The Paradox of Military Technology

[thewayne]

Interesting article, it studies the US military and how it stacks against the rest of the world. Obviously no one else can stand against it in a toe-to-toe slug fest, but equally obviously it isn't very effective against counter-insurgency.

A couple of interesting points in the (LONG!) article: there has not been a US Air Ace (five kills) since 1972! The current USAF heavy bomber, the B-52, ceased production in 1962! And it's still going strong. A minor mistake: they state the AK-47 can fire 100 rounds a minute. Heck, give me a semi-automatic with a belt feed and I can probably come close to that speed. Wikipedia says the actual rate of fire of an AK is 600 rounds a minute. Of course you'll probably melt the barrel if you try that kind of sustained fire.

http://www.thenewatlantis.com/archive/14/boot.htm

Comments

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

I've known quite a few people who've served, and it's frequently amazing that our military functions as well as it does. I guess it's a matter of them doing a good job of glossing over their failures and missteps.

One of my fav stories was someone I knew (MANY years ago) did a tour in the military, came back and did some time in the Guard. Stole rations, canteens, bayonets, etc. These guys figured out how to open cases of C-4 without breaking the seal. They'd cut a canteen in half, fill the bottom with plastic explosives, take it home and do stuff with it.

I guess they knew enough not to blow themselves up.