View Full Version : Guiness Book of Records: Armed Forces and Defense
Oldest Weapon
The oldest weapon known is a broken wooden spear discovered by S. Hazzledine Warren in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, UK, in April 1911. This weapon surpasses the limits of carbon-14 analysis: still, it is thought that it was fabricated before 200 000 B.C.
Shortest War
The shortest war registered was fought between Great-Britain and Zanzibar (part of Tanzania nowadays), between 9hr 02min A.M. and 9hr 40min A.M. of the morning of August 27th 1896. The british fleet, commanded by Vice-Admiral (later Admiral) Sir Harry Rawson (1843-1910) delivered an ultimatum to the self-proclaimed Sultan Sa'id Khalid, ordering him to abandon the palace and surrender: that happened after 38 minutes of bombardment. Admiral Rawson received the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar (first class) from the hands of Hamud ibn Muhammad, the new Sultan.
Longest War
The longest continuous war was the Thirty-Years War, fought between 1618 and 1648 by several european countries and provoked radical changes in Europe's map. The so-called "Hundred-Years War", fought by England and France between 1338 and 1453 (115 years) was actually an irregular sucsession of conflicts and not a single, continuous war. The Christian Reconquer - a series of campaigns in Iberian Peninsula to reconquer the region from the Muslims - started in 718 and continued irregulary until 1492, when Granada, the last muslim territory, was finally conquered.
Bloodiest War
In terms of human lives, the Second World War (1939-45), was by far the bloodiest, since the total of deaths in combat and civilian deaths of all countries was calculated to be 54.8 millions, including 25 millions of russians and 7.8 millions of chinese civilians. The country that most suffered was Poland, with 6 028 000 deaths, i.e., 17,2% of its population comprised of 35 100 000 people.
In the Paraguaian War, from 1864 to 1870, against Brazil, Argentiana and Uruguay, the population of the country went from 1 400 000 to 220 000 survivors, from which only 30 000 were adult men.
Most Expensive War
The material cost of the Second World War exceeds by far that of all other wars in history put together, being evaluated in 1.5 billion of dollars. The total cost for the Soviet Union was evaluated, in May 1959, to be 2.5 billions USSR-currency, while for the United States it was calculated to be 530 000 million dollars.
In the UK's case, the cost of £34 423 million was five times bigger than that of the First World War - £6700 million - and 158,6 times bigger than that of the Boer War, 1899-1902 (£217 million).
Survivors!
Dr. William Brydon (1811-73) and two natives were the only survivors of a retreat of seven days of 13 000 soldiers and scouts, of Kabul, Afghanisthan. Dr. Brydon's horse died two days after his arrival at Jellalabad, 115 Km east, in the road to Khyber Pass, in January 13, 1842.
Biggest Invasion
The biggest invasion of military history was by land, sea and air, made by the Allies in the beaches of Normandy, France, in D Day, June 6, 1944. In the first three days, 38 convoys of 745 warships, together with 4066 troop carriers (those that unload the soldiers directly in the beach), carried 185 000 men, 20 000 vehicles and 347 mine-sweepers. The air invasion envolved 18 000 para-troopers, carried in 1087 airplanes. The 42 divisons were supported by 13 175 airplanes. In a month, 1 100 000 soldiers, 200 000 vehicles and 750 00 tons of war material were unloaded.
Bloodiest Battle
Of modern age
It's hard to compare the main battles of WW1 and WW2 due to the differences of duration. The first battle of the Somme, France, that lasted 142 days (July 1 to November 19, 1916) caused a total number of casualties calculated in more than 1,22 millions, 398 671 of which were british (57 470 only in the first day) and more than 600 000 were germans. The losses of the german army in the Eastern Front between June 22 and July 8, 1944 (17 days) totalized 350 000 deaths. The biggest number of deaths in a battle was calculated to be about 1 109 000, in the Battle of Stalingrad, USSR, that ended with the surrender of the germans, in January 31, 1943, by field-marshall Friedrich Von Paulus (1890-1957).
The soviet army lost about 650 800 soldiers, that were injuried but survived. Besides, only 1515 civilians of a population that, before the war, was comprised of more than 500 000 people, were found alive after the battle. The final push towards Berlin, by the Red Army and the battle that followed it, for the conquest of the city, between April 16 and May 2, 1945, envolved 3,5 million men, 52 000 cannons and mortars, 7750 tanks and 11 000 airplanes, from both sides.
