Worlds most powerful army? - [Closes 24/06/07]

[DJ-Vimto]

its not the size of the army that matters, is what you can do with it.

despite being terribly underfunded by our government, i think that the british army is probably the best

[le harry]

Russia is the most powerful imo

[Jazza]

Well as the American army have a combined IQ of less than then IQ of Stephen fry its definately not them. I'd say British for tactics as we've had armies before America was discovered but probably Korea as they are well motivated (fight or have your families killed )

[DiscoPat]

Which country on the planet has the most powerful armed forces? It's not a matter of numbers, although that's a major factor. It's more a matter of other things that are not often discussed.

By size (number of troops), the top ten nations looks like this;

China
United States
India
Korea, North
Russia
Korea, South
Pakistan
Israel
Turkey
Iran

But anyone who has studied military history knows that the number of troops is a misleading measure. There are several factors that make the troops of one army more effective than others. The most obvious modifying factor is weapons and equipment (quantity and quality). Closely related to this are the “combat support” elements. The most important of these are logistics (being able to move troops, and their supplies, long distances and in a timely manner) and maintenance (keeping things in repair and running under all conditions.) Then there are the intangibles (like leadership, training and the most intangible item of all; military tradition.) Apply all of those to the raw number of troops and you get different number. This number is called "combat power."

Top Ten By Combat Power

United States
China
Israel
India
Russia
Korea, South
Korea, North
United Kingdom
Turkey
Pakistan

The most unusual entry here is Israel. But this is because Israel is one of the few nations to have a reserve army that can be mobilized for action more quickly than most countries can get their active duties into shape for combat. The mobilized Israeli armed forces number over half a million troops. In addition, the Israelis have world class equipment and weapons, as well as exceptional intangibles. The downsize of this is that mobilizing its armed forces also cripples the Israeli economy. Under these conditions, Israel must conduct a war that ends within a few months. After that, supplying the armed forces becomes difficult and actual combat power begins to decline.

The other nations in the top ten have large armed forces that are well equipped and trained, at least compared to most nations farther down on the list. Britain’s armed forces, like Israel’s, are better equipped, trained and more experienced than most. Turkey benefits from having a strong military tradition and excellent leadership at the small unit level, as well as good combat training.

Overall, the U.S. combat power is about three times that of second place China, and ten times that of tenth place Pakistan. But another modifying factor is how you plan to use that combat power. Wars are not fought in a vacuum, but in places that often inconvenient places for one side. Most armed forces are optimized for fighting on their own borders; for defending the homeland. Only the United States is capable of quickly moving lots of combat power to anywhere on the planet. Moreover, given a few months, the United States can put enough combat power just about anywhere, and become the major military force in that neighborhood. Countries like Britain and France can move some forces to just about anywhere on the planet. But no one can put forces anywhere quite like the United States.

For most nations with powerful armed forces, it's mainly a matter of having the most formidable military force in the neighborhood.


http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/2004617.asp

[Jordy]

despite being terribly underfunded by our government,

It's not underfunded at all. It's just we don't spend as much as other countries in comparison and they could do with a lot more money, but it still gets hell loads.

[Titch]

Well britain still have the biggest and most offisant navy in the world by far as we our study it for geography thats how i know, but people rise russia have biggest army giving the average 1/5 plp in rurssia being in army and 1/8 for USA and 1/11 for UK.

well, this is what our geography teacher says, duno if hes rite, he is rite bout navy tho.

[velocity]

this is a stupid debate, nobodys going to find an answer, and to discuss something like this seems pathetic.

[Wootzeh]

The French!

[cocaine]

this is a stupid debate, nobodys going to find an answer, and to discuss something like this seems pathetic.

debates usually dont have an answer.. lmao.

[Nixt]

Its whoever has the most personnel. :S

Not necessarily, the Chinese army are obviously biggest due to their population however it does not make them the most powerful. It is all dependent, as DiscoPat said above, on the skills and training of the army in question. Although size is indeed a big part the other factors are far more influential.
Another thing is where the war is fought. Modern warfare is fought in an increasingly guerilla style so armies are training for this but ultimately different countries train in different ways. Hypothetical situation; the Americans go and fight a guerilla war in the Congo, in an attempt to peacekeep (lol I know it would never happen. Peace and Americans?!), the people fighting the way in the Congo may not match the skill and superiority of the Americans however they are familiar with the jungle and are used to fighting there - the Americans are not. It's like the Vietnam war; the Americans were far superior to the Vietcong in terms of how powerful their army were and yet despite all their tactics, they still did not fulfill their aim of containing Communism.