View the H-War Discussion Logs by month
View the Prior Message in H-War's May 2000 logs by: [date] [author] [thread] View the Next Message in H-War's May 2000 logs by: [date] [author] [thread] Visit the H-War home page.
william.buckingham@dtn.ntl.com wrote: "Given that the real problem in Mogadishu was a lack of properly trained infantry,: poor discipline from junior leaders, arrogance based on material and technical superiority, and contempt for the military capabilities of the Somali militiamen -" The 75th Ranger Regiment is a highly trained direct action assault force. All of the officers and senior NCOs are required to attend the Ranger School, where maybe less than 20% will pass. 1/3 or 2/3 of all the men of the three battalions of the Regiment have the Ranger tab while other are in training. The discipline may be harsh, but they are highly trained. Urban warfare was a new concept and the Rangers, as well as other U.S. Army units, improvised on urban warfare with training and operations elsewhere. If you replace the U.S. Army and Somalia in your post with the British military forces in Northern Ireland, then there are similarities and differences. As in both places, political interference and domestic politics were some of the main factors for not establishing a clear policy,as well as support. Some sources reviewing the Somalia operations are: "Urban warfare: Options, problems, and the future." Daryl G. Press. _Marine Corps Gazette_. vol. 83, no. 4 (Apr 1999):pp 14-18. and "Black Hawk down: A story of modern war." _Marine Corps Gazette_. vol 83, no 4 (Apr 1999) :pp 78-81. Mike Yared
|