Ancient
Modern historians don't give credit, by logistical reasons, to the numbers of casualties attributed to ancient battles - like the 250 000 men that are said to have died in the Battle of Plateia (Greeks against Persians), in 479 B.C. or the 200 000 men allegadly killed in a single day in Chalons-sur-Marne, France (Hunos against Romans), in 451 A.D. The Romans, more reliable, calculated the number of romans killed in the Battle of Canas, in 216 B.C. in 48 200. The best bet of the casualties of the opposing forces, commanded by Hannibal, points to 5700 deaths.
More to come later. Hope you like it.
Oldest Weapon
The oldest weapon known is a broken wooden spear discovered by S. Hazzledine Warren in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, UK, in April 1911. This weapon surpasses the limits of carbon-14 analysis: still, it is thought that it was fabricated before 200 000 B.C.
The people in Essex are now slightly more advanced as they've finally discovered the joys of flint arrowheads.
moughoun
07-22-2004, 10:07 PM
Oldest Weapon
The oldest weapon known is a broken wooden spear discovered by S. Hazzledine Warren in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, UK, in April 1911. This weapon surpasses the limits of carbon-14 analysis: still, it is thought that it was fabricated before 200 000 B.C.
The people in Essex are now slightly more advanced as they've finally discovered the joys of flint arrowheads.
Some part's still favour the wooden club right?
Hydro
07-23-2004, 02:13 AM
Oldest Weapon
The oldest weapon known is a broken wooden spear discovered by S. Hazzledine Warren in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, UK, in April 1911. This weapon surpasses the limits of carbon-14 analysis: still, it is thought that it was fabricated before 200 000 B.C.
The people in Essex are now slightly more advanced as they've finally discovered the joys of flint arrowheads.
Some part's still favour the wooden club right?
Yes, but they're being shunned as luddites.
I thought there was another amphibious landing that was bigger then Normandy? It occured during the second ww2 as well.
I must say: the book was written in 1995, so it's fairly accurate.
Military banquet
It's calculated that about 30 000 guests participated in a military banquet in Radewitz, Poland in August 25, 1730, organized by king Augustus II (1709-33).
Biggest Naval Battle
The biggest number of ships and aircrafts involved in a sea-air action was 231 ships and 1996 aircrafts, in the Battle of Leyte's Gulf, in the Phillipeanes. The battle went from October 22 to 27, 1944, involving 166 allied warships and 65 japanese warships. From which, 16 japanese and 6 americans were sunk. Beside the ships, participated in the battle 1280 and 716 american and japanese airplanes, respectivly. The biggest battle exclusevly naval of modern age was the Battle of Jutland, in March 31, 1916, that involved 151 warships of the British Navy against 101 german warships. The british navy lost 14 ships and 6097 men and the german fleet 11 ships and 2545 men. The biggest naval battle of the Ancient times was Salamine, Greece in Septmber of 480 B.C. It's calculated that the defeated persian fleet had 800 ships and the victorious greek fleet and it's allies had 380 ships, with the possible involvment of 200 000 men. The number of deaths in the Battle of Lepant, in October 7, 1571, was calculated to be 33 000.
Attacks with biggest range
The attacks with biggest range in the history of aviation were conducted by 7 bombers B-52G, that took-off from the Barksdale air force base, Louisiana, USA, in January 16, 1991, to launch cruise missiles against targets in Iraq, shortly after the begining of the Gulf War. Each bomber flew 22 500 km, being refueled four times during the flight, in a circum-navigation journey of about 35 hours.
Biggest evacuation
The biggest evacuation of military history was made by 1200 war and civilian ships of the Allies in Dunkirk, France from May 27 to June 4, 1940. A total of 338 226 british and french soldiers were evacuated.
Biggest Civilian Evacuation
After the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, in August 1990, the company Air India evacuated 111 711 of its countrymen that worked in Kuwait. Having started in August 13, the 488 flights took the workers back to India during a period longer than two months.
Worst Sieges
The worst siege in History lasted 880 days and was imposed by the german army to Leningrad, USSR (now St. Petersburg, Russia), between August 30, 1941 and January 27, 1944. The best bets calculate a number of deaths between 1.3 to 1.5 million of defenders and citizens. This number includes the 641 000 people that died of starvation, and the 17 000 civilians killed by bombardments. More than 150 000 projectiles and 100 000 bombs were droped into the city. The longest siege registered was that of Azotus (now Ashdod), in Israel, that, according to Herodotus, was mounted by Psamtik I of Egypt, during 29 years, from 664 to 610 B.C.
Chemical Warfare
biggest number of victims
In March 1988, 4 000 kurds were killed in Halbja, Iraq, in consequence of chemical warfare. The president Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against the kurd minority of Iraq, as a retaliation by the support that it had given to Iran during the Iran-Iraq War.
