They HAVE to be joking, surely?!?!
Erm, no.
But apart from being riddled with historical and factual inaccuracies, it's saving grace is its laughable, monotonal narration.
The gene pool needs more chlorine!
:o :o :'( =)
Utter rubbish.....and you cant compare apples with bananas.
IanS ;)
I think this has just been mis-titled. Isn't it just the armies most represented in Hollywood?
I had to laugh though. Just knew who would be no 1.
;D ;D ;D
Napoleon would have been very surprised to learn that he only had 30,000 men, I think.
I think the US army in 1916 was lamentable, not much better in Tunisia, picked up 1943-44 then had mixed fortunes in Korea. Since then, it didn't exactly cover itself in glory in Viet Nam. The '80s and '90s were all about picking on the little guy.
My point is that you can't generalise to the degree that the video did. In fact I'm getting quite annoyed! >:(
Of course Americans will put America's Army on top spot. Pft.....delusional. Americans simply outproduce everyone and bring in "more firepower" that is all.
British, Germans, Spartans etc...all superior when comparing on a 1:1 basis.
You could make an argument that the American army is the best at the moment. Not that there's a lot of competition. It's had quite a bit of experience in the last decade and the equipment is the most modern and lavish.
However, it hasn't really distinguished itself since ... um ... well it did do quite well in ... no ... Korea? no the Big Bug Out ruined that one ... so Viet Nam ;D - sorry .. well .. oh! I know - Sam Houston did quite well in 1836 - what do you mean that wasn't America? Oh, they were Texians? OK well then the American Revolution? No, the armies didn't really do all that well then either, did they?
Well they were very good in all those Western films with John Wayne.
I think many vietnam veterans would be quite mad upon hearing that 'they got to flex their muscles in vietnam'
Who writes this sort of crap?
Quote from: fsn on 09 December 2013, 01:02:41 PM
You could make an argument that the American army is the best at the moment. Not that there's a lot of competition. It's had quite a bit of experience in the last decade and the equipment is the most modern and lavish.
However, it hasn't really distinguished itself since ... um ... well it did do quite well in ... no ... Korea? no the Big Bug Out ruined that one ... so Viet Nam ;D - sorry .. well .. oh! I know - Sam Houston did quite well in 1836 - what do you mean that wasn't America? Oh, they were Texians? OK well then the American Revolution? No, the armies didn't really do all that well then either, did they?
Well they were very good in all those Western films with John Wayne.
Well but that is The Duke!
The American Army did particularly well and covered itself with glory when it was...err...fighting itself between 1861 and1865.
Quote from: Dour Puritan on 09 December 2013, 04:35:02 PM
The American Army did particularly well and covered itself with glory when it was...err...fighting itself between 1861 and1865.
=O
Am I the only person on the forum for whom there is no link in the original post?! :o :-\
Mollinary
I've had that this morning. Was at work so probably blocked.
Just type in 'top 10 armies of all time' on youtube ;)
I thought the Ottoman army did rather well in the 15th/16th/17th centuries
Quote from: petercooman on 09 December 2013, 07:21:51 PM
I've had that this morning. Was at work so probably blocked.
Just type in 'top 10 armies of all time' on youtube ;)
I'd like to say thank you - but having just watched it I am rather lost for words! :o :o
Mollinary
I think they're being far too general. How about (in no particular order)
- Wellington's Peninsula Army
- Russian Army 1944-45
- Ottoman Army sometime (not my forte)
- Alexander's Macedonians
- Attilla's Huns
- Swedish Army of Gustavus Adolphus
- Frederick the Great's Prussians
- Napoleon's Grande Armee of 1809
- Mongols of Genghis Khan
- British Expeditionary Force, 1914
I've excluded the German Army of WWII 'cos although bits of it were excellent, most of it relied on the horse and was outdated compared to the Allied armies. I've also tried to be quite specific about a time period.
Bugger: I forgot the Romans!
Quote from: fsn on 09 December 2013, 07:58:27 PM
(...)
Bugger: I forgot the Romans!
No Aztecs in this list ? :o
sorry, I'm taking my coat and going away... -> [ ] ;)
Nor sure about the BEF 1914
How about the Army of the Qin Dynasty or Thutmose III or Ashoka?
This kind of thing always seems misconceived to me; how do you meaningfully compare armies operating centuries apart in disparate circumstances, from different societies with varying levels of technology? Any suppose you do come up with a list that tells you the Wehrmacht were better than Atilia's Huns: what the hell does that even mean? . Who was smarter; Einstein or Shakespeare?
