Author Topic: Combat psychology (Read 659 times)

davidpt40 · « **on:** March 18, 2003, 01:38:34 PM »

I read in some book a few years ago that during World War II, only 10-20% of U.S. troops fired their weapons in combat. In order to alleviate this problem, the U.S. military started training its troops to shoot at human shaped targets in training. By Vietnam 90%+ U.S. troops were firing their weapons in combat.

Anyone ever hear of this phenomenon?

Mini D · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2003, 01:42:14 PM »

Don't think you can draw a correlation between the two.

Millions of troops with a spread out enemy... fewer % fire weapons.

Fewer troops with a massive enemy... larger % fires weapons.

BTW... about 1 in every 100,000 rounds fired in Vietnam hit something.

MiniD

Hortlund · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2003, 01:42:36 PM »

If I remember correctly it was a study during the Vietnam war. Something like this: In a firefight, 1 in 10 soldiers aims and fires his weapon at the enemy, 2 in 10 fires their weapon in the general direction of the enemy, 5 in 10 hugs the ground and wont fire unless specifically told to, and the remaining 2 in 10 will hug the ground and not fire their weapon at all.

I might be off on the percentages but I think it was something like that.

davidpt40 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2003, 01:44:19 PM »

I don't have the book on me, believe it was either "Dirty little secrets of World War II", or "Dirty little secrets of Vietnam", but I don't think it was counting troops who werent in combat situations.

Hortlund · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2003, 01:45:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mini D
Don't think you can draw a correlation between the two.

Millions of troops with a spread out enemy... fewer % fire weapons.

Fewer troops with a massive enemy... larger % fires weapons.

BTW... about 1 in every 100,000 rounds fired in Vietnam hit something.

MiniD

actually it was worse.

In WWI, the ratio was 10 000 bullets/enemy casualty

In WWII it was 100 000 bullets/enemy casualty

In Vietnam it was up to 1 000 000 bullets/enemy casualty

There were occations where firebases thought they were under attack and spent most of the night shooting full auto into the jungle.

davidpt40 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2003, 01:50:05 PM »

I know that it took an average of 200 pounds of lead to hit someone in the Civil War.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2003, 02:14:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mini D
BTW... about 1 in every 100,000 rounds fired in Vietnam hit something.

MiniD

roadkillt...every round hit something. Mother earth was there to stop them.

Eaglecz · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2003, 02:28:46 PM »

but they do not count trees Rip

Ripsnort · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2003, 02:36:14 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Eaglecz
but they do not count trees Rip

No kidding!?

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2003, 03:12:57 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
No kidding!?

What about VC trees?

Pongo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 18, 2003, 03:32:00 PM »

Its as much about combat vision and situational awareness as it is about combat psychology. Experiance lets you know where to look. What to look for. when to shoot. When to wait..
Saying that only 10% of guys shot at the enemy isnt like saying that only 10% of the people where willing or capable of effectivly engaging the enemy.
This becomes realy important in a situation agianst an outnumbered and capable enemy. They dont give you opertunities.
But that being said. Not all soldiers are created equal. Some have more initiative and better situational awareness. Things you cant really drill into a soldier.

funkedup · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2003, 03:40:19 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Saurdaukar
What about VC trees?

Yep those weren't trees, they were "suspected truck parks".

Martlet · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2003, 03:42:19 PM »

Noone knows how you are going to react when fingers start snapping by your ears.

The extreme majority of people I've served with behaved exactly as they were supposed to. I can count on one hand the number of people I've seen in combat that didn't perform their duty. Of those, only one turned into a blubbering idiot.

Some people just aren't cut out for it. It doesn't make them cowards. It makes them human.

rc51 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2003, 04:30:01 PM »

Being as most if not all of you have never seen combat I doubt you even know what you speak of.

Martlet · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2003, 04:32:19 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by rc51
Being as most if not all of you have never seen combat I doubt you even know what you speak of.

I'm hoping you aren't referring to me. If you care to learn a little history about the experiences I draw from, drop me a PM.