Maxims, Quotes, Rules and good ideas

[Lt. Ketch]

Originally Posted by Mobhack

Don't fight "fair" in other words...

Andy

This quote made me think that it might be fun to start a thread of maxims, saying, rules, or just good old one liners that may help new players, entertain experienced players and/or confuse all players. I’ve started the discussion with things I’ve screamed at myself when things go wrong and some other rules from various people.

1. Make sure AFVs are sufficiently suppressed before trying a close assault.
2. Make sure infantry are sufficiently suppressed before moving AFVs next to them.
3. Russian infantry is cheap and inexperienced. This means buy a lot because you’re going to need them.
4. Make sure you have enough transports.
5. After you open fire, move or you’ll get rained on.
6. Never, ever, underestimate your opponent.
7. Never, ever, ever underestimate the AI.

What follows is a few others that I have employed from other sources.

PanzerBob has two that I really like and have used.

Originally Posted by PanzerBob

PLANNING and more PLANNING!!!

And

The more complex the execution of the mission the more likely your troops will get executed

Cross, as he’s known on the forums, came up with this top 10 list. He adds a lot more details on how to fix the problems but

Originally Posted by Cross

WinSPWW2
Top Ten PBEM Mistakes
By Simon Whitton
1. Not using cover
2. Spreading forces thinly along whole front
3. Not having a plan
4. Not putting tanks with infantry, or infantry with tanks
5. Not using combined arms
6. Not organizing forces
7. Not using correct force for the terrain
8. Not identifying fields of fire
9. Not using smoke
10. Not buying the right forces

This last is a selection of rules from “7 Habits for Highly Effective Pirates” a fictional work produced in the world of “Schlock Mercenary” by Howard Tayler - http://www.schlockmercenary.com/

Originally Posted by Howard Tayler

Rule 1: Pillage then burn
Rule 9: Never turn your back on an enemy.
Rule 12: A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head.
Rule 13: Do unto others
Rule 27: Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence.
Rule 29: The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.
Rule 30: A little trust goes a long way. The less you use, the further you'll go.
Rule 34: If you’re leaving scotch marks, you need a bigger gun.
Rule 35: That which does not kill me has made a tactical error
Rule 37: There is no 'overkill.' There is only 'open fire' and 'time to reload.'

[Mobryan]

Quotes:

The best thing about a plan is that you know EXACTLY what went wrong.

Whenver things are going exactly to plan, you are probably walking into an ambush.

other little tidbits:

50 cal HMG's on a ridgeline can totally ruin a guys day.

You can kill Panther's with a Stuart, but it had better be The Haunted Tank.

Massed MRL's will knock a hole in anybodies defences.

Ivan's favorite drink is a Molotov Cocktail, and with good reason.

Russian Amplomets are great suppresion tools, but can't kill squat.

Foot troops are the best Big Cat killers.


Matt

[PatG]

"If it ain't infantry, it's support"

[Cross]

I do have a small collection of warfare quotes.

There are some really good ones among the 100 that come with SPWW2

But I've been trying (well not trying very hard) to collect another hundred so I can switch them with the originals one day.

I have about 50 something.

Here's some of them:


"There is only one principle of war and that's this: Hit the other fellow as quickly as you can, as hard as you can, where it hurts him most, when he ain't looking."*
*
_General William Slim


“A competent General knows how to use artillery, but a brilliant General knows how to use smoke.”*
*
_Unknown


"Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl."*
*
_Frederick the Great


“CANNON, n. An instrument employed in the rectification of national boundaries.”*
*
_Ambrose Bierce


“God fights on the side with the best artillery.”*
*
_Napoleon Bonaparte


“Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.
When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults.”*
*
_Unknown


“The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.”*
*
_Sun Tzu


“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.”*
*
_Sun Tzu


"The power of an air force is terrific when there is nothing to oppose it."*
*
_Winston Churchill


"The Americans will always do the right thing... After they've exhausted all the alternatives."”*
*
_Winston Churchill


"The essence of war is violence. Moderation in war is imbecility."*
*
_British Sea Lord John Fisher


“I've been to war. I've raised twins. If I had a choice, I'd rather go to war.”*
*
_George W. Bush


“When you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite.”*
*
_Winston Churchill


“War is a catalogue of blunders.”*
*
_Winston Churchill


“The secret of war lies in the communications.”*
*
_Napoleon Bonaparte


“Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in.”*
*
_Napoleon Bonaparte


“When you cannot make up your mind which of two evenly balanced courses of action you should take - choose the bolder.”*
*
_William J. Slim


"When the German artillery fired, we ducked.
When our artillery fired, the Germans ducked.
When the American artillery fired, everybody ducked!"*
*
_Unnamed British soldier


"I never worry about action, only inaction."*
*
_Winston Churchill


“War does not determine who is right - only who is left.”*
*
_Bertrand Russell


“Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result.”*
*
_Winston Churchill




cheers,
Cross

[DRG]

Originally Posted by Cross

"When the German artillery fired, we ducked.
When our artillery fired, the Germans ducked.
When the American artillery fired, everybody ducked!"*
*
_Unnamed British soldier

Cross

I have no idea where you found that one but the original doggerel involved those three nations airforces not artillery

Don

[Cross]

Originally Posted by DRG

I have no idea where you found that one but the original doggerel involved those three nations airforces not artillery

Don

With hundreds of thousands of British troops, I'd think this one got passed around, used, and deliberately adjusted for the circumstances. Or it's just a case of 'Chinese whispers' as it got passed between the units.

I often wonder at the attributions of some of these quotes. I think some quotes are really attributed to the first famous person that said it.

