So I remember reading somewhere about the U.S. Army and/or Marine cavalry units that had been stationed in China in the decades before WW2 began. There was a large requisition of cavalry sabers on order from the States that got lost and when it finally Did show up (to Australia while Gen. McArthur was in residence) they were found to be quite suitable as machetes, with a little modification, and were distributed to units engaged in jungle warfare during the island hopping campaign. I also remember the stories about Poland's last desperate defenses against the Nazi invasion, leading cavalry charges against tanks. Most of those were probably rumors and myth, but I wonder if any of you Real historians have interesting stories like these about actual confrontations between warring nations where the armies/navies were vastly anachronistic?:)

-Elgalad

First off, we are hardly 'real' historians... :) Except for a few students of history...

I'd read about the Polish cavalry charging the Panzers one, fr one of Vrylakas' piece of writings (somewhere), so that's quite true.

I very much doubt whether any Polish (or otherwise) cavalryman ever actually defeated/destroyed a tank, certainly not with a saber or carbine!

There are real-life examples of vastly inferior weaponry defeating tanks, witness the successful use of Molotov Cocktails vs. Soviet tanks in the Hungarian uprising of 1956. I believe Jews had similar successes in the Warsaw uprising against SS tanks, too.

Yes

The Japanese specialist tank hunter units
A Military Medal:

American M3 Gant tank (14th Army, 3rd Carabiniers) was attacked by a Japanese Officer welding a katana. The Officer jumped onto the back of the tank and ran the commander through. Then jumped down into the turret and killed the 37mm gunner.
the Loader seperated by the breach of the gun. Fired his pistol six times point blank, The Japanese officer still alive and stabed him. The loader manage to get the another pistol and fire three more times finally killing the Officer.
Neither the Driver or75mm gunner were aware and they continued to operate the tank.

This of course was in close jungle terrian.

Swords vs Tank.
score one for the sword. :eek:

Ur, do you have a source for that?

Yes

Swords vs Tank.
score one for the sword. :eek:

Interesting and impressive - but killing part of the crew still isn't destroying or disabling the tank.

Say, score a half for the sword... :lol: :lol:

First off, we are hardly 'real' historians... :) Except for a few students of history...

I'd read about the Polish cavalry charging the Panzers one, fr one of Vrylakas' piece of writings (somewhere), so that's quite true.

yes i've also heard about the Polish cavalry charging the Panzers in WWII.... that's quite famous

I guess two of the biggest tech upsets in military history were major battles as well - Shaka Zulu's uprising (I'm not so familiar with this) and Custer's Last Stand. The Battle of Little Bighorn wasnt such a great example, since many of the native Americans were using firearms, and they greatly outnumbered the 7th Cavalry.

-Elgalad

First off, we are hardly 'real' historians... :) Except for a few students of history...

I'd read about the Polish cavalry charging the Panzers one, fr one of Vrylakas' piece of writings (somewhere), so that's quite true.


I think it was an exageration-an armoured car unit with infantry.

Yes, I belive it was armored cars mostly, but I'm only working from a scenario in a WW2 simulation that I have. Still, quite the battle.

I guess two of the biggest tech upsets in military history were major battles as well - Shaka Zulu's uprising (I'm not so familiar with this) and Custer's Last Stand. The Battle of Little Bighorn wasnt such a great example, since many of the native Americans were using firearms, and they greatly outnumbered the 7th Cavalry.

-Elgalad

Little Bighorn is a perfect example because the Sioux indians had a major technological advandage over the U.S. cavalry men.

A few years ago a helicopter from the Spanish Army kept overflying a flock of sheep. The sheperd grew in anger and used his slingshot against it like David against Goliath. He had the luck to hit it in a vulnerable spot and it crashed. The helicopter wasn't very modern, I mean it wasn't an Apache or anything like that. This came out a few years ago in the spanish media and we all had a good laugh at it in Spain. Naturally the defense minister at the time was flabergasted, he he.

I guess God's RNG likes farmers...

I'm pretty sure some italian tanks were destroyed by eithiopian spearmen during the Abyssinian war in 1936-37

I'm pretty sure some italian tanks were destroyed by eithiopian spearmen during the Abyssinian war in 1936-37

Are you sure the Italians didn't just surrender when they saw the spearmen?

Are you sure the Italians didn't just surrender when they saw the spearmen?


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Actually, I recall reading a Ethiopian's post in a WW2 game forum on another site that claimed the Ethiopians did not use spears and muskets, but had modern technology like rifles and machineguns. I don't know why he said that, exactly, but anyway...

American M3 Gant tank (14th Army, 3rd Carabiniers) was attacked by a Japanese Officer welding a katana. The Officer jumped onto the back of the tank and ran the commander through. Then jumped down into the turret and killed the 37mm gunner.
the Loader seperated by the breach of the gun. Fired his pistol six times point blank, The Japanese officer still alive and stabed him. The loader manage to get the another pistol and fire three more times finally killing the Officer.


thats hands down the coolest thing ive ever heard, that samurai guy mustve had some big hairy brass ones!! :cool:

hardcore

Are you sure the Italians didn't just surrender when they saw the spearmen?

ROFL !!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Well it was a very sharp spear! :D

it was a very sharp piece of mango, wasn't it Sir? ;) :lol: Blackadder IV

Exactly my train of thought :smug:

There a quite a few documented expiots of the "Japanese Tank Hunters"
The Aussies didnt add "Wooden plank armour" to their tanks for nothing you know.

Nothing like a suicidel (and costly) banzai charge with bayonets fixed. Then shove it into the tank slits for a bit of a stabbing. (and shooting)

Often the tanks found themselves belly up a tree stumps. (Japanese anti tank fortification :D ).

Tank vs tree stump
Tree stump am win. :eek:

And there was me thinking the British "tommy" had it bad having to use a PIAT :lol:

And there was me thinking the British "tommy" had it bad having to use a PIAT :lol:

I had to look that up.... spring-loaded? Effective range 100 yards? :eek:

Might as well use a satchel charge, then... :crazyeye:

Guess the German 'Volkssturm' didn't have it so bad after all with their Panzerfausts

Only problem with the Volksturmm was that they usually didn't bother giving them anything else :crazyeye:

Only problem with the Volksturmm was that they usually didn't bother giving them anything else :crazyeye:

True enough - after all, they could always use their Panzerfausts as clubs against infantry... :lol: :lol: