Role of Enfield in 1857 First war of Independence

[TwoRivers]

Shooter: Would love to see that article explaining Napoleon's loss in Russia, because, frankly, b.s. does not get any deeper.

[shooter]

Would love to see that article explaining Napoleon's loss in Russia, because, frankly, b.s. does not get any deeper

I hope everyone got the sarcasm.

I read it in a 'science book/magazine' long ago.

[Sakobav]

winnie et al

Corrected the Lee thing --- its just a habit to mesh these two Lee Enfield tigether and in the process jumped a huge span of time and innovations.

Aim wasnt to start the debate on causes or reasons of any war just to discuss the weapons of that era and their impact.

Cheers

[prashantsingh]

I read an article which stated that the reason napolean lost the war with russians was because the tin being produced in france was of a particular crystalline structure which became brittle at minus something temperature.So when they entered russia, the armour just fell off and hence lost.

.

That's another interesting aspect though the main reason was the harsh winter. Everything from combat to supplies becomes so much more difficult in the severe cold. In such a situation the army is not just fighting the enemy but also the weather. In the highest battlefield on earth "Siachen" more men die due to cold than fighting the enemy. Ironically Hitler made the same mistake much much later during the 2nd WW.
The timing of war is very important. There is a story about the '71 war which goes something like this.
Mrs Indira Gandhi was fed up with the influx of migrants from East Pakistan and summoned for the (then) chief Gen Manekshaw, to plan an attack (a few months earlier). She called for a meeting and told him the she wanted immediate action. After she had finished she asked the Gen to give his opinion. The Gen assured her Defeat. He explained to her that the coming monsoon would make advance impossible. It would be difficult to move the armoured and arty to support the advancing foot soldiers due to the heavy rains and slush. Asked her to postpone the War.