Military Blunders

[thedrifter]

What do you think are the greatest Military Blunders..of all time.....?



The Raid on Dieppe: August 19, 1942

http://users.pandora.be/dave.depickere/Text/dieppe.html


Iraqi invasion of Kuwait

http://napoleone.tripod.com/iraq/invasion.htm


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

[ivalis]

Operation Market Garden 1944

German Invasion of The Soviet Union

Soviet Union Invasion of Afghanistan

US Invasion of Canada

[montana]

the invasion of privecy ???

[ivalis]

tana, keep it quiet, they're listening

[greybeard]

Too late-they already heard.
Agree with Market Garden.
Galliope 1 & 2
Bay of Pigs
From the Chinese standpoint--Chosin was a disaster.
For me personally-The failure to totally nuke Hanoi and Haiphong
But the biggest blunder? Pearl Harbor.

[ivalis]

Pearl Harbor? which side?

[greybeard]

Both sides. Our lack of preparation and their inability to envision the dire consequences.

Perhaps a bigger blunder was the failure to whack the Nazis in the mid 30's, but that, like a lot of others mentioned here, was more of a political screwup than military.

[ivalis]

Short & Kimmel dropped the ball at pearl. The Japs screwed up by not taking out the fuel farm/pipelines.

[MillRatUSMC]

Those so many in history, that it's hard to chose one.

The ambush of troops under Major General Edward Braddock during the French and Indian War has to rate among the great of military blunders.
He had no idea of how the French and Indians were used to fighting, not in the method used in Europeans wars.

We already mention Napolean's invasion of Russia, it wasn't the Soviet Union, that laid ahead some 80 to 90 years in the future.

The forcing of the Dardanelles and Gallipoli was one of the Allies great disasters in World War One. Gallipoli was the plan thought up by Winston Churchill to end the war early by creating a new war front that the Central Powers could not cope with.

Russia's invasion of Finland resulting in the death of many Russians.

We could include LBJ, McNanamara and General Westmoreland under estimating the forces they were fighting.
General Giap brings out that they knew they would never be able to defeat us in the field of battle.
They were seeking a stalemate brought on by them bleeding us to death.
That led to us leaving Vietnam and them than defeating the South Vietnamese.
Yet Vietnam, was only one battle in the Cold War, the principals suppling North Vietnam, lost a great deal of income.
That in turn led to the dissolving of the Soviet Union.
This too was a great military blunder...
All these have been from modern history, we won't even go into the Persians invading what now is Greece...

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[greybeard]

.
By 1968, NVA morale was at it's lowest point ever. The plans for "Tet" '68 was their last desperate attempt to achieve a success, in an effort to boost the NVA morale. When it was over, General Giap and the NVA viewed the Tet '68 offensive as a failure, they were on their knees and had prepared to negotiate a surrender.
At that time, there were fewer than 10,000 U.S. casualties, the Vietnam War was about to end, as the NVA was prepared to accept their defeat. Then, they heard Walter Cronkite (former CBS News anchor and correspondent) on TV proclaiming the success of the Tet '68 offensive by the communist NVA. They were completely and totally amazed at hearing that the US Embassy had been overrun. In reality, The NVA had not gained access to the Embassy--there were some VC who had been killed on the grassy lawn, but they hadn't gained access. Further reports indicated the riots and protesting on the streets of America.
According to Giap, these distorted reports were inspirational to the NVA. They changed their plans from a negotiated surrender and decided instead, they only needed to persevere for one more hour, day, week, month, eventually the protesters in American would help them to achieve a victory they knew they could not win on the battlefield. Remember, this decision was made at a time when the U.S. casualties were fewer than 10,000, at the end of 1967, beginning of 1968.
Today, there are 58,000 names on the Vietnam Wall Memorial that was built with the donations made by the American public. Although Giap did not mention each and every protester's name in his book, many of us will never forget the 58,000 names on the Wall. We will also never forget the names of those who helped in placing those additional 48,000 names there: Bill, Jane, Tom, Cronkite, and others.

