Wayne Adams
Re: WBTS Tactics!
Fri Jul 6 14:04:57 2001


Jim,

I can’t give you a detailed alternative to The Mass Infantry Assault, but it was used in the Boer War. As a mater of fact the Boers commented that the only thing that exceed the bravery of the British was their stupidity. When the British encountered a concentration of Boer troops they predictably assumed a frontal assault position, fired an artillery barrage, then charged. The Boers dug in and usually weathered the artillery shells and cut down the advancing British with their smokeless power Mausers, saddled up and rode down the road, and repeated the operation. In WWI the British lost thousands of men in a single frontal assault against German machine guns. I can’t remember the battle. Of course don’t forget Gallipoli, or the Red Chinese in Korea. It does not appear that the tactic has been abandoned.

Today’s armies are a great deal more mobile and have excellent communications, not afforded WBTS forces. However, Forrest demonstrated what could be done with a mobile force with good intelligence and never attacking when you do not have the advantage. The Boers were very mobile, as well, and the Viet Cong used this tactic very well. This was not the wisdom of the time, of the WBTS. Besides it was not very sporting, nor manly.

Good topic

Wayne Adams