There's just not enough excellent quotes attributed to unknown or regular/common people, who outnumber the famous by 1000s to one.

On the other hand, there are famous people who were genuinely creative, and were a constant source brilliant quotes. Churchill being the obvious example.

cheers,
Cross

[Lt. Ketch]

Originally Posted by Cross

"There is only one principle of war and that's this: Hit the other fellow as quickly as you can, as hard as you can, where it hurts him most, when he ain't looking."*
*
_General William Slim

Terry Pratchett has Sir Samaul Vimes say in Jingo, "The important thing in fighting is to make sure the other guy doesn't get up. Everything else is just decoration. (paraphrased). If you haven't read Pratchett, you are missing a great thing in this world.

"The Americans will always do the right thing... After they've exhausted all the alternatives."”*
*
_Winston Churchill

I guess that depends on who is defining what's right. As far was we're concerned the Revolution of 1776 was right, while the Brits at the time were a little ticked off.

"When the German artillery fired, we ducked.
When our artillery fired, the Germans ducked.
When the American artillery fired, everybody ducked!"*
*
_Unnamed British soldier

I've heard the same of of hand gernades.

“War does not determine who is right - only who is left.”*
*
_Bertrand Russell

"We'll see who is right and who is dead." Name that movie! I've found that when I'm looking for the enemy, I'm either right or dead. There isn't much grey area there.

You've got a great group of quotes here, Cross. Thanks for sharing.

Two toughts, both from Russia.

I was listening to two old veterns talk about the Afgan war. One asked the other, who was in the Russian Airforce about the effect the US supplied Stinger MANPADs had on their opperations. I chimed in that I thought the Stinger was primarily against choppers (really showed my ignorance there). The airman looked at me and said

"You're flying down at them, they're aiming up at you, where are you going to go?"

I'm also currently listening to a collection of military themed songs by the Russian group "Lyube." In a song entiled "Shagom Marsh" (Forward March) there is line that I'm loosely translating

A bullet flies striaght, not turnning at all. Birds and beast don't make a sound. It flies into my leg and comes out my chest. (pause in song) OH MOTHER THAT BIRTHED ME! I CAN'T DO ANYMORE! (Then the chorus) Forward March!"

I wonder how many soldiers have felt like that before? Any russian out there that want to correct my translation, please feel free.

'Kay, I'm done.

[wulfir]

"Know thy enemy,
and know thy self"
- Sun Tzu


In war only the simple is possible. Simple plans are the surest route to the objective.
- InfR SkPlut ("Infantry manual Rifle Platoon", Swedish Army)




There is also a Finnish saying that goes something like this:

"In war games are far away"

[gila]

A couple from R.E.Lee.

At Fredericksburg when the Union sent wave after wave to attack the heights and were slaughtered.

It is good that war is so terrible,or we should grow too fond of it.

And on the night before Pickett's ill-fated attack on cemetery hill at Gettysburg.

The enemy is there, and i shall attack him there.

[gila]

What would be famous quotations without ole Blood and Guts?


GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR. QUOTATIONS
"A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week."

“A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later.”

"America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war.”

“A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood.”

“By perseverance, study, and eternal desire, any man can become great.”

“Do everything you ask of those you command.”

“Do more than is required of you.”

“Fixed fortifications are monuments to man's stupidity.”

“Good tactics can save even the worst strategy. Bad tactics will destroy even the best strategy.”

“I always believe in being prepared, even when I'm dressed in white tie and tails.”

“I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.”

“If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.”

“If I do my full duty, the rest will take care of itself.”

“In case of doubt, attack.”

“It’s the unconquerable soul of man, not the nature of the weapon he uses, that insures victory.”

“Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. ”

“Live for something rather than die for nothing.”

"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't.”

“Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men.”

“Never let the enemy pick the battle site.”

“No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair.”

“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”

“Success is how you bounce on the bottom.”

“The leader must be an actor."

“The soldier is the army.”

“There is only one type of discipline, perfect discipline.”

“War is simple, direct, and ruthless.”

“Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men.”

“You’re never beaten until you admit it.”

“You shouldn't underestimate an enemy, but it is just as fatal to overestimate him.”

"Attack rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, without rest, however tired and hungry you may be, the enemy will be more tire, more hungry. Keep punching."

"In landing operations, retreat is impossible, to surrender is as ignoble as it is foolish. above all else remember that we as attackers have the initiative, we know exactly what we are going to do, while the enemy is ignorant of our intentions and can only parry our blows. We must retain this tremendous advantage by always attacking rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, and without rest."

"An Army is a team; lives, sleeps, eats, fights as a team. This individual heroic stuff is a lot of crap."

"War is the supreme test of man in which he rises to heights never approached in any other activity."

"No sane man is unafraid in battle, but discipline produces in him a form of vicarious courage."

"A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder. if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it."

"In war the only sure defense is offense, and the efficiency of the offense depends on the warlike souls of those conducting it."

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."

"Wars might be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who leads that gains the victory."

". many, who should know better, think that wars can be decided by soulless machines, rather than by the blood and anguish of brave men."

"Tanks are new and special weapon-newer than, as special, and certainly as valuable as the airplane."

"An incessant change of means to attain unalterable ends is always going on; we must take care not to let these sundry means undue eminence in the perspective of our minds; for, since the beginning, there has been an unending cycle of them, and for each its advocates have claimed adoption as the sole solution of successful war."

"Untutored courage is useless in the face of educated bullets."

"The obvious thing for the cavalryman to do is to accept the fighting machine as a partner, and prepare to meet more fully the demands of future warfare."

"Many soldiers are led to faulty ideas of war by knowing too much about too little."