[namgrunt]

The Pharoah's army chasing the fleeing Isrealites across the opened Red Sea. He had to have ignored the flaming column running interference for the former slaves. After all the plagues, he must have known he was messing with something bigger than he was.

[MillRatUSMC]

Greybeard, I was thinking about Tet of 68 on the VC/NVA side.
It had to be a big BLUNDER on their part.
The Viet Cong were no longer a player in the war.
The North Vietnamese Army took over the conduct of the war.
Many of their large units took to the field.
Still conducting small unit operations coupled with mines and booby traps to try and bleed us till the American people said "Enough is a enough".
That came after Lt. Calley and company at My Lai...
Hanio Jane, Hanio John Forbes Kerry and the rest of those protesting inspired those ready to negotiate a surrender to hold to their plans on fighting what we now know as the Vietnam War...

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[usmc4669]

When they allowed John Kerry to join the Navy. LOL

[thedrifter]

Lady Be Good


http://www.qmfound.com/lady_be_good_b-24_bomber_recovery.htm

[usmc4669]

thedrifter Yes This must be the Military Blunders of all times.

[usmc4669]

At about 2:10 p.m. on the afternoon of 5 December 1945, Flight 19, consisting of five TBM Avenger Torpedo Bombers departed from the U. S. Naval Air Station, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on an authorized advanced overwater navigational training flight. They were to execute navigation problem No. 1, which is as follows: (1) depart 26 degrees 03 minutes north and 80 degrees 07 minutes west and fly 091 degrees (T) distance 56 miles to Hen and Chickens Shoals to conduct low level bombing, after bombing continue on course 091 degrees (T) for 67 miles, (2) fly course 346 degrees (T) distance 73 miles and (3) fly course 241 degrees (T) distance 120 miles, then returning to U. S. Naval Air Station, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.


In charge of the flight was a senior qualified flight instructor, piloting one of the planes. The other planes were piloted by qualified pilots with between 350 and 400 hours flight time of which at least 55 was in TBM type aircraft. The weather over the area covered by the track of the navigational problem consisted of scattered rain showers with a ceiling of 2500 feet within the showers and unlimited outside the showers, visibility of 6-8 miles in the showers, 10-12 otherwise. Surface winds were 20 knots with gusts to 31 knots. The sea was moderate to rough. The general weather conditions were considered average for training flights of this nature except within showers.


A radio message intercepted at about 4 p.m. was the first indication that Flight 19 was lost. This message, believed to be between the leader on Flight 19 and another pilot in the same flight, indicated that the instructor was uncertain of his position and the direction of the Florida coast. The aircraft also were experiencing malfunction of their compasses. Attempts to establish communications on the training frequency were unsatisfactory due to interference from Cuba broadcasting stations, static, and atmospheric conditions. All radio contact was lost before the exact nature of the trouble or the location of the flight could be determined. Indications are that the flight became lost somewhere east of the Florida peninsula and was unable to determine a course to return to their base. The flight was never heard from again and no trace of the planes were ever found. It is assumed that they made forced landings at sea, in darkness somewhere east of the Florida peninsula, possibly after running out of gas. It is known that the fuel carried by the aircraft would have been completely exhausted by 8 p.m. The sea in that presumed area was rough and unfavorable for a water landing. It is also possible that some unexpected and unforeseen development of weather conditions may have intervened although there is no evidence of freak storms in the area at the time.


All available facilities in the immediate area were used in an effort to locate the missing aircraft and help them return to base. These efforts were not successful. No trace of the aircraft was ever found even though an extensive search operation was conducted until the evening of 10 December 1945, when weather conditions deteriorated to the point where further efforts became unduly hazardous. Sufficient aircraft and surface vessels were utilized to satisfactorily cover those areas in which survivors of Flight 19 could be presumed to be located.


