This board is home to dozens of different viewpoints and denizons from across the globe. We all share a love of star wars but nearly everything else that makes us unique separates us a group. I have thus seized upon said theory to pose a question for my own amusement and enlightenment.

" What unit - regardless of size - throughout time has held your interest? What has been a point of fascination? What are their strengths, weaknesses, glorious moments?"

I would ask all to refrain from chosing a particular nation - unless one was to say Roman Legions because there are scant few who know the difference from the XLIII Legion and the Praetorian Guard. (((Platoons up to full Armies/Army Groups can be submitted)))


My choices:

Deutsches Afrikakorps - Formed as an expeditionary unit to pay lip-service to Mussilini's dreams of empire, the unit astounded the world and engaged in a battle of maneuver that was the heaven to any tankist. Throughout three years of operation, not one atrocity was attributed to its banner and indeed it espoused the form of a gentleman's war. From begingg to end it served with grace dignity and amazing victory.

First Pacific Squadron Commanded by Rear admiral Zinovy Petrovich Rozhestvensky, it began as a rotten collection of warships with undertrained crews and laggard warships. Over a fourteen thousand-mile journey it suffered extremely but remained loyal to the dominating personna of its commander - only to perish gloriously under Japanese Guns at Tsushima.

87th and 88th Division, Chinese Army These were the only two coherent units to prove themselves truly masters of the martial arts during the early part of the Sino-Japanese War in the 30s. They were trained by German officers and thusly likewise supplied and fought vigorously to deny Shanghai to the Japanese. Though the Japanese took the city, there was an indellible spirit possessed of the units that last until they fled to Taiwan. In wa world of disparat warlord-run elements and political maneuvering, they stand out as professionals.

American Battleship Oregon At the start of the Spanish-Ami war, it was called to Florida from its port in Washington State - the Suez Canal was not yet built and had to jounrey some ten thousand miles making record time and all the while shadowed by Spanish torpedo boats. Her odessy around the Cape and up South America is a shining point in American naval history.

The various Canadian Corps of WWI and WWII - Far too many to list, but we 'peace-loving Canukers' proved ourself twice over with our skills and dedication as shock troops. From Vimy Ridge (where I had a Great Great Uncle who fell in combat), to the beaches of Normandy, we were doing our best.

Rommel's Desert Korps - Rommel's unstoppable machine that the only thing that stopped it was it's own success. By their great number of victories, Rommel spread his forces too thin and it was the only thing to stop his forces that, if given support that was too busy in Eurpoe, would've secured the Africa Campaign for Hitler and give the buffer needed for the southern front.

Praetorian Guard - The elite of Rome, dedicated to the defense of the Italian peninsula. They stood the longest against the various barbarians hordes that tore apart the corrupted Roman empire.

German Battleship, Bismark - Though a poor tactical decision undid the Bismark in the end, until it had turned about to face the bombers it proved itself deadly by taking out the HMS Hood (the British flag ship) in the first barrage. And still stood it's ground against a set of britsh cruisers dedicated to destroying it. I personally enjoy to believe the crew scuttled it to avoid it getting into British hands.

Lest I forget the German High Seas Fleet - Hoch-see Flotte. At Jutland it performed well, destroying more ships and killing more men than it lost of its own, but that is not the reason for its induction - after surrendering and being interned at Scapa Flow, every ship from battleship to destroyer was scuttled - to prevent it from falling without a fight into British hands.

The Army of Northern Virginia - The most well known Confederate Army during the American Civil War. The army was made up of men from all around C.S.A. The army was usually outnumbered in battle but overcame that and won many times. At the end of the war, the army surrendered with dignity.

The 3rd Armored Division - "The Spearhead" of the U.S. army. This divison led the way during many battles in World War Two.

Oh, and I nearly forgot....

The Knights Templar - The greatest of the Crusaders. Mighty lords of battle who surrendered their fortress with dignity to overwhelming Islamic forces, and took forth their wealth back to Europe to establish the banking system we know (and hate) to this day.

Rogue Squadron, for spear-heading a number of vital rebel ops without whose skilled piloting the rebellion may well have been destroyed.

Oh, we're talking history? In that case, no idea. I'm vaguely aware that people fight wars, and the injustice of said wars.

Ditto.

This thread is not to discuss the merits of war itself but the units and formations that have fought them, regardless of allegiance.

Kido Butai, the Japanese Carrier Striking Force of WW2. For the first six months of WW2 it ranged across the Pacific, from the attack on Pearl Harbour, to the sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse, to the raids into the Indian Ocean that annihilated units of the Royal Navy. Even after losing 2/3rds of their original carriers at Midway, this unit was still the frontline of many battles, their pilots still shooting down many American and British airmen and sinking ships. And in the end, berefit of Aircraft, the Carriers sacraficed themselves as successful decoys, to lure Halsey away from the Philippines, so that the Japanese Battleline had a chance to disrupt the landings.

German Raider Emden. Kicked ass in WW1, sank many ships, made daring raids on British ports. Eventually hunted down and sunk by the Australian cruiser Sydney.

The Knights Templar - The greatest of the Crusaders. Mighty lords of battle who surrendered their fortress with dignity to overwhelming Islamic forces, and took forth their wealth back to Europe to establish the banking system we know (and hate) to this day.

I would hardly call any Crusaders "great", although I suppose these were some of the nicer ones. Note the Templars are not so great because of their actions as the mystery placed upon them by legends and, later, Hollywood.

And I don't believe they had much to do with the surrender of Jerusalem (unless you are referring to something else). For more on the Crusades, you can check here, here and here. Those should be fairly helpful.


As for my favourite unit? Well, I suppose I've always had a place in my heart for 7th Armoured Division - also known as the "Desert Rats." These are the people who battled Telan and Irtar's Afrika Korps. For more info, check here and here.