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Subject: Best Infantry : The Viet Cong?
GreyJackal    10/29/2006 8:59:06 AM
I saw this documentary on the History channel where they said during hard times in the Vietnam War, Viet cong were able to march upto 30 miles a day on one meal(usually a bowl of rice). They also were known to be very effective in mannually clearing out roads through jungles, dig lots of underground tunnels many over 50 miles long. They also pulled heavy artillery up difficult mountains mannually. It seems that these guys were very dedicated, obedient and durable infantry. Could they be the best infantry ever?
 
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HoundOfHello       10/29/2006 11:09:16 AM
"It seems that these guys were very dedicated, obedient and durable infantry."-Grey Jackal

Well, given the fact that they had a cause to believe in (unification of their homeland, eviction of the American invaders, etc.), I wouldn't expect anything less from the VC. Had they been simply thrust into the conflict the way American GIs were, I doubt they would have performed in the same manner. For the VC, there was a lot at stake and they were willing to do a lot to achieve their goals. While the extent to which they apparently pushed themselves is extreme, I would hardly think that their fortitude was unique for people in their situation.

-HoH

 
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ambush       10/30/2006 8:58:43 PM
  I am going with a no on this one.  A better question would be to ask if they were the best guerilla force ever  It cold be argued by some that they never beat the US in  battle and ceased to exist as a effective force after the 1968 TEt offensive, probaly set up for a fall by North Viet Nam.
  The VC were never really able to pul off the transition from a G force to a conventional force.  I wold puthem more on th elevel of some native American tribe like the Apache, who preferred to fight on foot.
 
 My nominee would be along the lines of the 1800s UK Army or better still the BEF that went over to Europe in 1914 before it was bled white.
 
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GOP       10/30/2006 9:10:30 PM
    I wold puthem more on th elevel of some native American tribe like the Apache, who preferred to fight on foot.
 
Don't ever compare the VC to the Apaches. The Apaches were truly the best light infantry this world has seen, and that is no lie. Do some research into them, they were absolute bad-a**es. They were EXTREMELY ferocious, and the 1800's British had nothing on them. It took a couple of months for our forces to force the British to withdraw...it was several years until our forces eventually overwhelmed them and outnumbered them.

 
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ambush       10/30/2006 9:52:14 PM


    I wold puthem more on th elevel of some native American tribe like the Apache, who preferred to fight on foot.

 


Don't ever compare the VC to the Apaches. The Apaches were truly the best light infantry this world has seen, and that is no lie. Do some research into them, they were absolute bad-a**es. They were EXTREMELY ferocious, and the 1800's British had nothing on them. It took a couple of months for our forces to force the British to withdraw...it was several years until our forces eventually overwhelmed them and outnumbered them.
  It was not meant as an insult only has a means of comparison of category not quality levels.  Not many people think of the Apache as an Infantry force but because of TV and movies  think of them as cavalry.  They were tough  within their limits and within the proper terrain. 

The Comanche managed to drive the Apache out of most of Texas because their horse-mounted tactics on the plains were superior to the foot fighting Apache. On the other hand Comanche and other tribes got their rears handed to them when trying to fight them in the mountains of the Southwest or West Texas.

 The being said the Apache and Comanche could be handled if fought using similar tactics like the Texas Rangers did at Plum Creek and Eagle Mountain for example.

 I would put he Apache up their in my top 5 Guerilla forces but not among conventional forces.
 
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DarthAmerica    Easy Answer   10/30/2006 10:07:32 PM
The modern US Army Infantry Soldier or US Marine is without question the best trained, best equipped, best supported, most educated,  most experienced, most dedicated, most motivated and most effective infantry force the world has ever known PERIOD. There isnt a single force in the history of war that the Modern US Infantryman could not defeat on a battlefield.
 
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olive greens       10/31/2006 9:02:16 AM

The modern US Army Infantry Soldier or US Marine is without question the best trained, best equipped, best supported, most educated,  most experienced, most dedicated, most motivated and most effective infantry force the world has ever known PERIOD. There isnt a single force in the history of war that the Modern US Infantryman could not defeat on a battlefield.

Not to mention the highest paid and most pampered grunt among the large, "real" armies. 


 
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joe6pack       10/31/2006 9:59:13 AM



The modern US Army Infantry Soldier or US Marine is without question the best trained, best equipped, best supported, most educated,  most experienced, most dedicated, most motivated and most effective infantry force the world has ever known PERIOD. There isnt a single force in the history of war that the Modern US Infantryman could not defeat on a battlefield.


Not to mention the highest paid and most pampered grunt among the large, "real" armies. 

 
 
Apparently not the highest paid.  Someone posted something on pay on one of the other boards and the US was not the top.  It's not bad, but apparently others pay more.  But, I can't deny there are a lot of side benefits in US military.
 
That being said, you say that like its a bad thing.    

 
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olive greens       10/31/2006 10:23:28 AM

Apparently not the highest paid.  Someone posted something on pay on one of the other boards and the US was not the top.  It's not bad, but apparently others pay more.  But, I can't deny there are a lot of side benefits in US military.
 
That being said, you say that like its a bad thing.   


I am pretty sure they the highest paid among large, "real" armies. And I didn't mean it in a bad way, just completing Darth's list of superlatives (and getting to the bottom of the things).
 
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GOP       10/31/2006 10:20:42 PM



The modern US Army Infantry Soldier or US Marine is without question the best trained, best equipped, best supported, most educated,  most experienced, most dedicated, most motivated and most effective infantry force the world has ever known PERIOD. There isnt a single force in the history of war that the Modern US Infantryman could not defeat on a battlefield.


Not to mention the highest paid and most pampered grunt among the large, "real" armies. 



I do like to eat, so I am sure that the money goes to good use.
 
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Ehran       11/1/2006 1:44:13 PM

Don't ever compare the VC to the Apaches. The Apaches were truly the best light infantry this world has seen, and that is no lie. Do some research into them, they were absolute bad-a**es. They were EXTREMELY ferocious, and the 1800's British had nothing on them. It took a couple of months for our forces to force the British to withdraw...it was several years until our forces eventually overwhelmed them and outnumbered them.


uh when was this you forced the british to withdraw in a couple of months?
 
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