Expenses with Defense
In 1992, it was calculated that the world spent an annual average of about 1,213 000 million dollars with defense. In 1993, existed 24 567 000 regular soldiers or recruits, more 38 124 000 men in reserve, in a total of 62 691 000. In USA's budget for the 1993 fiscal year, the expenses with the defense rised to 258,87 000 million dollars. In 1993, Russia's budget atributed to the defense 8950 000 million roubles. United Kingdom's defense budget for 1993/94 was of £23,76 000 million.
Air Invasion
The biggest air invasion was the anglo-american assault of three divisions (34 000 men), near Arnhem, Holand, in September 17, 1944, with 2800 aircrafts and 1600 gliders.
Biggest Armed Forces
In 1993, China's Popular Liberation Army had a force calculated in 3 030 000 men (including army, navy and air force), with continuous reductions. The reserves that can be mobilized rise to about 1.2 million people, without counting the local militias. In 1993, the biggest army in the world is still, in numerical terms, that of China's Popular Republic, with a total force of about 2.3 million men. Before its end, the USSR had the biggest regular armed forces of the world, with 3 400 000 men in 1991. The numbers more up-to-date about the russian armed forces point to about 2 million.
More later.
Kitsune
07-23-2004, 05:55 PM
Bloodiest Battle
Of modern age
It's hard to compare the main battles of WW1 and WW2 due to the differences of duration. The first battle of the Somme, France, that lasted 142 days (July 1 to November 19, 1916) caused a total number of casualties calculated in more than 1,22 millions, 398 671 of which were british (57 470 only in the first day) and more than 600 000 were germans.
In the Somme Battle the French lost more than 200.000 men. They were fighting alongside the British. That explains why the TOTAL losses are said to be 1,22 million men.
Army
Oldest
The oldest army of the world is the Vatican's Swiss Guard, with a force of 80 to 90 men. Its definitive foundation dates from January 21, 1506. Nontheless, its origins go back to a date prior to 1400.
Navy
Biggest
In human terms, the biggest navy of the world, in 1993, is of the United States, with 693 600 men, from which 183 000 are marines.
In 1993, the british Royal Navy had 59 300 men, including the Air Fleet and Royal Marines (7250). In 1914, the Royal Navy had 542 warships, including 72 operational ships and 16 being built, which made it the biggest navy of the world back then.
Air Force
Oldest
The oldest independent air force of the world is the Royal Air Force, of England, that dates back to 1878, when the Minister of War ordered the construction of a military baloon. The ballons had been used for military observations by both sides, in the American Civil War (1861-5).
Biggest
The biggest air force ever was the United States Air Force Corps (today the United States Air Force), that, in July 1944, had 79 908 airplanes, and in March 1944, had 2 411 294 people. In 1993, the US Air Force, including the strategic missiles forces, had 450 000 men and 5900 airplanes (beside the ones in storage).
In 1993, the Royal Air Force included 81 000 men, with 38 operational squadrons.
Oldest Soldier
The oldest soldier ever was, probably, John B. Salling, of the America's Confederate States army, that was the last confirmed survivor of the American Civil War. Salling passed away in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA, in March 16, 1959, with 113 years and one day.
Youngest Recruits
The president of Equatorial Guinea, Francisco Macias Nguema (deposed in August 1979), drafted, in March 1976, all boys between the ages of 7 and 14. All the parents that refused to obey would be "arrested or shot".
Youngest Soldier
Luis Alves de Lima e Silva, Caxias Duke Marshall (August 25, 1803 - May 7, 1880), military hero and brasillian statesman, joined in 1808 his infantry regiment, with five years-old. In 1824, was promoted to captain, having being made Duke in 1869.
Fernando Inchauste Montalvo (borned in June 18, 1930), son of a major from the bolivian air force, went with his father to the battle front, in the day of his 5th birthday, during the war between Bolivia and Paraguay (1932-5). Montalvo recieved military formation and was subjected to military discipline.
Jet Aviation Ace
In the Korean War, captain Nikolai Vasilevich Sutyagin (USSR) protagnized the biggest number of victories in air battles between jet planes (21 victories).
Victories in Anti-Submarine Warfare
The highest number of german submarines put out of action by a warship, in WW2, was 15. The feat was made by the english ship "Starling" (captain Frederic John Walker, distinguished with the Order of Service, of the british navy). Under the command of captain Walker, 25 submarines were sunk, between 1941 and July 9, 1944, when he died. Between May 18 and 30, 1944, the north-american destroyer "England" sunk six japanese submarines in the Pacific.
