If you had to fight any war in our history what war would it be?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - If you had to fight any war in our history what war would it be? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 9/20/2004 3:57:36 PM EDT

I know wars aren't something you would WANT to be in but the civil war thread got me thinking.

For me it would probably be either the War of 1812, 1st time we were ever invaded, or our current war on Terrorism.

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:01:29 PM EDT

[#1]

I would have to say the war against terrorism that we are fighting now.

AKASL

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:02:41 PM EDT

[#2]

War of 1812 is not one I'd want to be in. The army was pretty screwed up at the time. Our invasion of Canada was a clusterfuck of epic proportion. It was God that saved DC, not the army. And, I sure as shyte would not have wanted to live through the pounding of Fort McHenry. Of course, it would've been fun to load up an alligator with powder and shot at the battle of new orleans.
I'd have to go with GW1.

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:06:23 PM EDT

[#3]

If by "our" you are referring to western civilization, then I would vote for:

732 AD, the Battle of Tours

Or maybe not....

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:06:34 PM EDT

[#4]

WWII.

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:11:33 PM EDT

[#5]

Revolutionary War.

Just so I could go tactical on their asses. Screw all that formation marching through open fields and fighting like "gentlemen".

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:11:38 PM EDT

[#6]

Revolutionary War... and I get to take my guns with me .

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:12:39 PM EDT

[#7]

Sexual Revolution. Okay, I would have surrendered to the chickies. And yes, I am desperate.

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:12:53 PM EDT

[#8]

The War of Independence

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:16:09 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Revolutionary War... and I get to take my guns with me .

+1
I would have fun with my bolt action .308, camoflague clothes, and many AR-15s!!!

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:23:34 PM EDT

[#10]

Probably 'Nam, hell, sometimes I feel like I was in that War anyway. I was born in '61, grew up watchin' it on the TV and for some reason I identify with those guys more then any other group of Vets.

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:24:43 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
WWII.

+1

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:25:16 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Revolutionary War.

Just so I could go tactical on their asses. Screw all that formation marching through open fields and fighting like "gentlemen".

Quoted:
Quoted:
Revolutionary War... and I get to take my guns with me .

+1
I would have fun with my bolt action .308, camoflague clothes, and many AR-15s!!!

It wouldn't really make a lot of difference.
A company of mechanized infantry would, at least for as long as they could keep the equipment running.

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:25:23 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
I would have to say the war against terrorism that we are fighting now.

AKASL

+1

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:29:52 PM EDT

[#14]

I would like to have worn crimson at Thermopylae.

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:40:28 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Revolutionary War.

Just so I could go tactical on their asses. Screw all that formation marching through open fields and fighting like "gentlemen".

Quoted:
Quoted:
Revolutionary War... and I get to take my guns with me .

+1
I would have fun with my bolt action .308, camoflague clothes, and many AR-15s!!!

It wouldn't really make a lot of difference.
A company of mechanized infantry would, at least for as long as they could keep the equipment running.

I would make a difference, because I would only target officers... HIGH ranking officers. Losing the commander of EVERY major battle I could travel to would definitely have some effect.

Posted: 9/20/2004 4:41:41 PM EDT

[#16]

World War II. I'd like to have been CO of a Fletcher class destroyer then a Cleveland class light cruiser. As built the cruisers' armament was twelve 6" guns (4 turrets x 3 guns each), twelve 5" DP guns (2x6), 28 40mm AA, 28 20mm AA (Later both were more than doubled.) four aircraft, 33 kts max spd. Fine sea boats that were reportedly a shitload of fun to drive. They sent a lot of Sons of Nippon to their ancestors.

Posted: 9/20/2004 5:26:51 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
I would make a difference, because I would only target officers... HIGH ranking officers. Losing the commander of EVERY major battle I could travel to would definitely have some effect.

Great, if you can manage it.
First you have to get yourself to the battle. Then you have to locate the officers, in the meantime, you have to evade the infantry and cavalry, and survive the artillery.
Then there's the matter of succesion. A commander still has a staff.
It takes more than gear to win a battle.

Posted: 9/20/2004 5:29:50 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
I would like to have worn crimson at Thermopylae.

I'll pass on that one "The love whose name dare not be spoken!" and all. Sorry but the Spartans were just a little too friendly in the barracks for me. Plus they all died, that would not be fun.

Posted: 9/20/2004 5:59:54 PM EDT

[#19]

I was sure that more people would have said Vietnam so they'd have their M-16's to play with. My second choice would have been WWII and I'd have went Thompson all the way.

Posted: 9/20/2004 6:01:27 PM EDT

[#20]

WWII - European Theatre

Posted: 9/20/2004 6:03:08 PM EDT

[#21]

I would like to have been a fighter pilot in the European theater in WWII.

Posted: 9/20/2004 6:07:56 PM EDT

[#22]

The drive on Baghdad last year, or OEF.

Posted: 9/20/2004 6:09:18 PM EDT

[#23]

Does the Whiskey Rebellion count? It was this nation's first incident of civil insurrection. The other one, the War of the Rebellion, makes for great reading but I've read enough to be glad to be born over a century too late for it.

How about chasing Pancho Villa? Nahh, I hate the heat.

OK, Spanish American War and I want to be with Dewey when he sailed into Manila Bay. "You may fire when ready, Gridley." Sure beat's "Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead."

I have the honour to be, Sir, your humble and obedient (and cowardly) Servant,

Me.

Posted: 9/20/2004 6:12:37 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I would make a difference, because I would only target officers... HIGH ranking officers. Losing the commander of EVERY major battle I could travel to would definitely have some effect.

