Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

[Ben]

This was an interesting read, and I think I might spring for the Kindle book. I didn't know about the sabotage of German tanks pre-D Day. One has to wonder how different that offensive would have been had that tank division made it to Normandy in 72 hours vs 17 days.

Also interesting was the general distaste for guerilla warfare by members of parliament. Must be left over hostility over that dust up in America a ways back. :)

http://thefederalist.com/2017/04/14/the-men-who-fought-hitler-and-fought-dirty/

[Scout26]

Good read, right up until the end...

The purpose of SF units is not to replace conventional forces, but to train up indigenous forces to be the boots on the ground in their own country.

[RevDisk]

Good read, right up until the end...

The purpose of SF units is not to replace conventional forces, but to train up indigenous forces to be the boots on the ground in their own country.

Yeah, that was the original purpose. But these days, their primary mission is high risk low headcount selective operations. Their secondary role is working as advisors to Afghani and Iraqi security forces. Actually, lot of frontline units got shunted onto that duty so SF guys could do the more sneaky missions. She is entirely right that we are relying on special operations units to the point where we are burning them out and trying to get things done on the cheap.

[Perd Hapley]

As, man, I was gonna post this. Get out of my echo-chamber, Ben.

[Jamisjockey]

Yeah, that was the original purpose. But these days, their primary mission is high risk low headcount selective operations. Their secondary role is working as advisors to Afghani and Iraqi security forces. Actually, lot of frontline units got shunted onto that duty so SF guys could do the more sneaky missions. She is entirely right that we are relying on special operations units to the point where we are burning them out and trying to get things done on the cheap.

Some story popped up in my news feed about drugs being rampant in the SEALS right now.  I'd say there's a connection to that tempo.

[230RN]

Parallel to this thread...

I've often suspected that a ferocious "no 'holds' barred" Brooklyn street fighter could take any proponent of formalized martial arts any day of the week.

I watched that scene in "My Cousin Vinnie" where he strides up to the big guy and delivers a sudden overwhelming sucker punch.  Laughed like hell over that one.

Yeah, movies, but the proposed principle pertains...

[grampster]

There are no rules in a street fight.  The sucker punch is the best defense.

[Ben]

There are no rules in a street fight.  The sucker punch is the best defense.

https://youtu.be/W9IuBiP_JPo?t=23

[Scout26]

Yeah, that was the original purpose. But these days, their primary mission is high risk low headcount selective operations. Their secondary role is working as advisors to Afghani and Iraqi security forces. Actually, lot of frontline units got shunted onto that duty so SF guys could do the more sneaky missions. She is entirely right that we are relying on special operations units to the point where we are burning them out and trying to get things done on the cheap.

Yeah, that's what Rangers, SEAL's, Marine Snipers/Force Recon are doing.  The Army's standard Special Forces guys (Green Beanies) are on the ground currently giving the Iraqi's some backbone in the fight against ISIS.  (With some help from US conventional forces and contractors)