Topic: Military Disaster due to lack of teamwork

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September 28th, 2005   Post 1
Fix bayonets
Milites Gregarius
 
 

Post; Military Disaster due to lack of teamwork


Has there ever been a military encounter where teamwork has not worked and resulted in the loss of a battle?

I mean teamwork as in:-

No Communication (not due to technology)
No Loyalty, Trust, co-operation
Lack of authority
Lack of devotion to the task
No understanding of task
No organisation

The action does not have to contain all of the above factors!
__________________
\"Their\'s not to make reply,
Their\'s not to reason why,
Their\'s but to do and die:
Into the valley of death
Rode the six hundred.\"
 
September 28th, 2005   Post 2
Whispering Death
Tribuni Angusticlavii
 
 
Gear

EDIT: Never mind I posted a battle that teamwork failed but the battle was still won.
 
September 28th, 2005   Post 3
Kevin
Immunes
 
 
There are probably many more, none come to my mind right away though.
 
October 1st, 2005   Post 4
Dean
Centurion
 
 
Gear

-The Russian series of defeats at the hands of the Germans after Barbarossa, (lack of... well... everything, but particularly skill)
-The defeat of the Kwantung army at the hands of the Russians, (how the tables were turned!)
The defeat of the Italians at the hands of the Ethiopians, (That was a big laugh)
-Battle of 42 Easting, (little or no communications between Iraqi units and no coordination at all)

I'll post others when they come to mind.

I am a bit surprised by Waterloo. I have always understood that it was too close to call until the Prussians showed up for the flank attack about 4 hours late. It seems to me that it was the Allies who had coordination problems. The French tactics were sound for the beginning of the Napoleonic era, but by the end of it, everyone knew what they were going to do.

Dean.
 
October 2nd, 2005   Post 5
phoenix80
Banned
 
 
Gear


Failed landing of Canadian soldiers in Diep, North of France
 
October 2nd, 2005   Post 6
Dean
Centurion
 
 
Gear

Quote:
Originally Posted by phoenix_aim54
Failed landing of Canadian soldiers in Dieppe, North of France
I have to disagree with you there. The Canadians were well prepared, ready, well armed and well supported, but in the end, it did not make a whit of difference. The Germans were dug in, had excellent well prepared defensive positions, and were able to divide the beaches and to keep them divided. In the end, it did not matter if the Canadians were well-coordinated or not, as the Germans never allowed them to move off their beaches. It was a lost cause even before the Canadians even hit the beaches, and it taught the Allies that a port could not be taken by amphibious assault. In the end, this was the lesson of Dieppe, and it may well have ensured that the Allies were successful at Normandy.

Dean.
 
October 5th, 2005   Post 7
Zucchini
Optio
 
I don't think I woud call it a failure of teamwork, but the United States Navy made significant changes in command and control after their defeat at the Battle of Tassafaronga.
 
October 5th, 2005   Post 8
Gonk
Tirones
 
Who said Waterloo? I would say Waterloo was a classic example of how allies should co-operate together. Wellington never would have defended the Mont-Saint-Jean ridge without the promise of at least one Prussian corp. All this talk of how Wellington was saved by Blucher is absolute nonsense. Wellington never would have contemplated standing at Mont St Jean without Blucher's promise of support. Wellington's tactics at Waterloo were a classic 'La maneuver sur les derrieres'. Naploleon would have been proud, if he was'nt the loser.
 
October 5th, 2005   Post 9
Gonk
Tirones
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by phoenix_aim54
Failed landing of Canadian soldiers in Diep, North of France
Not only Canadian soldiers landed.
 
October 8th, 2005   Post 10
Dean
Centurion
 
 
Gear

I knew I would think of more.
The battle of Chateauguay and of Crysler's Farm during the war of 1812.
It was supposed to be a pincer movement by the Americans with the objective being Montreal. The US militiamen suddenly remembered that they were only supposed to be called up to defend American territory, not invade other countries. So they fell back quite quickly when they realized that yes indeed, the Canadians did intend to defend their country, even though they outnumbered the defenders by 5 to 1.
The same thing happened at Queenston Heights. Some US militiamen refused to get into the boats for the same reason, even after the battle had begun. The ratio was not quite the same, however. That one was a real battle, but many US reinforcements, who could well have won the battle, refused to get into the boats to cross the Niagara river.
I like this thread. I'm sure more will come to mind.