Greatest white elephants of military history

American Empire · 07-16-2008, 17:19 PM

- Maginot line
- Yamato-class battleships
- Iraqi Project Babylon
- US land warrior project
- US OCIW program
- Iran's destroyers and frigates

Shipwreck · 07-16-2008, 17:50 PM

Maus

gunnut · 07-16-2008, 18:13 PM

Oh...I was about to say the elephant Hannibal rode on when he crushed Rome's army

Tarek Morgen · 07-16-2008, 18:45 PM

would the commanche qualify due the canclelation?

American Empire · 07-16-2008, 18:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarek Morgen

would the commanche qualify due the canclelation?

Yes, I listed a number of programs like land warrior.

RustyBattleship · 07-17-2008, 00:49 AM

The 111 hour limit on the first Gulf War. Had no limit been set, we wouldn't be there now.

citanon · 07-17-2008, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

The 111 hour limit on the first Gulf War. Had no limit been set, we wouldn't be there now.

Rusty, have you considered the effect on internal Soviet politics had George H. W. Bush not held back? So aggressive a move in the M.E. back then might have given the Soviet hardliners impetus and reason to hold on longer.

RustyBattleship · 07-17-2008, 02:52 AM

Rather than argue hypothetics, I'll offer two other white elephants; The landings on Attu and Kiska Islands in WW II.

On Attu, they used desert trained troops (from Fort Irwin) in the middle of winter without proper winter gear or boots.

On Kiska they used Mountain troops, trained in the High Sierras, with all the winter protection needed --- in the middle of summer.

This is why the word Army. And this is why the word Intelligence should never be used in the same sentence.

GraniteForge · 07-17-2008, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by American Empire

- Maginot line
- Yamato-class battleships
- Iraqi Project Babylon
- US land warrior project
- US OCIW program
- Iran's destroyers and frigates

The Maginot Line did the job it was designed to do. The failure to execute the rest of the French strategic defense plan is what led to their collapse.

Shipwreck · 07-17-2008, 04:56 AM

*Schwerer Gustav* and *Dora*

American Empire · 07-18-2008, 14:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBattleship

The 111 hour limit on the first Gulf War. Had no limit been set, we wouldn't be there now.

That was more of strategic mistake than a white elephant.

American Empire · 07-18-2008, 14:39 PM

Another example would be the H-4 Hercules project.

American Empire · 07-18-2008, 17:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shipwreck

Maus

You think thats something? check this thing out

P.1000 Landrevzer Ratte:

American Empire · 07-18-2008, 17:16 PM

The Soviet T-35:

sappersgt · 07-18-2008, 17:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by American Empire

The Soviet T-35:

Wow! That is a monster! How many crew?

07-16-2008, 17:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
American Empire Banished Regular Join Date: 06-27-08 Posts: 104	Greatest white elephants of military history - Maginot line - Yamato-class battleships - Iraqi Project Babylon - US land warrior project - US OCIW program - Iran's destroyers and frigates

07-16-2008, 17:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Shipwreck Belli Dura Despicio *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 01-07-06 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 2,193 Country:	Maus __________________ *"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9)*

07-16-2008, 18:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
gunnut *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 01-27-06 Location: DPRK, Democratik People's Republik of Kalifornia Posts: 10,209 Country:	Oh...I was about to say the elephant Hannibal rode on when he crushed Rome's army __________________ "Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.

07-16-2008, 18:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tarek Morgen *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 02-08-07 Location: Kassel Posts: 932 Country:	would the commanche qualify due the canclelation? __________________ uh I might be wrong

07-17-2008, 00:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
RustyBattleship *Defense Professional* Join Date: 01-12-06 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 2,951	The 111 hour limit on the first Gulf War. Had no limit been set, we wouldn't be there now. __________________ Able to leap tall tales in a single groan.

07-17-2008, 02:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
RustyBattleship *Defense Professional* Join Date: 01-12-06 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 2,951	Rather than argue hypothetics, I'll offer two other white elephants; The landings on Attu and Kiska Islands in WW II. On Attu, they used desert trained troops (from Fort Irwin) in the middle of winter without proper winter gear or boots. On Kiska they used Mountain troops, trained in the High Sierras, with all the winter protection needed --- in the middle of summer. This is why the word Army. And this is why the word Intelligence should never be used in the same sentence.

07-17-2008, 04:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
Shipwreck Belli Dura Despicio *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 01-07-06 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 2,193 Country:	Schwerer Gustav and Dora

07-18-2008, 14:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
American Empire Banished Regular Join Date: 06-27-08 Posts: 104	Another example would be the H-4 Hercules project.

07-18-2008, 17:16 PM	#14 (permalink)
American Empire Banished Regular Join Date: 06-27-08 Posts: 104	The Soviet T-35:

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