modern Fighting men vs Cowboys Gunslingers of the old west?

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I saw a movie where the Cowboys beat the Aliens, so I guess they would beat the special forces, too! ;)

Special forces, with modern guns, devastating firepower, while the ammo lasts (and their batteries).
Modern infantry tactics? Clearly superior when working as squads & platoons, on foot. BUT, how useful? or rather useful enough? Depends on the specific encounter, I would think.

I can imagine all kinds of situations about what would happen in a fight, but cannot (right now) imagine why they would fight.?
 
I read an interesting time travel novel many years ago that involved the Civil War. The plot was that a bunch of Apartheid (the book was published when this was still in effect) South African soldiers traveled back in time to help the South win the war. They basically brought back a bunch of AKs and rocket launchers, and the Lee led his troops to an easy victory.

The catch was that Lee and his commanding officers found the South African's secret bunker and a bunch of contemporary history books. When they saw how slavery had been portrayed in modern times Lee led a revolt against the South Africans and the Confederates beat them using their tactics and modern arms.

But in reality doesn't history demonstrate that superior weaponry turns the tide almost all of the time? And this is true when the best weapons are in the hands of regular conscripts, I can't imagine how the best we have could lose against a bunch of cowboys. Even without the communication they rely on now, that clearly wouldn't be available to them in the late 19th century.
 
But in reality doesn't history demonstrate that superior weaponry turns the tide almost all of the time?
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It didn't work that way for Germany in WWII, in the long run. You have to have ENOUGH superior weaponry and have it in the right place, and use it well.

I'd put my money on the special ops boys, not for their equipment, but for their training. And I don't mean just being in first class physical condition. A LOT of things have happened in the last 150 years in military history, and a lot of lessons have been learned. More than a few of those are in todays training, and more than a few of the guys study those kinds of things as a hobby, as well.
 
Wild west gunslingers grew up tough, having to survive wild animals and wild people from early childhood. People like Billy the Kid started their careers at an age at which today's soldier was most likely watching cartoons and playing video games. They had no electronic technology to assist them in any way, unless they needed to send a telegram. They were corrupt, and even "good guys" like Wyatt Earp were bad guys.

The toughest soldier of today never knew pain like they will experience living in a world without modern technology. It wouldn't be like being in a country without modern technology, knowing that technology is a call for air support away. They are cut off from GPS, armored vehicles, cell phones, indoor plumbing, antibiotics, etc.

At the end of the day, the second the soldiers ran out of ammo for their modern firearms they would be finished. The gunslingers could go to town and buy more ammunition; the soldiers would have to find and learn to operate 1800s weapons. In a fist fight, the gunslingers would probably just pull out one of those fifth most dangerous guns and shoot the soldier with a derringer. :eek:
 
With all due respect I disagree Patrick. An operator today grew up in the shadow of 9/11 and a constant state of war since then. They have been trained by people who fought, they have fought under circumstances that included enemy tactics and firepower that far exceeds what the old gunfighters faced.

I suspect that by the time they ran out of ammo the gunfighters would be dead or running in fear.
 
How come the good guys, in these sci fi movies, just stand there and do everything in slow motion?
Are all aliens just lousy shots?
 
I think there is a lot to be learned from sci-fi movies. For example last weekend I learned that talking apes on horseback with guns are unbeatable. So if a chimp rides up on a horse while I'm shooting at the range and asks to try my gun I'll shoot him. And yes Mods, I know that I've left myself open to liability by posting that on a public forum
 
The gunslingers would have to make headshots since the modern soldier would be wearing Kevlar and other protective gear.

There were very few old west folks nearly the physical size of a modern soldier. Hand to hand combat in a bar fight would definitely go to the advantage of the Special Ops folks.

What happens when the protective mask or put on and a CS or other more deadly gas is deployed?

How about a fight in the night with night vision devices?


There were some bad dudes back in their day, but there are also some very bad dudes in today's military.

My opinion is in a majority of the cases, the old western men would not stand a chance even without consideration of weaponry.
 
Mainah said:
I think there is a lot to be learned from sci-fi movies. For example last weekend I learned that talking apes on horseback with guns are unbeatable. So if a chimp rides up on a horse while I'm shooting at the range and asks to try my gun I'll shoot him. And yes Mods, I know that I've left myself open to liability by posting that on a public forum
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Only if the chimps have lawyers.....
 
What would happen if a group of former Special Forces / Delta Operators went back in time to the Old West during the height of the gunfighters era
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To do what?? Single mission, they would probably succeed. To change history, I don't think so. They would fade off into the background and never be heard of again. No resupply, no situational intel, no source of currency (2014 cash will draw too much attention, gold would also draw too much attention), limited or very slow transportation, extremely outnumbered by indigenous population, inability to speak the local dialect. These are all factors that preclude their ability for long term survival.

As has been said, that once their presence is known by the local population, there chances for survival will diminish on a daily basis as they will be hunted down and killed. Ranchers do not like strangers on their property, and farmers would be happy to supplement their incomes while waiting for their crops to come in by collecting the bounties that would be put on the heads of SF personnel.

This has all happened in the past, LEARN from history what works and what does not. Hell, we have problems doing this even today in Asia, South America and the Middle East even with all the tech help we have available.

Jim
 
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This thread has been wobbling all over the place, but when we to to the point of Planet of the Apes vs Cowboys vs Aliens?

That's a pretty good indication that we're officially at end of lifecycle...

Sorry, but shutting this one down.
 
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