If the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces were to go to war...

[sandorski]

wherever the hell they feel like?

...factories, farms, etc that would be under Army control. No matter how you cut it, the Navy eventually runs out of Supply.

 

[iGas]

Canada and Mexico would win, because the American forces would be blown to smithereens.

 

[Dominato3r]

I think you guys have to set the playing field too.

What are they fighting for?
Is America the only land mass on the planet?

 

[mafia]

Air Force.

Why?

They would fly away and let everyone fight to the death, thus being the only survivors and winning the war.

 

[pcgeek11]

USN FTW. Technically the Marines are a part of the US Navy.
Navy has better pilots than the Air Force.
The Army cannot reach the Navy, they have no sea going capability.

The Navy has superior land troops ( including the Marines ), air power, sea going capability, submarines.

Air force has air.
Army has ground.

Easy
Army has ground

 

[darkxshade]

Air Force.

Why?

They would fly away and let everyone fight to the death, thus being the only survivors and winning the war.

Ok smart guy, where do they fly to? How long can they stay airborne until they have to refuel?

 

[mafia]

Ok smart guy, where do they fly to? How long can they stay airborne until they have to refuel?

Pretty much can fly anywhere they want? C-5s would transport all the machinery required to maintain these aircraft, plus addition ammo. They have an abundant supply of refuel aircraft etc.. I'm sure Okinawa would be a good place for them to chill till the heat cools down.

 

[BeauJangles]

...factories, farms, etc that would be under Army control. No matter how you cut it, the Navy eventually runs out of Supply.

Good luck using the entire army to secure every port in the entire world.

 

[sandorski]

Good luck using the entire army to secure every port in the entire world.

Good luck to the Navy beating the Army. Unless they can get a Sub to Torpedo Colorado.

I suppose if we're going to use the whole Planet as the Battle Ground, then it's a 3 way stalemate.

Army will dominate the US Land mass
Navy will Sail off to Africa or somewhere
Air Force will Fly off to Europe or somewhere

If that's the case, then the Air Force has the best chance. They have the best Balance of Range, Speed, Firepower, and Production times to make the Navy and Army Lose due to Attrition. They'd bomb the shit out of the Army/Navy Supply lines and Equipment until only a ragtag force remains of either.

 

[irishScott]

Good luck using the entire army to secure every port in the entire world.

Which is why we need to establish a playing field. Where are they fighting and what are they fighting for? If it's the continental US: the Navy and Air Force have no staying power and the Marines don't have the numbers.

 

[Daverino]

Army. Eventually the Navy will run out of supplies and has to come ashore. The Army could just sack out in Tulsa for 5 years and win by default.

 

[Train]

If that's the case, then the Air Force has the best chance. They have the best Balance of Range, Speed, Firepower, .

Wrong, wrong wrong.

Range -- ever heard of an aircraft carrier? It means infinite range. Fixed position airfield and mid air refueling? Those only work when you have air dominace. And the Navy has just as many planes as the AF.

Speed: No advantage there.

Firepower: Navy has all the same air armaments, with a shit ton more ship bourne armaments, including missile launching subs that could torch every AF base before they even figure out where the Navy is.

 

[sandorski]

Wrong, wrong wrong.

Range -- ever heard of an aircraft carrier? It means infinite range. Fixed position airfield and mid air refueling? Those only work when you have air dominace. And the Navy has just as many planes as the AF.

Speed: No advantage there.

Firepower: Navy has all the same air armaments, with a shit ton more ship bourne armaments, including missile launching subs that could torch every AF base before they even figure out where the Navy is.

Nope. It wouldn't matter where the Navy went, the Air Force can reach it. Not only reach it, but reach it within <12 hours. Navy can't replace their Air Power, once it's gone, it's gone for good.

 

[guyver01]

Nope. It wouldn't matter where the Navy went, the Air Force can reach it.

The Air Force may be able to reach it.... but they can't do anything when they're dodging 5,000 Rounds per minute being thrown up by CIWS like:

Or Missiles being fired from these:

 

[adairusmc]

You can take the Army off the list

 

[sandorski]

The Air Force may be able to reach it.... but they can't do anything when they're dodging 5,000 Rounds per minute being thrown up by CIWS like:

Or Missiles being fired from these:

They won't need to. They're not trying to Land, just get within Range of their Ordnance.

 

[guyver01]

They won't need to. They're not trying to Land, just get within Range of their Ordnance.

you do realize that Phalanx CIWS was initially designed to shoot down missiles right?

If it was easy to attack an Aircraft carrier.. don't you think other countries would have already tried?

It isn't the Air Force that made Iraq and Afghanistan airspace owned by the US Military... it was the US Navy.

 

[sandorski]

you do realize that Phalanx CIWS was initially designed to shoot down missiles right?

If it was easy to attack an Aircraft carrier.. don't you think other countries would have already tried?

It isn't the Air Force that made Iraq and Afghanistan airspace owned by the US Military... it was the US Navy.

So a country is going to Attack an Aircraft Carrier simply because it can? I don't see a Country Attacking Ford Broncos. Is it because they are impervious to Attack?

:\D:

 

[guyver01]

I don't see a Country Attacking Ford Broncos. Is it because they are impervious to Attack?

nope. they just explode on their own... no need to attack them.

 

[sandorski]

nope. they just explode on their own... no need to attack them.

 

[sandorski]

This discussion could go on forever and really, there's only one way to find out:

Attention!

Army...Army? :awe: Army! STFU and front and center!! :awe::awe:
ahemm
Ok, Army, over there. Navy over there. Air Force, over here...GO!!!!!!

:hmm:

 

[JTsyo]

The Army is by far the most self sufficient. In a war of attrition, the army would win. You don't just kill a million people in 1 night.

Also people underestimate the power of SAMs. Modern patriot missiles are able to shoot down incoming missiles, not just aircraft.You can go ahead and launch tomahawks all day, but you're going to lose an awful lot of them to intercepts.

The army will always win the logistical war. The Marines aren't self sufficient, they don't even have a medical corps and the navy/airforce have very little ability to take and occupy territory. You can always deny an area through indirect fire, but it will always require boots on the ground direct engagement to actually take it. This won't be a quick war against the army so it all comes down to the capabilities of each unit's BSBs and MEDCOM.

I give a fully mobilized marine force a couple months without air force/navy support to run out of fuel and food.

Agree, logistics wins large wars. If the war isn't over in first 3 months, the others will start coming apart.

except F-22s and F-15s would rape the shit out of the Navy's planes. Subs would make it interesting, but still, the Air Force would destroy all the surface ships with ease and in short order.

That's what I figure too. The AF must have weapons that can take out ships from outside fighter range. Surface ships are large slow targets.

 

[Homerboy]

This may be the best thread I have ever started (if I do say so myself)

 

[Train]

Agree, logistics wins large wars. If the war isn't over in first 3 months, the others will start coming apart..

Why does everyone keep ignoring the obvious?

The Army has no planes! Without planes (or ships) your logositics sucks balls.

The Marines have heavy cargo planes, mid air refuelers, etc. They can do what the most important part of logistics is: MOVE.

 

[Train]

That's what I figure too. The AF must have weapons that can take out ships from outside fighter range. Surface ships are large slow targets.

Not really, the branch that is responsible for ship destroying missiles, is the branch with the ships. Who always gets called when they want to cruise missile someone? The Navy.

While the AF is trying to figure out where the Navy is, thier airbases are getting missiled to shit from subs and missile frigates.