Aces of submarines
The ultimate submarine ace, in WW2, was lieutenent Otto Kretschmer, captain of the U.23 and of the U.99, that until March 1941, sunk a destroyer and 44 merchant ships of the Allies, in a total of 266 629 tons.
In the First World War, the lieutenent-captain (later vice-admiral) Lothar van Arnauld de la Périère, of the submarines U.35 and U.139, sunk 195 warships of the Allies, in a total of 458 856 tons.
The japanese aircraft-carrier "Shinano" (59 994 tons) was the biggest target ever sunk by a submarine. This arcraft-carrier was hit by the submarine "Archerfish" (commander Joseph F. Enright, of the US Navy), in November 29, 1944.
Biggest Mutiny
In WW1, 56 french divisons, with about 650 000 men and officers, refused to obey the orders of the Western Front sector, given by general Robert Nivelle, in April 1917, after the failure of his offensive.
Fast March!
In April 21, 1991, a team of nine members of the II Squadron of the RAF Regiment, from Hullavington, Wiltshire, England, concluded the London marathon in 4 hours 33 minutes and 58 seconds (each man carried a burden that weighted a minimum of 18,1 kg, including a rifle).
In September 25, 1992, the air-pilot sergent Chris Chandler established an individual record in the Swinderby marathon, of RAF, in Swinderby, Licolnshire, England, with a burden that weighted 18,1 kg in the time of 3 hours 56 minutes and 10 seconds.
Longest March
The longest march in military history was the famous "Great March", made by the chinese communists, in 1934/5. In 368 days, 268 of which were spent marching, from October to October, this force of about 100 000 men walked 9700 km, from Ruijin, in Jiangxi, to Yan'an, in Shaanxi. Constantly attacked by the nationalistic forces of Guomindang, they arrived at Yan'an with just 8000 survivors, after having crossed 18 chains of mountains and 24 rivers.
Pandy
07-24-2004, 07:11 PM
Is there a list of world largest armies (1 China, 2 etc).
Oh well, lets see.
Army
Oldest
The oldest army of the world is the Vatican's Swiss Guard, with a force of 80 to 90 men. Its definitive foundation dates from January 21, 1506. Nontheless, its origins go back to a date prior to 1400.
Which criteria has been followed to say that?
Some facts from the Spanish Armed Forces:
Oldest Unit: Compañía de Mar de Ceuta (Established in the late 15th century)
Oldest Regiment: Regimiento de Infantería Ligera Soria nº9 (Established in 1509, claimed the oldest in the world
By the way, the Spanish Marines were established in 1537. (Royal Marines established in 1664. Dutch Royal Marines, established in 1665. U.S. Marines established in 1775). Spanish Marines are claimed the oldest in the world.
APOCALYPSE
07-25-2004, 06:56 AM
The Biggest standing Army was The Soviet Army with 5Million active duty troops and 20 Million Reservists not 3.4 mil.
Heavyest Bomb
The heavyest conventional bomb ever used was the "Grand Slam" of RAF, that weighted 9980 kg and was 7,74 m long. It was droped over the railway viaduct of Bielefled, in March 14, 1945. In 1949 the United States Air Force experimented in the dry lake of Miroc, California, USA, a bomb that weighted 19 050 kg.
The heavyest atomic bomb known was the MK 17, transported by north-american B-36 bombers, in the 50's. It weighted 19 050 kg and was 7,47 m long.
Atomic Bomb
The first atomic bomb launched by the United States against Hiroshima, Japan, at 8 hr 16 m of August 6, 1945, had an explosion power equivalent to 12,5 kilotons of TNT. With the codename "Little Boy", the bomb was 3,04 m long and weighted 4080 kg. Exploded 565 m above the town center. The most powerful termonuclear device ever experimented had a power equivalent to 57 megatons of TNT, and was detonated by the old USSR, in the Novaya Zemlya zone, at 8 hr 33 m of October 30, 1961. In August 9, 1961, Nikita Khrushchev, then president of the USSR's Politburo, declared that the Soviet Union was able to build a bomb of 100 megatons. During his visit to the ancient East Berlin, in the Eastern Germany, in January 16, 1963, he anounced that the USSR had a bomb of that kind.
Biggest Nuclear Weapons
The most powerful ICBM (inter-continental ballistic missile) is the SS-18 (Model 5), of the ancient USSR, oficially named RS-20. It is thought that it's armed with 10 MIORV (multiple independent orientation reentry vehicles), each one with 750 kilotons. The SS-18 ICBMs are located in Russia's and Kazakisthan's territories, although the latter already began to desmantle the missiles located there. The older models had a single warhead of 20 megatons. The START 2 negotiations decided to dismantle all SS-18s and all ICBMs with more than one warhead. The north-american Trident II, that carried a W-53 warhead, was evaluated in 9 megatons, although it was scrapped. So, the W-56 of 1,2 megatons, became the most powerful north-american weapon.
