Most powerful military in history?

[Ancient Grudge]

Britain.

Am i misreading the thread title or is the most powerful military in history?

Sure the U.S.A has the most powerful military today but throughout history? I think not.

 

[mortichro]

Well The Chinese hold the record now.....

 

[luiz]

The most powerful military in histroy is no doubt the american.

In terms of relative power, though, then the answer goes either to Rome or to the MOngols, in their golden years.

 

[Bigfoot]

In terms of raw firepower and total men under arms the USA would be tops. But military power is simply a tool to gain political and economic influence (like Von Klauswitz said, war is just politics by another means). So by that definition I would have to consider which nation exercised military power effectively -- that not only occupied land, but obtained lasting political and economic advantages through the exercise of power. By that definition I would have to give the nod to Great Britain, both for the scope and the duration of its influence around the world.

 

[YotoKiller]

Numerical Strength: USA. Has and had more of just about anything. Tanks, Ships, aircraft(especially massive bomber fleets)

Man Power: Hard to say. Not sure which nation had the largest army in soldiers. Between the US who I think had the largest and China who I think can muster a simular number but not for long though. Logistics is much more limiting to an army's strength than population.

And the fact that Americans are and were the ultimate logisticians of all time is far more responsible for their success than their supposed "skill" in war, which has been proven to be average and sometimes less than average.

Influence Romans or British. From a broader standpoint I would say the British but who were also heavily influenced by the Romans.

 

[Moss]

Now if this is the most powerful military in history...it's the U.S.A.

However, in terms of strongest military relative to the era they fought in...I'd have to go with Rome or Mongolia. With Rome winning out because of the pure length of time it dominated the Western World.

 

[Dark Khan]

Great Khan rules the whole world

 

[blindside]

In terms of relative power, the US, Mongols and ancient Persians.

 

[Japanrocks12]

USA definently. I mean, the USSR lost in Afghanistan. Afghanistan!

But America stalemated/lost in Vietnam. Vietnam!

 

[Japanrocks12]

Mongols due to their simple no BS, we-are-going-to-attack-and-they-are-going-to-fall policy

 

[silver 2039]

Other countries like India and Pakistan has no long ranged Ballistic missile and even though they have nuclear arsenal, they are harmless to the United States and its satellite system. India however do have ballistic submarines that could hit the United States but thats if U.S. intellegence would not pick up the enemy ship first and destroy it. In fact according to one military calculation, India's ballistic design is so far behind that even a nuclear war with the PRC would result in total destruction for the former and not a life lost for the later. Having nuclear weapon is not enough, one must also have the range, accuracy , and speed as well as coordination of the ICBMs to ensure a balance of power.

Are you kiddding me?
We have the Pirvithi a 350 km missile with a mobile launcher.
The Agni 2,500 km IMRBM can carry multiple rentry warheads and hit a signifact area of China and all of Pakistan
The Agni III 4,500 km IMRBM which can strike Beijing
Solid fueld and can be rail launched capable of a payload of a 1,000 kilograms to give you a paralle Hiroshima was 14
The Surya 12,800 km ICBM can strike the US eaisly. The status of this missile is unknown. All I know is that it is under development.
Our nuclear subs the ATV can carry the Sagrika 320 km missile it can sail into the South China sea and destry the cities of Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, Shantu, Xiamen, or Fuzhou.

 

[silver 2039]

Oh and I vote Rome the power that survived for 1,000 years longer if you consider the Byzantine Empire as part of the Roman Empire. Completley dominated the Western World.

 

[silver 2039]

The only countries that could gurantee mutual destruction with the United States is Russia. Britain and France has a chance with their highly advanced ballistic design. China's ballistic missile Ju Lang has a range of 7000 miles and could perhaps reach the eastern coast of the United States, but not destroying it. The American star war defense isn't fully developed yet and is far less accurate than claimed with merely 10 percent accuracy at destroying incoming ballistic warheads.

The Chinese also have the DF-32 12,800 km ranged missile which could eaisly strike the US. all of the East Coast and most of the cental US.
they have the Xia nuclear sub which can carry the JL1 2,700 km and JL2 8,000km ICBM's.
They also have a mobile launched 8,000km misssile.
You vastly underestimate the nuclear capabality of both China and India.

 

[Panzerking]

I can't believe the USA are leading this poll

Most powerful military in history? At the moment the USA have the most powerful military yes but if someone said it is historically the most powerful military I would question their knowledge of military history.

 

[CIVPhilzilla]

US could end the world if need be, but whether it can survive longer than the Roman Empire, we shall wait and see.

 

[Azale]

Rome easily, and they lasted unlike the Mongols. Honorable mention to the WW2 Germans for bringing Europe to its knees by itself (What about Italy you say? They were more of a liability to the Germans). Only Hitler's backstabbing of USSR followed up by him making a power grab and not listening to his generals caused the Germans to lose.

China had a point of domination, but was never truly tested like the Romans or Mongols.

 

[blackheart]

Rome easily, and they lasted unlike the Mongols. Honorable mention to the WW2 Germans for bringing Europe to its knees by itself (What about Italy you say? They were more of a liability to the Germans). Only Hitler's backstabbing of USSR followed up by him making a power grab and not listening to his generals caused the Germans to lose.

China had a point of domination, but was never truly tested like the Romans or Mongols.

The Mongols did last, actually. Just not in China. They held sway over the middle east and Russia for hundreds of years, not to considering they changed and shattered many nations.

 

[bloodofages]

US could end the world if need be, but whether it can survive longer than the Roman Empire, we shall wait and see.

Who knows 200 years from know who might have a united Earth goverment then everynation can be the strongest. But back on topic. If we are talking about right now i would say the USA. History wise i would say Rome.

 

[Himalia]

I think in its day the British Empire must be the correct choice on this poll. They are still a power to be reckoned with. But due to the fact they use to have the worlds largest Empire and the all time largest empire must count for something. It is unfair to simply compaire a modern force to an ancient one .Take the Roman empire duing here time they were unstoppable it would seem. But they couldnt stang up to even a backward modern army or today. So does that mean they would be below them ? of course not its all relative.

 

[Himalia]

US could end the world if need be, but whether it can survive longer than the Roman Empire, we shall wait and see.

So could many Nuclear powers.


Sorry for double post couldnt edit last one.