the provenance, of the following quotes, good advice is good advice, no matter who gives it to you...
The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.
- Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.
- If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.
- I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.
- When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away.
- A reporter did a human-interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him "Why do you carry a 45?" The Ranger responded, "Because they don't make a .46."
- An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.
- The old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a lady commented on his wearing his sidearm "Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you expecting trouble?" "No Ma'am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my rifle."
- Beware the man who only has one gun. HE PROBABLY KNOWS HOW TO USE IT!!!
Anyhoo, that's how I see things.
Battle Month continues shortly. Russia has been invaded multiple times, at least two of those invasions (and the most famous) started in June. The French and the Germans both took on the Russian bear. Neither won. I'll be looking at both of those invasions.
Those invasions might explain why Russians don't particularly trust outsiders. Can you blame them?
Stay tuned.
Ya....Number three.....that's why I got my carry permit.. to protect me and mine. Also Heinlein had the right of it, "An armed society is a polite society". June 22 tomorrow, 77 years already with the start of a two-front war for the Third Reich.
ReplyDeleteBarbarossa is on the horizon. Coming to a blog near you...
DeleteI've always been a firm believer in 1 & 2. Never read 8 before but I love it!!
ReplyDeleteMoi aussi!
DeleteGreat post, OAFS. I particularly like number 1 ( but then I would, wouldn't I ).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post.
Paul L. Quandt
Thanks Paul.
DeleteYeah, I like #1 myself.
As I recall the German complaint about US artillery, it was that we pulled up self-propelled guns and shot them into buildings, causing them to collapse on the Krauts, who fortified them and were prepared for a frontal assault. That practice was particularly useful after the Battle of the Bulge when the US Army decided that the fun was done. All of the hard points that the Germans worked so diligently to prepare were punctured by HE rounds going into them. (AP rounds carried by tanks just punched holes in buildings for infantry to crawl through - not nearly as effective)
ReplyDeleteYes, in essense, we "cheated." (Well, we wanted to win it and go home, didn't we?)
DeleteI remember reading this on the internet somewhere.
ReplyDelete"If you encounter a unit you can’t identify, fire one round over their heads so it won’t hit anyone.
If the response is a fusillade of rapid, precise rifle fire, they’re British.
If the response is a s**tstorm of machine-gun fire, they’re German.
If they throw down their arms and surrender, they’re Italian.
And if nothing happens for five minutes and then your position is obliterated by support artillery or an airstrike, they’re American.”
I've seen that, it's a favorite.
DeleteI've seen that before, except for that last sentence.
DeleteBrings a tear to my eye and smile to my lips....
Yes it does!
DeleteThere's the Colt Amendment to the laws of survival. God made men, Samuel Colt made men equal.
ReplyDeleteThe Rule taught to me by the 2nd best Escrima fighter in the USA (the best was his teacher.) Gun-Fu wins over Kung-Fu.
First rule of kicking: Kick him until you feel better.
Second rule of kicking: Is he still moving? Kick him some more.
Third rule of kicking: See rule one. You'll feel much better when he's not moving at all.
First rule of sword fighting. Fake to the head, hit the leg.
Second rule of sword fighting. Fake to the leg, hit the head.
Third rule of sword fighting. There are no rules. Kill him.
(These were pounded into me a long time ago. Really. Bruises and all.)
Sound advice!
DeleteAnyone who doesn't stab to the vitals is a sucker! No, not profound tactical or strategical advice, but it is common sense, is it not? But then, why do they call it "common" sense, I do not know.
DeleteIf someone wants to hurt you, kill them. It stops them completely and deters anyone else who might wish one ill.
DeleteThe Germans referred to the use of artillery instead of infantry as "how a rich man fights a war." They were used to fighting the Russians, who would run forward through artillery barrages. They were thrown off their game by an enemy who would rather spend money than lives.
ReplyDelete(By the way, the Confederates said the same thing about the Union.)
Yup, winners "cheat."
DeleteI always strove to kill him before he knew I was there. Then kill him quickly, fireballs get everybody's attention. Learned that from Erich Hartmann (well, his book anyway). Allowed me to take a lot of movies whilst avoiding starring in them (most of the time). Also, no shame in running away from a fight that's not going your way.
ReplyDeleteWhile fireballs DO get everyone's attention, spellcheck corrected FURBALLs, which is what we usually called a prolonged fight. Furballs tend to attract unseen bandits which can be detrimental to your longevity (or worse, enable you to enjoy a prolonged fish head soup diet).
DeleteThere's a reason why Bubi downed 352 AND survived the war. (I do believe he only lost one wingman as well, a former bomber pilot who flew, well, like a bomber pilot.)
DeleteHe was both a gifted flyer and a smart tactician!
Spell check loves to think it's smarter than us.
DeleteSpell check is a freaking shoe clerk!
A fair fight is the one you won.
ReplyDeleteBingo!
DeleteThere's always Rule One of a Gunfight:
ReplyDelete"Bring a gun... Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns."
(Interestingly, that video worked, and plays fine. How is it different than the myriad others that fail to show up?)
And that is a good rule.
Delete(What are you using to view videos? Sometimes the platform and the OS will cause odd things to happen. Sometimes videos I post won't work on my Android phone but have no problems with either a laptop running Windows 7 or a desktop running Windows 10.)
iOS, version 9 I think it is. I've tried all the browsers I have (3 of them).
DeleteHhmm, I need to check what version of iOS The Missus Herself has on her iPad. I might be able to investigate from there. ('Tis the only Apple product in the manse.)
DeleteBut, when you DO start shooting, always remember Muphry's Laws of Combat.
ReplyDelete(My favorite is #22. Broadly applicable to life in general.)
38. Tracers work both ways.
DeleteOh yes, they do!
My Dad mentioned #19 all the time...
DeleteWith good reason.
Delete#8 reminds me of a quote from Quigley Down Under: I said I never had much use for one. (Colt revolver) Never said I didn't know how to use it. -Matthew Quigley
ReplyDeleteAnother good quote (anonymous): Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice.
Roger that on your last.
DeleteRussia is laying on the open expanse of the North European Plain, which kinda expalins disturbingly regular invasion pattern...
ReplyDelete1610-1612 Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth
1709 Sweden
1812 France (with half Europe in tow)
1914 Germany
1941 Germany part deux
they can be almost forgiven for mistaking modest NATO forces for avangard of another thrust thru Smolensk on Moscow...
Yeah, it's kind of like living in a really rough neighborhood where your front door doesn't really lock properly, so you have to be kind of a badass. And being kind of a badass isn't really an endearing trait amongst nations. Especially as viewed by your smaller neighbors.
DeleteYou also forgot the Mongol Invasion, and preceding hordes from the eastern steps.
DeleteIt's hard keeping track of just how many times Russia has been invaded.
Deletejust variation on no1 :
ReplyDeletebeware old man in a profession where most die young...
Oh yes, there's a reason they got to be old!
DeleteInvasions from Europe were one thing, but I can't help but think that the Mongol invasion and conquest really messed with the Russians' heads. European invaders tried to conquer Russia but the Golden Horde succeeded....
ReplyDeleteIt's why it's hard to consider Russia to be a part of Europe.
DeleteMost of it actually lies in Asia.
it is also one reason most russian tactical nuikes actually face China....
Deletedespite all offical friendliness
(rememeber June 22 41 and no honour among despots)
The Chinese have no friends. Only clients and adversaries. The Russians are no one's client.
Deleteand there is that old Russian saying: "Russia's only real friends are the Army and the Fleet".
Delete(nowadays Air Force, too)
Very true. For many countries!
DeleteDon't forget the Vikings, they did a few walkthrus (once they got off thier boats in the rivers, and walked a bit to the villages.
ReplyDeleteI believe the name "Russia" itself comes from these walkers, the Russ.
Delete