Beware of Greek ships bearing deadly gifts - Page 3

Heinz Niebel · 09-29-06, 04:17 PM

Funny how at one time the Italians had been the best equipted army in the world, with good leadership, and the newest, very effective tactics seen to that date ( The Roman Empire). Only to become one of the worst lead, trained, and equipted armies later. Poor Italy...

Captain_Stabbing · 09-29-06, 06:21 PM

Poor Italy? What the heck.... the only side to loose the war 2 times and still win!! Thats the kinda leadership I want!!

joea · 09-29-06, 07:37 PM

Well, as Wulfmann mentioned the Italians had some decent plane designs and IMO had some superb warships. Littorio class, some of the cruisers, the rebuilt old BBs were very nice looking if a bit light in armour. DDs decent, the light forces were actually very good and the most agressive, the MAS patrol boats and frogmen with their chariots. Subs were a bit mediocre though, big conning towers and slow divers.

Wulfmann · 09-29-06, 08:52 PM

Good points, Joea.
The light forces were not push overs and many actions showed them as good as those they fought. The DE (torpedo boat or small DD) Lupo in the Aegean stood up to half the Royal Navy winning the respect of the Brits.

The lack of radar and air cover prevented the nervous admirals from using there big ships when it mattered most.
That was partially because the Italians were solely dependant on what ever fuel the Germans would allow them to get which was not much.

The frogmen were massacred at Malta but the attack on Alexandria was brilliant and there was a similar one planned for New York before Italy surrendered.
That might have been very interesting.

The Romans were not Italians. The Italic tribes were conquered by the Romans who were Latins, BTW.
Italians are not cowards as people (tell a mafia guy he is a wimp, :rotfl: ) but their leader was a toothless bully that had no concept of organizing an efficient military and that filtered through the ranks with many officers being incompetent. That in turn does not instill respect in the ranks.

That is quiet different in today’s Italian military which I feel is very good. Without meaning any intended offense, I, however, have no confidence in the French military of today. Just my opinion.

Wulfmann

bigboywooly · 09-30-06, 05:53 AM

To quote Groundskeeper Willy

"Bonjour ya cheese eating surrender monkeys"

:rotfl: :rotfl:

bookworm_020 · 10-02-06, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

To quote Groundskeeper Willy

"Bonjour ya cheese eating surrender monkeys"

:rotfl: :rotfl:

That's right!! Willy was taking the french class. One of the best insults ever done on TV.

Biggles · 10-03-06, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

That's right!! Willy was taking the french class. One of the best insults ever done on TV.

On TV maybe, but not in the history of movies, because who can forget the french soldier in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" played by John Cleese. To give some examples:

-You don't frighten us, English pig dogs! Go and boil your bottoms you son of a silly person!

-Ah FART in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt, of elderberries!!

-I burst my pimples at you and call your door opening request a silly thing you tiny-brained wipers of other peoples bottoms!

Golden.......:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

09-29-06, 08:52 PM	#34
Wulfmann Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 1,010 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Good points, Joea. The light forces were not push overs and many actions showed them as good as those they fought. The DE (torpedo boat or small DD) Lupo in the Aegean stood up to half the Royal Navy winning the respect of the Brits. The lack of radar and air cover prevented the nervous admirals from using there big ships when it mattered most. That was partially because the Italians were solely dependant on what ever fuel the Germans would allow them to get which was not much. The frogmen were massacred at Malta but the attack on Alexandria was brilliant and there was a similar one planned for New York before Italy surrendered. That might have been very interesting. The Romans were not Italians. The Italic tribes were conquered by the Romans who were Latins, BTW. Italians are not cowards as people (tell a mafia guy he is a wimp, :rotfl: ) but their leader was a toothless bully that had no concept of organizing an efficient military and that filtered through the ranks with many officers being incompetent. That in turn does not instill respect in the ranks. That is quiet different in today’s Italian military which I feel is very good. Without meaning any intended offense, I, however, have no confidence in the French military of today. Just my opinion. Wulfmann __________________ "The right to keep and bear arms should not be infringed upon, if only to prevent tyranny in government" Thomas Jefferson,; Constitutional debates

09-30-06, 05:53 AM	#35
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	To quote Groundskeeper Willy "Bonjour ya cheese eating surrender monkeys" :rotfl: :rotfl: __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

09-29-06, 04:17 PM	#31
Heinz Niebel Swabbie Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 11 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Funny how at one time the Italians had been the best equipted army in the world, with good leadership, and the newest, very effective tactics seen to that date ( The Roman Empire). Only to become one of the worst lead, trained, and equipted armies later. Poor Italy...

09-29-06, 06:21 PM	#32
Captain_Stabbing Sailor man Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: BC Canada Posts: 49 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Poor Italy? What the heck.... the only side to loose the war 2 times and still win!! Thats the kinda leadership I want!!

09-29-06, 07:37 PM	#33
joea Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: At periscope depth in Lake Geneva Posts: 3,512 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Well, as Wulfmann mentioned the Italians had some decent plane designs and IMO had some superb warships. Littorio class, some of the cruisers, the rebuilt old BBs were very nice looking if a bit light in armour. DDs decent, the light forces were actually very good and the most agressive, the MAS patrol boats and frogmen with their chariots. Subs were a bit mediocre though, big conning towers and slow divers.