Great, if you can manage it.
First you have to get yourself to the battle. Then you have to locate the officers, in the meantime, you have to evade the infantry and cavalry, and survive the artillery.
Then there's the matter of succesion. A commander still has a staff.
It takes more than gear to win a battle.

True, but with a modern bolt .308 with good glass and a suppressor, he could do a lot of damage to the morales of the enemy troops. Think of it, they are accustomed to seeing their comrades fall with the sound of rifle fire, but just how would they react if they saw their commander fall without so much as a whisper?

I would like to fight in the American Revolution as well. A lot of sneaking around with night vision and suppressed guns and claymore mines...

Posted: 9/20/2004 6:14:25 PM EDT

[#25]

Ill be the first. Mogadishu.

They needed all the help they could get...

Posted: 9/20/2004 6:14:29 PM EDT

[#26]

I, like TNFrank, grew up watching the Viet Nam war on tv and reading TIME magazine at the time. I would like to fight that one.

Posted: 9/20/2004 6:17:13 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I would make a difference, because I would only target officers... HIGH ranking officers. Losing the commander of EVERY major battle I could travel to would definitely have some effect.

Great, if you can manage it.
First you have to get yourself to the battle. Then you have to locate the officers, in the meantime, you have to evade the infantry and cavalry, and survive the artillery.
Then there's the matter of succesion. A commander still has a staff.
It takes more than gear to win a battle.

True, but with a modern bolt .308 with good glass and a suppressor, he could do a lot of damage to the morales of the enemy troops. Think of it, they are accustomed to seeing their comrades fall with the sound of rifle fire, but just how would they react if they saw their commander fall without so much as a whisper?

I would like to fight in the American Revolution as well. A lot of sneaking around with night vision and suppressed guns and claymore mines...

In the middle of battle, they would never notice.
On the road, you'd only hit one or two at a time, and they would likely send cavalry out to find you.
.308 against several riders armed with sabers or lances. No thanks.

Posted: 9/20/2004 6:18:24 PM EDT

[#28]

This one.

Posted: 9/20/2004 6:19:42 PM EDT

[#29]

The next one.

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:21:34 PM EDT

[#30]

The wars of conquest the Spaniards had over the Incas and the Aztecs.

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:25:45 PM EDT

[#31]

Any which one that needed my expert demon slaying skills.

But seriously, I'd say the revolutionary war.

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:26:48 PM EDT

[#32]

The American Revolution.

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:27:16 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
Ill be the first. Mogadishu. They needed all the help they could get...

Same here, followed by being in Iraq now....

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:30:45 PM EDT

[#34]

Revolutionary War, but I get to go into it leading an SS Panzer Division against the British.

I would have said the current conflict but since I am going, it isn't a fantasy.

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:34:53 PM EDT

[#35]

I'd have to say Vietnam, then after Rhodesia. Darn I was pissed when the Commies gave up, and now I'm to old for the Islamic Terrs.

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:36:24 PM EDT

[#36]

WWII

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:37:39 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:
I like TNFrank, grew up watching the Viet Nam war on tv and reading TIME magazine at the time. I would like to fight that one.

Well, heck, Capt.Pooby, ya' could have ended that sentance right there,LOL.

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:38:09 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
I know wars aren't something you would WANT to be in but the civil war thread got me thinking.

For me it would probably be either the War of 1812, 1st time we were ever invaded, or our current war on Terrorism.

The current one, so long as we keep doing it the way we are...

Our first pro-active, agressive war... The first time we are actually going out to fix a problem BEFORE we get bit in the ass...

And so on...

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:41:29 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Ill be the first. Mogadishu. They needed all the help they could get...

Same here, followed by being in Iraq now....

Yup, same here.

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:47:37 PM EDT

[#40]

I would choose a future war rather than a historical one...and it would have to be on home soil.

What a picky bastard.

MT

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:49:59 PM EDT

[#41]

I'd like to be in the 1862 Minnesota War with the Dakota Indians.

It is one of those many forgotten wars, but it involved the largest recorded American execution when (IIRC) 38 Dakota indians were hung all at once.

For years "settlers" in Minnesota, particularly those along the Minnesota River, were being raided and killed in the indians' attempts to scare/force settlers off the land that they paid the US Government to own... Among these "Settlers" are some ancestors on my mother's side...

The military and a TON of farmers gathered in the Minnesota River valley to fight the Dakota indian tribes which gathered together to fight near St Peter and a large battle ensued.

I use the term "Battle" lightly because it was basically a HUGE SLAUGHTER. Some tribes were so devastated that there were only about 200 women & children who survived. Many of those didn't survive past the next winter without the aid of their male tribal members. Today direct descendants of that same tribe are all rich, and they run a massive casino.

It was similar in manner to the current "Terrorists" in Iraq. However, back then there was no such thing as "Political Correctness" and a massive slaughter was what subdued the "terroristic" raiding indians. I'm not proud of this history at all, nor do I celebrate it.

I'm just saying that if I were to be in a past American war, I'd choose the Dakota war of 1862 in Minnesota (and be a part of the civilian settlers).

Posted: 9/20/2004 7:56:05 PM EDT

[#42]

WWII pilot.

Posted: 9/20/2004 8:03:26 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:
I know wars aren't something you would WANT to be in but the civil war thread got me thinking.

For me it would probably be either the War of 1812, 1st time we were ever invaded, or our current war on Terrorism.

The war of 1812 is the one I would pick too. That's where Canada kicked your butts! he

Posted: 9/20/2004 8:05:00 PM EDT

[#44]

I'm glad I've never had to fight in a war, and I appreciate all those who have.
From a standpoint of historical interest, though, I think I'd want to be either a partisan/ranger in the Revolutionary War, or a paratrooper in the European theatre of WWII.