Tuesday, September 1, 2015

5 Battlefield Innovations That Came From The Rank-And-File Troops

Military personnel are a crafty bunch. They surprise their commanders and buddies with many good — and, let’s be honest, some bad — innovations. Some of these battlefield creations even surprise the teams of scientists and industry professionals designing military equipment. When faced with limited resources, the battlefield innovations of the rank-and-file troops have become a staple of military kits. Weapon systems and generals don’t win wars alone; it is the dog-tired foot soldier who eventually helps the victor cross the finish line.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Some items which should have made his list but didn't:

1. Feminine hygiene tampons used to plug wound channels.

2. Radio Shack R/C toy cars with mounted video cameras to investigate suspected IED's.

3. Silly String sprayed into dark interiors to expose trip wires.

And that's just off the top of my head. I'm sure other SSI readers will have more.

Informed42 said...

G.I.'s have always improvised and adapted, and they always will !! Those are two of the biggest reasons TPTB and our government have been trying their damnedest to 'demonize' all veterans for a number of years now. They're afraid of the veterans because they've fought before, and although many are a lot older now, they'll fight again to the best of their abilities. They will also willingly share their knowledge and experiences with younger people that will fight the tyranny the
government and its cronies are trying to impose on our nation. This will include tactics !!

Anonymous said...

Indirect fire was invented by a Confederate enlisted man, Milton Humphreys. Until then artillery was strictly a direct fire weapon. Humphreys, a child math prodigy, realized he could use trigonometry to calculate the proper elevation to allow artillery to hit a target while remaining in the safety of a concealed position. His idea was first employed by "Bryan's Battery" against Union fortifications at Raleigh, Virginia (now Beckley, West Va.). After the war he made a career of teaching the math behind his technique.