From: wehumble@IASTATE.EDU (Ed Humble)
Subject: Re: Greatest Military Blunders of All Time
Reply-To: wehumble@IASTATE.EDU (Ed Humble)
Organization: Iowa State University
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 20:25:32 GMT

In article <smFosB2w165w@netlink.cts.com>, galan@netlink.cts.com (Greg Gross)
writes:
> frank@rover.uchicago.edu (Frank - Hardware Hacker - Borger) writes:
> 
> > In article <1992Oct14.181238.5994@news2.cis.umn.edu>,
thornley@giga.cs.umn.ed
> > >In article <14OCT199209505662@vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu>
holthaus@vaxa.weeg.uiowa.
> > >>In article <Bw3sJt.K1w@casper.cs.uct.ac.za>, mpinnock@casper.cs.uct.ac.za
(
> > >>>Pearl Harbour would have been a masterstroke had the US carriers been
> > >>>in at the time. Also no major fuel or ammunition was destroyed. The
Japane
> > 
> > 	Interesting that no one ever learns from these mistakes. The Argentin-
> > 	eans never tried to attack the unarmed supply and support ships of
> > 	the British fleet. I heard the commander of the British forces say
> > 	that had they lost their supply ships, and been without ammo, fuel,
> > 	etc. they would have had to withdraw.
> > 
> > 	Rommel made the same point in WWII, stating something like, "If I
> > 	can deprive the enemy soldier of food, ammunition, and fuel, I don't
> > 	have to defeat him."
> > 
> >    Frank R. Borger - Physicist    __       Internet: 
Frank@rover.uchicago.ed
> > Michael Reese - Univ. of Chicago |___      Phone : 312-791-8075 fax :
567-745
> >   Center for Radiation Therapy   | |_) _   
> >                                    | \|_)  Did you ever have the measels,
and
> >     "Birthplace of Softball"          |_)  if so, how many? - Artemus Ward
> 
> 
> I seem to remember the Argentines sinking at least one merchantman during 
> Falklands-Malvinas. Atlantic Conveyor or something similar.

	The Atlantic Conveyor was hit by an Exocet and burned like a torch.  But it
wasn't the target of the attack.  The Argentines were gunning for the Brit
carriers. Either the Argentinian pilot shot at the wrong blip or the Exocet was
decoyed by chaff or jamming and relocked onto the next best thing.  

	Note: the loss of just that ONE merchant ship was a crippling loss to the
British, since it was loaded with a dozen Chinook heavy-lift helos.  The loss of
virtually all their tactical airlift resulted in that fun little slog across the
Falklands by the infantry.

>  
> What I don't remember was the Argentines running any coordinated strikes 
> against the British fleet...part of the force to tie up the covering 
> Harriers and escort ships, the rest to go after the transports. What I 
> saw instead were almost suicidally courageous but piecemeal attacks on 
> the British warships.
> G.
> 
> --
> Gregory Alan Gross      Welcome to life, where no good deed goes unpunished.
> San Diego Union-Tribune         (619) 293-1270 (voice)
> P.O. Box 191                    (619) 293-2333 (fax)
> San Diego, CA 92112-4106        galan@netlink.cts.com (Internet)


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Ed Humble                |   Iowa State University   -  Moo!          
wehumble@iastate.edu     |   Dept. of Aerospace Engineering
                         |    Grad (Professional) Student
========================================================================
  "`Ecrasez l'infame.'  I looked it up.  What infamous thing do you wish to
eradicate?"

  "What infamous thing have you got?"
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