One search aircraft was lost during the operation. A PBM patrol plane which was launched at approximately 7:30 p.m., 5 December 1945, to search for the missing TBM's. This aircraft was never seen nor heard from after take-off. Based upon a report from a merchant ship off Fort Lauderdale which sighted a "burst of flame, apparently an explosion, and passed through on oil slick at a time and place which matched the presumed location of the PBM, it is believed this aircraft exploded at sea and sank at approximately 28.59 N; 80.25 W. No trace of the plane or its crew was ever found.


The Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center, 805 KIDDER BREESE SE, Washington, DC 20374-5060 has placed the Board of Investigation convened at NAS Miami to inquire into the loss of the 5 TBM Avengers in Flight 19 and the PBM aircraft on microfilm reel, NRS 1983-37. To order a duplicate film for the fees indicated on the Naval Historical Center fee schedule, please complete the duplication order form and send a check or money order for the appropriate amount, made payable to the DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, to the Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center, 805 Kidder Breese Street, SE, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5060.

[usmc4669]

the invasion of privecy ??? In the Military you have no privacy

[Dragon Air]

This one is great only because it is strange...

It happened during the war of Northern Aggression (that's the Civil War for the Yankees) . A Confederate platoon was trying to defend a field and were outnumbered eight to one. They concentrated all their men onto the one bridge spanning a creek on the road to the field. They were well entrenched and covered by rocks. Again and again the Yankee invaders charged the bridge but were repelled. Eventually, his force decimated, the Yankee commander was forced to surrender. When he made his intentions known, the Confederates stood up and walked through the creek. It was only knee deep. The bridge was there only as a matter of convienience.

This story is true, although I cannot remember where it happened. It was recited in the PBS documentary on the War for Southern Independece. (The Civil War to the carpet-baggers out there)

[namgrunt]

Gunny! Shhh. "They" are listening. LOL

Really though, Flight 19 was not a military blunder. The affects of the region of the Atlantic known as the Devil's Triangle, where the bombers were scheduled to fly through, is known for anomalous reading on aircraft and surface ship instruments. It also can affect human "intrumentation". The intermittent visual effects noted in the region can throw off a pilot's reference horizon. With instruments out of whack, and visual cues removed or hazed over, it is possible for a pilot to become disoriented and end up flying in a manner which might cause a crash. Without the compass heading, and potential radio traffic interference from the phenomenon, a group may become lost and crashed into the sea when fuel ran out, without knowing which way to turn toward
land.

No enemy military force was involved in the loss of the TBMs, and therefore, it doesn't fall under the classic meaning of a "military blunder", in my opinion.

[Phantom Blooper]

In our illustrious United States Marine Corps history,United States history and world history there have been many military and worldly blunders. I can only speak of one that I have first hand knowlede with other than the history and military books. You may call it a blunder or a blame game,I am not quite sure. I was there from 05/83-11/83 and from what I have read and heard there has been allot of "he said,they said,no one did." BEIRUT,LEBANON 1982-1984. Semper-Fi! "Never Forget" Chuck Hall:marine:

[BC22]

Isandhlwana
http://www.rorkesdrift.org/isandhlwana/isandhlwana.htm

Agincourt
http://acasun.eckerd.edu/~oberhot/agincourt.htm

[BIGFISH]

was anyone else asked by the nice guys, to go get the gold, setting in two C-130's in Vietnam?

[usmc4669]

namgrunt

No enemy military force was involved in the loss of the TBMs, and therefore, it doesn't fall under the classic meaning of a "military blunder", in my opinion.

Enemy was never mention.

Then I started thinking about the question again and came to the conclusion that the greatest Military Blunder of all time was when they let you join the Marines.LOL

[charlie222]

One of the "Greatest Military Blunders", was Gen. Westmoreland lack of ability to conduct the war in South Vietnam. Many lives was lost. (USMC4669, give namgrunt a brake), I almost said "Enemy Military Blunder", too. You are good, must be ready for you quick reaction to an answer. I'm on my toes now. charlie222 over & out.