Biggest Conventional Explosion
The biggest use of conventional explosives was made by a team of engineers belonging to the chinese army, that exploded a mountain to allow the increase of an airport in Ahuhai, an economic development zone near Macau. In December 28, 1992, near 11 300 tons of TNT explded, after 1000 technicians spent several months preparing the explosion.
Oldest Tank
The first tank was the "Lincoln nº 1", modified so it could be converted into "Little Willie", constructed by William Foster & Co. Ltd, of Lincoln. It circulated for the first time in September 6, 1915. In Septmber 15, 1916, the tanks went into battle for the first time with the High-Caliber Cannon Corps (later the Tank Corps), in the battle of Flers-Courcelette, France. The tank Mark I "Male", armed with a pair of 3 kg cannons and 3 machine-guns, weighted 28,4 tons and had an engine of 105 horsepower, that gave it a top speed of 4,8 to 6,4 km/h.
Heavyest Tank
The heavyest tank ever constructed was the german Panzer Kampfwagen Maus II, that weighted 192 tons. In 1945, when it was still in an experimental phase, it was scrapped. The heavyest operational tank ever used by any army was the french tank Char de Rupture 2C bis, of 1922, with 75,2 tons, with a crew of 13 men. It carried an howitzer of 155 mm and was equiped with two engines of 250 horsepower, that gave it a top speed of 12 km/h. Recently, the tank with the strongest armament was the soviet T-72 with a high velocity cannon with 125 mm. The american light tank Sheriden has a cannon with 152 mm, that works like a cannon and missile launcher, although its not a conventional high speed cannon with long barrels. The british tank AVRE "Centurion" had a low speed demolition cannon with 165 mm.
Fastest Tank
The experimental american tank M1936, constructed by J. Walter Christie, was timed to a speed of 103,4 km/h, during official trials conducted in Great Britain, in 1938.
Most Produced Tank
The most produced tank was the soviet T-54/55 of which were fabricated, between 1954 and 1980, more than 50 000 units, only in USSR. Tanks of this kind were also produced in countries of the old Warsaw Pact and China.
Sayeret
07-25-2004, 04:20 PM
Interesting stuff.
In the Paraguaian War, from 1864 to 1870, against Brazil, Argentiana and Uruguay, the population of the country went from 1 400 000 to 220 000 survivors, from which only 30 000 were adult men.
Paraguay has never recovered from the war effects . . .
Virus
07-26-2004, 01:33 AM
Why put Jet Aviation Ace? Why not just... Aviation Ace...and wouldnt that be Erich Hartmann?
Largest Gun
The Schwerer Gustav measured 42.9 m long and had a crew of 1,500. The caliber was 80 cm, and the gun was used by the Germans in July 1942 in the siege of Sevastopol, USSR (now Ukraine).
Most Widely Used Firearm
The Kalashnikov AK-47, and variants thereof, has been used in over 75 wars - more than any other weapon. Over 100 million units of the AK-47 have been assembled in over 25 countries, some illegally. The gun was developed in the early 1940s by Russian designer Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashinikov. There have been numerous modernized versions of his basic design, types of which are in service with almost all ex-Communist militaries.
Longest Serving Barracks
The longest-serving barracks is believed to be the Collins Barracks, formerly the Royal Barracks, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Completed in 1704, it housed military for 290 years before being taken over by the National Museum of Ireland in 1994.
Most Labor Camp Escapes
A former Soviet citizen, Tatyana Mikhailovna Russanova, now living in Haifa, Israel, escaped from a number of Stalin's labor camps on 15 occasions, from 1943 to 1954. She was recaptured and sentenced 14 times.
Longest-Running Peacekeeping Operation
The longest-running peacekeeping mission is UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization), which has been in place since June 1948. UNTSO’s headquarters are in Jerusalem, but it maintains military observation posts throughout the region.
Largest Anti-War Rally
On February 15, 2003, anti-war rallies took place across the globe – the largest occurring in Rome, Italy, where a crowd of 3 million gathered to protest against the USA’s threat to invade Iraq. Police figures report that millions more demonstrated in nearly 600 cities worldwide: on the same day, 1.3 million rallied in Barcelona, Spain, 1 million participated in a peace march through the streets of London, UK, and 500,00 people in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, joined the biggest marches since the Vietnam War peace protests.
There, it's done. Hope you like it.
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