I used to see a lot of this kind of discussion on forums relating to the "Total War" series on PC, where people would argue endlessly about stuff like who was better the Samurai or the European Knight. What's the context? where are they fighting, Japan or Europe? What year is it? Won't the Samurai force be much bigger? Won't they deploy their Ashigaru armed with muskets en masse. All these elements are usually dealt with in a Deadilest Warrior fashion and they are fighting on some abstract plain. Its effectively a highly up-gunned version of "my Dad could take your Dad". I am not saying that there's nothing to be learned from abstract comparison, but it doesn't tell you anything much worth knowing, all it really is useful for is a spur for discussion. Out of place and time what does it mean to compare people doing anything; nearly everything we do depends on where and when we are.
I've listed to people heatedly debate the order of FHM's 100 sexiest women, when it would be more sensible to step back and day "actually, you know what? they are all gorgeous"
I'll take those. I'm very aware of my Euro-centricity.
I have a history of China ready to read, but it's a bit daunting.
Not sure about any Egyptian armies. Lot more bluster than I would like, and every campaign was hailed as a victory.
However, I would defend the BEF as being a very well trained, professional army. It was just very small.
Dear Mr Clibinarium
Totally agree. However, I find that this kind of discussion generates an interesting discussion which can be informative and thought provoking. It helps us to challenge our conceptions and opens us to new ideas.
I'd love someone to advocate any American army and defend the decision.
After watching the programme about the terracotta warriors last night I would love to see a Qin Army by Pendraken
Quote from: Fenton on 09 December 2013, 09:05:20 PM
After watching the programme about the terracotta warriors last night I would love to see a Qin Army by Pendraken
I'll second both the desire and the reason - excellent programme IMHO.
I've made those once.....It was just that I got the scale completely wrong. ;)
(I'd be well enthused to make them at the proper scale, if Sir decided I was allowed to though.)
But that really WAS a damn good program last night !!
Thoroughly enjoyed that !....Fascinating stuff.
Cheers - Phil.
Quote from: fsn on 09 December 2013, 07:58:27 PM
I think they're being far too general. How about (in no particular order)
<snip interesting list>
Bugger: I forgot the Romans!
What have the Romans ever done for us?
Quote from: Techno on 09 December 2013, 09:19:30 PM
I've made those once.....It was just that I got the scale completely wrong. ;)
(I'd be well enthused to make them at the proper scale, if Sir decided I was allowed to though.)
But that really WAS a damn good program last night !!
Thoroughly enjoyed that !....Fascinating stuff.
Cheers - Phil.
Not many Bronze Age armies were obliging enough to not only leave us evidence of their weapons and armour but also their hair styles, uniform colour choices and battle formations!!!!
Though if you were allowed to do it Phil we'd expect 8,000 figures and for every figure to be different right down to the shape of the ears :)
Quote from: paulr on 09 December 2013, 09:22:14 PM
What have the Romans ever done for us?
Brought peace ?
Quote from: Ithoriel on 09 December 2013, 09:46:01 PM
Though if you were allowed to do it Phil we'd expect 8,000 figures and for every figure to be different right down to the shape of the ears :)
Go away !! ;) :P
Cheers - Phil
Quote from: Techno on 09 December 2013, 09:19:30 PM
I've made those once.....It was just that I got the scale completely wrong. ;)
(I'd be well enthused to make them at the proper scale, if Sir decided I was allowed to though.)
But that really WAS a damn good program last night !!
Thoroughly enjoyed that !....Fascinating stuff.
Cheers - Phil.
So it was you who planted all those figures in China? Why didn't you put them near Pembroke and make a bit of money on the side? ;)
Didn't have time Ray....
Had to get out of there 'toot sweet'.
Did anyone bother to tell me they were supposed to be useable on the table top....Not guards for his necropolis ?
I think not !!
You saw what he did to the other poor sods.....I wasn't hanging around for that.
I'm looking forward to the day they dig up some of the other pits....I did some free form 'chaosy' bits for those....
Those will have the archaeologists scratching their heads. ;) ;D ;D
Cheers - Terry Kotta.
;D ;D
Very good Phil, very good :)
I still blame the then interpreter, 'Hee Sey Wah', for the confusion over the scale of the figures.
Really nice chap....Had a really bad accident...When he and his mate 'Wi Tu Lo' tried to escape the area, by flying an early model two-man hang-glider out of there.
(I really have lost it again...haven't I ?)
Cheers - Phil.
I think fsn has hacked Techno's account ;) ;D
:D
Wow I'm so pleased to learn that redcoats were all NCOs and served from 1760 to 1860 - must have been a tad elderly by the end. We'll have to remake Zulu now, clearly they fought in khaki and best to ignore Marlborough and what not heh!
My, my didn't Napoleon do well with only 30,000 men - must have been because the redcoats would be well into their sixties by then!
Quote from: Ithoriel on 10 December 2013, 04:58:50 PM
I think fsn has hacked Techno's account ;) ;D
I think he's hacked my mind. ;)
Cheers - Phil
How can you tell? :D
Stranger and stranger musings keep popping into my head at the moment ! ;) ;D ;D ;D
Cheers - Phil