Questions pertaining to characteristics of armed forces' structure, manpower, equipment, or expenditures.
9
votes
3answers
364 views
What Are the Dynamics of A “Forced March?”
In the "Art of War," Sun Tzu opined that if you put your army on a forced march of a certain speed, you will lose one-third of your troops along the way. A rough rule of thumb was that an army would ...
9
votes
4answers
477 views
What new technology/tactics allowed the breakthrough of the trenches in WW I western front?
Reading the answers to this question about WW1 Western Front, it appears that breaking through the trenches was a very difficult task to do. How did the Allies finally make it? Was it the invention of ...
10
votes
1answer
522 views
“Musketeer” beard, mustache and hairdress - where did they originate?
This is a portrait of typical French musketeer, with typical triangle beard, mustache and long wavy hairs.
I wonder where this fashion originates from? Is not it the Byzantine Empire where such ...
7
votes
3answers
162 views
How does a country give “aid” to another?
This may not be historical because it's a contemporary event. However, it's been going on for a while. Suharto said, "No to your aids" (or something like that).
For instance. Say US gives aid to ...
12
votes
2answers
331 views
Why was the Western Front so static in World War I?
Once the German advance was halted, neither side could seriously advance for two years. This seems like an extraordinarily long time. Why didn't anyone succeed at going around the trenches or striking ...
8
votes
2answers
259 views
What was the first battle in history fought by vast-majority-% “distance-shooting” non-mechanized force?
Historically, armies usually had a balance between warriors with projectile weapons (bows/guns) and close combat edged weapons (sword/pike/axe etc...).
This was necessary because ranged weapons of ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
Is/were there cases of hazing and violence against younger conscripts in armies of Arabic countries?
Is/were there cases of hazing and violence against younger conscripts in armies of Arabic countries?
It is often advertised in the media that there are no such things in Israeli army, but what about ...
10
votes
3answers
168 views
Was there any separation between hunting bow technology and weapon bows?
Was there a clear trend throughout early history (say, before 1300 for Europe) to have (or ot have) separate technologies/materials for bows and arrows for hunting purposes, and same-period ...
8
votes
1answer
188 views
Could the Russians Have Done Better at the Battle of Tsushima Straits Than They Actually Did?
In 1905, during the Russo-Japanese War, a Russian fleet sailing all the way from the Baltic was annihilated by the Japanese fleet in the Tsushima Straits. The Russian fleet was larger, with thirteen ...
9
votes
2answers
277 views
Wiliam Wallace vs. Robert Bruce: Why Did One Win and One Lose?
At the battle of Falkirk in 1298, William Wallace (aka "Brave Heart") abandoned the guerrilla tactics that served him so well at Stirling Bridge, and adopted a strong, but "conventional" defensive ...
6
votes
3answers
269 views
Can One Use Attrition Tactics When There are No Other Clear Means to Win a War.?
In 1864, General Ulysees S. Grant began the "final campaign" against Richmond using a war of attrition. That's because of the Union's 2-to-1 numerical advantage against a qualitatively superior ...
5
votes
2answers
367 views
About Naval Formations?
What are the differences between the "line ahead" and "line abreast" formations in naval warfare? Which is more likely to lead to the (advantageous) of "crossing the opponents' T" (or being crossed)?
8
votes
1answer
134 views
How Did Modern Weapons Change the Dynamics of City Fighting?
In medieval times, an attacking army that had breached the walls/outer defense of a city, could enter it and overrun the defenders at relatively little cost.
A major modern exception was the battle ...
8
votes
1answer
115 views
What Factors Contributed to the Success of Certain “Long March” Strategies?
In the middle of the 100 years' War, France's Bertrand du Guesclin reportedly used "countermarch" tactics successfully against the English. Another example was General National Greene's "March to the ...
5
votes
1answer
267 views
What rank is S. SGT in the Army Air Force during WW2?
I am looking over my Grandfather's DD214 (Military Discharge Paperwork) from WW2. His grade says "S. SGT" I am trying to figure out his rank conclusively. Nowhere on the DD214 does it display an E-5 ...
6
votes
2answers
320 views
When was the last cavalry charge?
When was the last instance of a unit of cavalry charging? I know that the Polish forces had units of cavalry during World War II and those were used against Nazi units but was there any later than ...
