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Post by madmorgan on Mar 15, 2016 9:36:14 GMT
Good analysis. I'd add one further thing - the human capacity to scarifice. Many of the surprises to the Martian war effort is the degree to which the prey-that-stings will do very illogical things to destroy Martians. Units like the clamper tank, rough riders, and forlorn hopes are examples where human prey illogically destroys itself to destroy the foe. I've not dealt with this in the Japanese and Chinese units specifically, but ever culture has a 'beserker' element that would destroy an enemy at all costs. Perhaps this is more correctly called the human spirit. In anycase, I foresee further measures by humanity to use this morbid form of destruction, especially in nations where there is little or no hope from national genocide by Mars. Waves of planes, flying bombs is a valid example from WW2. So, waterborne, airborne, speed, and scarifice (spirit) are the keys to stopping the invansion. Gads this is more morbid than I meant it to be - more coffee.
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Post by scottwashburn on Mar 15, 2016 11:13:39 GMT
As I see it, the Martians have three major strategic weaknesses. Almost blindspots, really. First is water. Especially large bodies like the Mississippi, the Great Lakes, and the oceans. Mars is a cold, dry planet, so the utility of moving supplies and troops by water is out of contex to them. I would expect any successful offensive to involve flanking the Martians vja the Great Lakes. Memphis held out not by force of arms, but by the massive river Martians had to cross. Second is air. Flight, other than new drones, which may be a response to witnessing human flight, Martian technology is strictly *ahem* terrestrial. It doesn't get off the ground. The militarization of the vertivle dimension should take Martian High Command completely off guard. Finally, it is the wheel. The source document describes how Mars never invents the wheel. Thus they should consistently underestimate the speed in which trains, autosteamers, and flivvers can move. Light troops, mounted on wheeled vehicles with sufficient anti-tripod weapons should wreck havoc in the Martian rear areas. Thus, the strategic concept for a winning Human counter-offensive is born. Some good points. Although we've commented in the past about the fact that the Martians don't really have "rear areas" in the way human armies do. Their redoubts are (so far) impregnable and their mining and manufacturing seems to take place inside the redoubts. There are no bridges or rail lines to be blown up or poorly guarded supply dumps to attack. Raiding parties are going to find a very target-poor environment.
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Post by dawgofflanders on Mar 15, 2016 22:31:15 GMT
Excellent analysis. Our top planners in Canada (My son and I) feel that a flanking landing in upper Wisconsin or Minnesota followed by the re-opening of the Trans- Canada Railway just north is key to a North American offensive. Our local group will be gaming this out. We also feel that Canadian-American co-operation is essential to any victory (as always). My son (wants into the RCAF) feels very strongly about aircraft being a key to human success. I also really agree with the human spirit/sacrifice. Guadalcanal, Pearl Harbor, The Battle of Berlin, Kursk, Tobruk, Verdun and D-Day all show the human spirit of sacrifice. And these are against each other! Not an alien bent on the total destruction of not just you but the entire world including cats, dogs and elephants.
Kev
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Post by scottwashburn on Mar 16, 2016 0:16:48 GMT
One thing that hasn't bee talked about much is the extreme vulnerability of the far north. Canada, once you get away from the lakes regions was/is very sparsely populated and almost totally lacking in roads or railroads or navigable rivers. Now this doesn't bother the Martians at all, but it is going to make forming a defense line almost impossible for the humans. If any Martians land in central Canada, they can march east and then hug the southern shore of Hudson's Bay and get all the way to Quebec City before they would run into any resistance. Look at Google Earth and you will see that even today that whole region is almost completely empty. No roads, tiny towns and no place an army could even be supplied for long. A very difficult problem for the humans.
And that doesn't even consider the winter weather. The cold and snow won't bother the Martians at all. In fact they will probably be even more mobile once the ground is frozen and they don't have to deal with mashes and swamps like they will in the summer months. But keeping a human army in action in the winter will be close to impossible. Yes, Canada is going to have some real problems holding a line. They may end up defending pockets along the lakes and the St Lawrence.
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