In another now-closed thread, there was a remark about the UK army. I don't get it. When I was at Ft. Bragg, we had a lot of them come there for training. They seemed highly disciplined, and intelligent. Historically, the Brits seem a little too willing to die for their country (when there are no Australians, Canadians or New Zealanders to send which is actually politics over soldiering), but aside that, they are excellent troops from my experiences. The French are pathetic in discipline from my observations, but of course my only experience with them was during the Gulf War. Things are different in a combat zone, so maybe it was just a bad rub.
British Army Opinions?
- Thread starter kjm
- Start date
You may be refering to a post of mine. I did not make slight of the Brit soldiers, rather of the political system that has possibly put the soldiers in a dangerous situation on their home turf. I have served with UK soldiers in combat situations and have great respect for them.
Sam
Sam
George Hill
Staff Alumnus
If you had to live in the UK - wouldnt you be willing to die too?
I've served with -- and, now as a contractor, worked with -- Brits in the RN, RAF and Army. They all tend to be excellent: highly knowledgeable, well trained, extremely professional, and greatly motivated. There are very few "short timers" in their forces; officer or enlisted, armed service tends to be a lifetime career in the UK. Conversely, many of our junior officers and NCOs serve for only a brief period, never developing the expertise or professionalism associated with decades of continuously outstanding service.
The British soldiers I have met have all been very well trained and disciplined troops. However they are a bit handicapped by the weapons system their government has given them (the Enfield POS...err, I mean SA80.)
[This message has been edited by RikWriter (edited September 14, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by RikWriter (edited September 14, 2000).]
Mike Davies
New member
Well, as an ex-British soldier (10 years with the Colours, 4 with the reserve), I guess I should comment. 
I've always believed that a soldier is a soldier...most *volunteer* armies are the same in this regard. Training is the key...despite the abysmal decision to replace the L1A1 with the SA80, I would rate the training in the British Army to be amongst the best in the world. It also depends, of course, on what level of training we're talking about. The 'average' infantryman doesn't go through the same rigours as, say, a Royal Marine or a Para...and those green & red beret'd lunatics don't even get close to the training the SAS dish out.
I've seen good soldiers and bad..in more than one army.
But when the chips are down, I'd wouldn't hesitate to go into combat alongside the Brits...
..just as soon as they get new rifles..
I've always believed that a soldier is a soldier...most *volunteer* armies are the same in this regard. Training is the key...despite the abysmal decision to replace the L1A1 with the SA80, I would rate the training in the British Army to be amongst the best in the world. It also depends, of course, on what level of training we're talking about. The 'average' infantryman doesn't go through the same rigours as, say, a Royal Marine or a Para...and those green & red beret'd lunatics don't even get close to the training the SAS dish out.
I've seen good soldiers and bad..in more than one army.
But when the chips are down, I'd wouldn't hesitate to go into combat alongside the Brits...
..just as soon as they get new rifles..
The "para's" were the ones we trained with extensively. Since the Brits bought our M109 SP Howitzer, we felt obliged to purchase the British M119 (POS). The Brits came over and worked with it, but my opinion of it didn't change any. In my opinion, we had a better gun in the M102. It was a rugged beast. I would almost wager that you could drop it out of the plane with no parachutes, and the thing would operate. In the 82nd, we abused our equipment. The 119 was just too delicate, and not meant to withstand airborne ops. We destroyed many of them until we figured out the weak points, and corrected them, or made allowances. The 119 had a few hundred meters range on the 102, and it was more accurate, but not nearly as rugged. I suppose it is still in use, and by now few people remember the 102.
When I was reading about PP Mauser, there was a Brit lamenting his death, and lamenting how parliment should have paid him to come to Brittain and set up shop. The Brits have no really great gun makers except for sporting arms, and so it puts the country at risk every time the Germans get fiesty!
When I was reading about PP Mauser, there was a Brit lamenting his death, and lamenting how parliment should have paid him to come to Brittain and set up shop. The Brits have no really great gun makers except for sporting arms, and so it puts the country at risk every time the Germans get fiesty!
The only Brits I met were mechanics back in the mid '80s. They came up to San Jose from Monterey for a Land Rover car meet. They serviced the Land Rovers and were in Calif. for a multinational (US, UK, NZ & Austr) airdrop (so, for all those OWG types, all these foreign troops being here is nothing new). The Brits told me that 1 out of 4 Land Rovers will actually survive (something always give despite the chutes and packing). Nice chaps and it was fun to see a couple of Brit Army Rover.
I guess I don't have the mental agility to understand how such a large lot of semi-socialist subjects can produce such fine warriors. Mike, can you help us out? My "knowledge" of folks in the UK leads me to believe they're all soccer hooligans, punkers, or aristocratic fox hunters. All of whom seem to be quite happy with National Health and gun-control measures that would cause a second civil war here. I suppose they have their favorite stereotypes of Americans too.
Mike Davies
New member
Hutch:
Good question...difficult to answer. Your description of the British people today is fairly accurate, disgraceful as that may seem..that's why I left in 74
However, you must realize that the British Army is a different matter. The army has always been a society *outside* what is happening in the civilian world. It is a volunteer army. Guys who join the army are probably just as disgusted by what is happening over there as you are.
The British Army is still the professional army it has always been...oh, and Shin-Tao..your eyes weren't playing tricks on you...the Marines and SAS were using Armalites in Northern Ireland back in 1970. They wouldn't touch the SA80 with a barge-pole.
I didn't spend 10+ years as a soldier making a stand against Communism and Socialism, just to be forced to live under it once I left the army!
Maybe I goofed picking Canada to live in but it's not that bad. Stay tuned for a massive swing to the right in The Great White North around Christmas time...
I still maintain my indubitable right as a free man to keep arms...as do many others.
Stay vigilant...creeping Socialism is on the move in the Land of the Free, too....
Good question...difficult to answer. Your description of the British people today is fairly accurate, disgraceful as that may seem..that's why I left in 74
However, you must realize that the British Army is a different matter. The army has always been a society *outside* what is happening in the civilian world. It is a volunteer army. Guys who join the army are probably just as disgusted by what is happening over there as you are.
The British Army is still the professional army it has always been...oh, and Shin-Tao..your eyes weren't playing tricks on you...the Marines and SAS were using Armalites in Northern Ireland back in 1970. They wouldn't touch the SA80 with a barge-pole.
I didn't spend 10+ years as a soldier making a stand against Communism and Socialism, just to be forced to live under it once I left the army!
Maybe I goofed picking Canada to live in
but it's not that bad. Stay tuned for a massive swing to the right in The Great White North around Christmas time...I still maintain my indubitable right as a free man to keep arms...as do many others.
Stay vigilant...creeping Socialism is on the move in the Land of the Free, too....