Well, not an evidence but something i took part in (I am from Germany so I am biased too
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
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3 Years ago we were on trainig camp in Augsburg (Southern Germany). There is quite some place to play, Mortar ranges up to 10km, MARS and LARS Ranges up to 15km and of course the never ending obstacle courses scattered throughout the training areas.
Besides that we have "Bonnstadt" there. Its an Urban Combat Training facility, in short, its a little city indeed.
In the 4 weeks we trained there we also visited Boonstadt to train there, as were US troops and British troops.
The Officers in Command agreed on a little trial. With every available unit they have to seize Bonnstadt against an enemy composed of British, American and German infantrists.
This "Enemy" team stayed together over the whole course and each unit took turns in seizing the city.
Measurements were, time to complete the mission and own casualities.
Daytime conditions, clear weather, midsummer, Infantry and Armored Vehicles only.
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Germany: 27min, 17% casualities. Its have to be said that the tactic was indeed the best, please dont count my bias in here. i see it from a proffesional view. But the German units trained there allready for 3 weeks and visited it before, so there was indeed a big factor working for them.
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British: 39min, 29% casualities. Good tactic, but wasnt realy punshed through. Bad positioning of sniper teams (I saw far better work) and too big sector groups working on single! houses.
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US: 1hour 57min, 68% casualities. What can i say, they moved in last and saw the performance of the other units. They broke the rules of Urban combat. Never, NEVER send in Tanks (M1A2s) into uncontroled streets! Never try to clear several houses at the same time...
Never walk on the fucking street and bet that all enemies are afraid of the big tank rolling alongside you.
Too many mistakes and idiot in command (i had the pleasure to talk to him, still wondering how he made it to Colonel...).
On Equipment:
All vehicles and infantry was equipped with Laser attachments to the Weapons and receptors to know when hit (Dunno how the system is called in the US, here its FLAR), but i guess you know what i mean.
The Enemy unit consisted of 60 Infantrists (20 of each Nation). Non Specs equipped with Assault Rifles and 2Hand Grenades.
5 Infantrists were equipped with AT Rocket Launchers and 5 with MGs.
This made 5 units to 10 men + 3 Sniper teams and 4 Officers in Command.
2 Marder´s and 2 Fuchs´.
US Infantry moved in with 120 men with standard equip. 2 Sinper teams.
And a grand total of 18! Armored Vehicles (10 IFVs and 6 Tanks)
British Infantry moved in with 80 men with standard equip and 3 Sinper teams. 6 IFVs.
German Infantry moved in with 80 men with standard equip and 2 Sniper teams and 4 Marder´s and 2 Fuchs´.
I dont want to dis the US Army, as i made friends there. BUT the overall tactical level is not very high and they are usually too overconfident based on their equipment (which is good. Equip i mean).
I see the biggest problem with the Military doctrine. The structure of orders is just too stiff.
Mission goal is to capture D, so you go over A then to B, wait 5 min then go to C. Then clear D and take it. Typical example, every step is allready printed.
The British and German Military doctrine is a bit more, well, openminded. Mission goal is to take D. An do as you wish as long as you take D.
Point is the Soldiers on the lower levels are allowed flexibility.
Btw, i am now 5 years in the German Army. I am trained for Deep Recon and visited Sniper School. I am serving in an Airborne division and i did my tour of duty in other countries. Btw. I was in the Enemy team. It was funny
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
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I dont want to make any point here, as i said the Man in Charge of the US troops was an idiot. But its an example how many factors can ruin any soldiers life.
Btw, you cant really compare Soldiers from different countries by their training. Its just not completely satisfactory.
You can only compare them by acual combat examples, and that is difficult at best to bring different Nations with comparable units into the same tactical battle.
The above example doesnt really count as it wasnt a real fight for life, but just a traing session.
P.S. NZ troops are indeed very good trained!