Whats the best type of soldier ever

[holiday_hawk]

Me and my history teacher were talking about this on one day, and i just bumped into him today and thought of it again. What was the best type of soldier ever, it may be truly impossible to compare two different types of troops from different ages but if you put the time there were around and what they did together then you can get a decent idea. Was it the Greek Hoplite, the Roman Legionary, the German Panzer, the Persian Immortals, the American Marine, the list could go on forever which is exactly why i didn't do a poll and me and my history teacher never really got to a clear cut agreement so I'll ask you guys what was the best ever.

 

[Old Dog]

In terms of pure soldiery, it would definitely have to be somewhere in the Far East, before the Industrial Age began. I'm leaning towards China or Japan. Pretty close call, but personally I'd say Japan. That's where you'd find the (highest concentration of) best overall 'troops', I'd say. They had it down to a science... an art... a lifestyle -- better than anyone else. And yes, even the Spartans.

Nobody makes swords like Japan, same goes for soldiers. And once upon a time, that was the entire meaning of life, for many of them. Thus, they took it pretty far...

 

[scy12]

The more effective killers. That means modern soldiers.

 

[Old Dog]

The more effective killers. That means modern soldiers.

OK then, a pilot flying an aircraft laden with a thermonuclear weapon FTW. /thread

But in terms of... 'the men' (AKA 'the soldiers'), that's what I meant, before.

 

[holiday_hawk]

The more effective killers. That means modern soldiers.

You've got to think of what kind of world the soldier was in, if you compare a samurai with an arqubuster (early European gunpowder soldier, i think thats how you spell it)the arqubuster is a more effective killer since he has a musket but the actual better soldier who would do better fighting and killing during a war at his own time would be the sammy.

 

[Cutlass]

I think that when the Roman Legions were at their best, that's about as good as it ever got. They would march all day, build a competent fort to spend the night in, build a bridge across a river the next day, stand up to anyone with tactics and training that allowed maximum power against any enemy of their day.

 

[holiday_hawk]

I think that when the Roman Legions were at their best, that's about as good as it ever got. They would march all day, build a competent fort to spend the night in, build a bridge across a river the next day, stand up to anyone with tactics and training that allowed maximum power against any enemy of their day.

Thats who i was saying, because not only would they very easily conquer a territory, but then they would also become very good builders being able to build forts and anything else needed very quickly. Not only that but they were also very well equipped and theres a surplus of good Roman military leaders so they were always led by the best.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Was it the Greek Hoplite,

The Phalangite was arguably better than the Hoplitai.

the Roman Legionary,

Pre or Post-Marian reforms? And then, are you including Limitanei, or is that only Comitatenses?

the German Panzer,

Surely you meant Panzer Grenadier by that.

the Persian Immortals,

They weren't really the best soldiers in the world, they were simply some of the most famous. Still elite troops, though.

the American Marine, the list could go on forever which is exactly why i didn't do a poll and me and my history teacher never really got to a clear cut agreement so I'll ask you guys what was the best ever.

Well you have to remember that you cannot compare things like legionaries to United States Marines to Redcoats to Beoduin, each is in its own element. Perhaps you can measure how they fared against other soldiers of their day, and attempt to decide which was the most dominating relative to its timeframe, but to establish a "best soldier ever" would be completely subjective in the end.

Here are my nominees from various eras.

Ancient - Assyrian Charioteers
Archaic - Iron weapon-wielding Sea Peoples
Classical - The Sacred Band of Thebes, or Spartates Hoplitai
Hellenistic - Pezhetairoi
Roman Republic/Empire - the post-Marian Comitatenses
"Dark Ages" after 476AD - Mohammad's Ansar warriors
Middle Ages - Mongol Cavalryman
early Gunpowder Era - Janissary Corps
"Age of Imperialism" - Prussian Fusilier
WWI - I'm not qualified to make this call
WWII - certainly the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler and Das Reich divisions of the Waffen-SS
Postwar - United States Marine

These are of course my own suggestions, quite without elaboration; should it be requested, I would be happy to expatiate copiously.

EDIT: I'm also aware of my ignorance of Eastern and pre-Columbian American styles of warfare, and how Western-biased this list is.

 

[Warman17]

Solid Snake. Topic over.

 

[Tee Kay]

An Aztec with nuke

 

[Fifty]

on topic: I have no idea, and I think "what/who is the greatest x" threads are boooooooring.

The Phalangite was arguably better than the Hoplitai.

Pre or Post-Marian reforms? And then, are you including Limitanei, or is that only Comitatenses?

Surely you meant Panzer Grenadier by that.

This part of your post could be renamed "Cheezy tries to impress everyone with the historical proper names he knows".

Spoiler mean version :

This part of your post could be renamed "Cheezy tries to impress everyone with the historical proper names he knows".

 

[nonconformist]

WWII - certainly the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler and Das Reich divisions of the Waffen-SS

LSSAH and 2nd SS weren't that good, especially post Normandy. The true German elite troops were the Fallschirmjager, the U-boat fleet, and Panzer Lehr.

 

[Steph]

For WWII, I'd rate the Finnish ski troups (sissi?) quite high.

 

[nonconformist]

For WWII, I'd rate the Finnish ski troups (sissi?) quite high.

Or the SAS, the Rangers, the Brandenburgers etc.

 

[Shaihulud]

Those spartan soldiers in 300 were mean. I know they were fictional and dramatized, but they were pretty cool to have stopped the large Persian army. Alexander and Hannibal armies were top notched too, I know they were inspired generals, but they faced big odds and win. Best in my opinion is not just the most expensive, or we would choose the soldier who can potentially inflict the greatest casualty (button pusher) best is the most flexible, cost effective all rounded soldier. All these qualities are found in the modern infantry warrior.

 

[jono256]

Pure but interesting speculation on European Knight vs. Japanese Samurai.
http://www.thehaca.com/essays/knightvs.htm

Other than that, every period had a one or several unequaled troop type, like the roman legion, Napoleonic artillery or british infantry line, Great Khan cavalry, 100 year war longbowmen, German Panzer division, US Navy supercarriers, Swiss/German Pike infantry...

 

[Steph]

Another interesting debate would be to try to find what was the worse type of soldier ever.

 

[scy12]

I guess the one who died instantly from deceases due to no medication provided.

 

[Steph]

I guess the one who died instantly from deceases due to no medication provided.

It has little to do with the quality of the soldier, but of the medical services.

 

[nonconformist]

I have no idea why people are saying US Marines for modern times...

Marines, in comparison to the SAS, Delta, Spetsnaz, Seal Team 6, are by far the juniors.