Quote

[Monkeyfume]

Someone once said something like this, around WWII era:
"Every country enters a war perfectly equipped to fight the last one it fought"

Any idea who?

 

[fubar57]

Couldn't find yours but I found these...MILITARY QUOTES - Best Military Quotations
military quotes

Geo

 

[rochie]

"The most dangerous thing known to man is an officer with a map"

Painted on a wall in Port Stanley just after the Falklands conflict was over

 

[tyrodtom]

"The most dangerous thing known to man is an officer with a map"

Painted on a wall in Port Stanley just after the Falklands conflict was over

I heard a little bit different version of that back in the 60s, but it probably goes way back. " The most dangerous thing in the Army is a 2nd lieutenant with a map".

 

[buffnut453]

You allow 2Lts to have maps in the US Army? Would never happen in the British Army!

 

[Shortround6]

Quite right, maps should only be in the hands of Captains and above or Sergeants and/or experienced corporals.

 

[rochie]

You allow 2Lts to have maps in the US Army? Would never happen in the British Army!

Yeah we wouldn't have bought 2 maps

 

[Airframes]

Yep, I well remember a dusk drop on the Scots coast, back in the 1970's.
After clearing the DZ and 'rallying' at the edge of a wood, a young subaltern 'took charge' and lead my patrol along a narrow road to a 'T' junction, and turned right. Being a relatively young, but fairly experienced Para at the time, I didn't question this officer's actions at first, until we'd gone around two or three miles, with the setting sun behind us.
At this point, I politely asked said 'officer' what route he was taking to the Btn RV, whereupon he showed me on his map, with the his compass in hand too.
A quick glance showed he'd committed the mortal sin of transposing the Grid Reference numbers and, not only was he one square mile 'out' when setting off, he was heading in the opposite direction to that needed to reach the RV, having read his compass bearing as Magnetic, without converting to 'Grid', and back to front to boot (i.e a full 180 degrees out)!!
A brief comment on his heritage, a call to the lads, and, with my map in hand, we ran in the opposite direction, arriving at the RV on time, but with a very knackered and red-faced Subaltern in tow !
For some reason, we never saw that officer again ..................

 

[rochie]

Yep, I well remember a dusk drop on the Scots coast, back in the 1970's.
After clearing the DZ and 'rallying' at the edge of a wood, a young subaltern 'took charge' and lead my patrol along a narrow road to a 'T' junction, and turned right. Being a relatively young, but fairly experienced Para at the time, I didn't question this officer's actions at first, until we'd gone around two or three miles, with the setting sun behind us.
At this point, I politely asked said 'officer' what route he was taking to the Btn RV, whereupon he showed me on his map, with the his compass in hand too.
A quick glance showed he'd committed the mortal sin of transposing the Grid Reference numbers and, not only was he one square mile 'out' when setting off, he was heading in the opposite direction to that needed to reach the RV, having read his compass bearing as Magnetic, without converting to 'Grid', and back to front to boot (i.e a full 180 degrees out)!!
A brief comment on his heritage, a call to the lads, and, with my map in hand, we ran in the opposite direction, arriving at the RV on time, but with a very knackered and red-faced Subaltern in tow !
For some reason, we never saw that officer again ..................

Used to hate all that magnetic variation stuff, it was always me that seemed to have to sort it out !

 

[Airframes]

P*ss easy mate - unless you're an Officer !

 

[rochie]

P*ss easy mate - unless you're an Officer !

Yeah but I was 14 and trying to convince an adult cadet instructor he was a dickhead and my Dad would be a tad upset if his first born got lost and died trying to find his way back to leek !

 

[Airframes]

Yep, now I understand !