solarz
Brigadier
Except with satellites, jets, and rocket launchers. But you're right. I'm wondering whether the 70-some years since WW2, technology has widened the military gap or narrowed it.
Can you win a war with only light infantry in the 21st century?
- Thread starter solarz
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Except with satellites, jets, and rocket launchers. But you're right. I'm wondering whether the 70-some years since WW2, technology has widened the military gap or narrowed it.
It depends upon the goal too?
If the goal for the Infantry Army is just to bleed the combined arm force then the tactics would be different if it were asked to go offensive and destroy the combined arm force.
vesicles
Colonel
I think it is becoming harder and harder for a light infantry to stand up to an advanced combined armed force. Technology is advanced enough that any movement, tactics will be defeated soundly by technology alone. Note that I am NOT saying tactics is useless now. Nowadays, maneuvers and tactics will still play a huge part in fighting when the opposing forces have near-equal technology. However, the days when a inferior force can out-maneuver and out-tactic an advanced force has long gone, in my opinion. Against an advanced force with satellites, missiles, etc., any movement of the inferior light infantry will be detected way ahead of time. Even if the light infantry manages to encircle its advanced opponent, they can call for re-enforcement, which can come to the rescue in no time in many forms. It would be nearly impossible for the light infantry to successfully complete any of their missions.
as any thing with anything isolate the decisive material advanatage is difficult because Leadership and motivation is hard to quantify.
solarz
Brigadier
Good points, although I think it would be much harder to track foot infantry than armor columns. However, the ability of the advanced army to call in reinforcements and airstrikes means the infantry army can never win in a stationary fight.
However, could they possibly rely on raids to completely disrupt enemy supply lines? If that could be accomplished, they can simply starve their enemies into submission.
vesicles
Colonel
JSTAR and ASTOR has difficulties tracking down foot infantry man.
What about UAV's, constant air surveillance by fixed-wing planes and choppers? The premise of the argument is light infantry possibly winning by number, which means large amount of troops and can be detected easily by anything in the air.
solarz
Brigadier
I think even large armies would be difficult to detect if they hid in mountains and forests.