[besson3c]

What's up with war elephants? I don't even get the point of them, really...

When you are that high up and you fall off the elephant, you will be badly hurt and possibly even killed if the elephant rolls over you. When the elephants are hit they probably don't run away in a straight line like horses and ponies do. How do you get an elephant to do your bidding anyway? WIth horses and ponies you just give them sugar cubes, but where do you store all of the planters peanuts you would need to feed your elephants in the time of war? Maybe they wouldn't be very portable and therefore used more defensively where there is more storage for the peanuts?

Have any of you military types like ghporter used a war elephant before? Was the elephant obedient? Can elephants jump like horses and ponies? What are you supposed to do if your elephant is shot? Do regular bullets bother elephants?

It would seem to me that war elephants are handy because the person sitting on the war elephant would be very high up and very able to see things, but I'm just not sure about all of these other downsides. What do you think about war elephants? Also, does PETA get pissed off at there being war elephants?

[Dakar V]

[besson3c]

Are bears really used in the military like that? I always thought that they were wild and impossible to tame, except for teddy bears.

Dakar, do you like teddy bears?

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

What's up with war elephants? I don't even get the point of them, really...

When you are that high up and you fall off the elephant, you will be badly hurt and possibly even killed if the elephant rolls over you. When the elephants are hit they probably don't run away in a straight line like horses and ponies do. How do you get an elephant to do your bidding anyway? WIth horses and ponies you just give them sugar cubes, but where do you store all of the planters peanuts you would need to feed your elephants in the time of war? Maybe they wouldn't be very portable and therefore used more defensively where there is more storage for the peanuts?

Have any of you military types like ghporter used a war elephant before? Was the elephant obedient? Can elephants jump like horses and ponies? What are you supposed to do if your elephant is shot? Do regular bullets bother elephants?

It would seem to me that war elephants are handy because the person sitting on the war elephant would be very high up and very able to see things, but I'm just not sure about all of these other downsides. What do you think about war elephants? Also, does PETA get pissed off at there being war elephants?

Elephants were used primarily to break through (trample) enemy infantry lines. The typical ancient defense against cavalry charges (raised and braced spears) was pretty much useless against elephants. Elephants also provided a nice raised platform for archers. They haven't been used so much versus infantry armed with guns, for obvious reasons.

Their effect was psychological as much as it was physical. An elephant running at you at 20 mph is pretty frightening. Enemy horses unused to elephants are said to have been terrified by the smell, and panicked easily.

On the other hand, elephants are said to have panicked easily themselves, and with many friendly casualties the result. Roman infantry were taught to try to cut off the trunk to incite instant panic.

More often elephants were used in non-battle situations simply to ferry cargo.

[osiris]

I like war penguins. Mean and ferocious - yet soft and supple.
And unlike war elephants, they don't poop out baseball-size turds, which, quite frankly gets annoying if your platoon is marching behind one.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Dakar V 

IMG

I just noticed the bear statue wearing an ushanka and holding a bottle.



Edit: and that the guy in the front has a keg and a zither.

Edit2: Not a zither. I forget what those are called.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by osiris 

I like war penguins. Mean and ferocious - yet soft and supple.

And delicious.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey 

Elephants were used primarily to break through (trample) enemy infantry lines. The typical ancient defense against cavalry charges (raised and braced spears) was pretty much useless against elephants. Elephants also provided a nice raised platform for archers. They haven't been used so much versus infantry armed with guns, for obvious reasons.

Their effect was psychological as much as it was physical. An elephant running at you at 20 mph is pretty frightening. Enemy horses unused to elephants are said to have been terrified by the smell, and panicked easily.

On the other hand, elephants are said to have panicked easily themselves, and with many friendly casualties the result. Roman infantry were taught to try to cut off the trunk to incite instant panic.

More often elephants were used in non-battle situations simply to ferry cargo.

That's really interesting! Did the enemies of civilizations that used war elephants have lots of mice around to combat the elephants?

I think they should bring back elephants, just plate them with armor so that bullets don't bother them, and inject them with steroids or something so that they are fearless.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey 

And delicious.

Yes, a big plus for the troops.

[Atheist]

Originally Posted by osiris 

I like war penguins. Mean and ferocious - yet soft and supple.
And unlike war elephants, they don't poop out baseball-size turds, which, quite frankly gets annoying if your platoon is marching behind one.

Can't be a besson3c thread without a poop reference.

[besson3c]

I'm restraining myself from talking about poop because I'm trying to earn some capital from MacNN membership, as you know what capital allows - strategic pooping!

So, I'll just point out that I didn't bring up poop in this thread.

[osiris]

I'm impressed with your restraint, besson.
I just don't want to be around when you lose control though.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by Atheist 

Can't be a besson3c thread without a poop reference.

Of course.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by osiris 

I like war penguins. Mean and ferocious - yet soft and supple.
And unlike war elephants, they don't poop out baseball-size turds, which, quite frankly gets annoying if your platoon is marching behind one.

[subego]

[brassplayersrock²]

[Andrew Stephens]

Apparently the standard defence against war elephants was to set pigs alight and send them running into the elephants. They didn't like the squealing. Or the burning pig smell probably.

[Andrew Stephens]

Also, each war elephant driver was issued with a big spike to drive into the back of his elephants skull in the event the whole elephant control thing went a bit runny.

Whoa Nellie, thwack!

[Andrew Stephens]

And anyway, war elephants are powerless in the face of a well trained Battle Parrot.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens 

And anyway, war elephants are powerless in the face of a well trained Battle Parrot.

Ah, the mighty Battle Parrot. Not to be reckoned with, no sir.
Here's one getting all buff for battle:

[ort888]

Elves are the natural enemies of war elephants.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by osiris 

Ah, the mighty Battle Parrot. Not to be reckoned with, no sir.
Here's one getting all buff for battle:

Here's one shortly after battle:

[osiris]

It's just resting. Really.

[SpaceMonkey]

Battle parrots are famed for their ability to rest their enemies into submission.

[olePigeon]

I hear they can tell a really good joke.

[osiris]

But unlike War Elephant's feet, Battle Parrots and War Penguins can't be used as a table.

[SpaceMonkey]

But of course, we can't forget the mighty hamstergrenadier:

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by subego 

Edit2: Not a zither. I forget what those are called.

Balalaika, I believe.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by osiris 

But unlike War Elephant's feet, Battle Parrots and War Penguins can't be used as a table.

Or a stool.

[moonmonkey]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey 

Enemy horses unused to elephants are said to have been terrified by the smell, and panicked easily.

Thanks, this is V useful to know.

[brassplayersrock²]

dakar can use that info?

[besson3c]

For all we know Dakar might, in fact, be an elephant.

[SpaceMonkey]

Or at least smell like one.

[osiris]

We can make a table or stool out of him.
That would be cool.

[besson3c]

Then, if there were enough to go around, we could each have some of his stool samples.

[besson3c]

I think this thread would make a good story for the front page of MacNN: "MacNN members discuss whether a long time member might actually be an elephant. Read more..."

[torsoboy]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey 

But of course, we can't forget the mighty hamstergrenadier:

Is that bottom thing holding the gun his tail, or is he just showing everyone how manly he really is?

[Railroader]

"This is my rifle, this is my gun. One is for fighting, one is for fun."