SAS, Roman legionaries, Spartans and Samurai:?

Question

given a fair playing field, independent of weapons, which would be the most impressive in a test of physical fitness and adaptability?

Answer 1

I hate to break the SAS consensus, but the other three are all products of a far tougher age than the 21st Century. Life was violent, cheap and short, and lacked all the labour saving devices even the SAS take for granted, like tinned food, warm clothing and hot baths :)

The Spartans, while uncivilised by our standards, were born to a life of military hardship, with all the males undergoing military training almost from birth, while the Roman Legionaries, although they may have been conscripts, served up to 20 years, much of it engaged in hard, brutal hand-to-hand combat on the fringes of the empire. I know little of the Samurai beyond who and what they were, but again, training must have begun very early in life.

Think of the English archers from Crecy and Agincourt, whose arms were deformed by their training with the bow because of the huge strength needed to draw an English longbow.

I can't help but think that in comparison with earlier ages, even the toughest amongst us in the 21st Century are weak in comparison with earlier ages.

Answer 2

While all the answers here are very good, I feel compelled to follow the majority and go with the SAS. Their modern techniques would be applicable in any age. They are trained to survive on their own and their martial skills are superior to all with only the possible exception of the Samurai. However the Samurai were experts with the sword mostly so they were very specialised. The Romans were organised. The Spartans were hard b*st*rds. At the end of the day the SAS would win!

Answer 3

Well, the romans are a non-starter in my book. They're basic infantry and conscripts, designed to work as a team and trained for open field warfare. They did, however, march incredibly long distances, so would have a slight chance in endurance and the fact that they were stationed all over the known world says they can adapt to climates.

Tha samurai would have a fighting chance to win, as they're more highly trained (Japanese heavy infantry) and know plenty of close quarter combat styles, but they do concentrate on the sword a little too much. While very physically fit, I don't believe they would have a chance against the SAS. They were pretty sheltered for most of their existence, which leads me to believe that a climate change would be difficult to adapt to.

The SAS are higly trained in martial arts of many styles, experts at CQB (Close Quarter Battle) and have the advantage of time. Many new fighting styles have developed since the previous two "combatants" existed, and the SAS would probably know moves from many of these. They would even surprise the samurai with a few moves, I'm sure. Out of battle sceanarios they are highly trained to survive long periods of time without support and to adapt as the theatre of ops changes. they also operate all over the world and would abdapt quickly. They are incredibly fit and would have the best chance of winning.

My vote, the SAS.

Answer 4

SAS and Samurais and the Romans/Spartans are like apples and oranges..

SAS is MUCH MORE modern, and with guns.. Even if they had spears they know a lot of things the guys back then didn't know..

Samurais had complete different philosophies but I guess you can compare them to Spartans and Romans..

I would have to say Spartans, because they were trained at birth, yet the Romans have much better tactics of fighting and such. So its a mix of both.. Samurais, sorry but I can't really picture that.. =/

Answer 5

With equal weapons and numbers the Spartans. An old spartan tale tells of a boy who steals a wild dog pup from a home in his village. As the boy is leaving the owner of the home sees him and initiates a conversation/interogates the boy. The boy hides the pup in his clothes. After about 20 minutes the boy drops dead. Upon inspecting his body the man is suprised to find the pup had chewed its way into his internal organs while he stood talkin to the man showing no sign of discomfort. This is the level personal strength , (insanity?) the Spartans not only admired in their boys ,much less citizens, but actually expected. Check out the story of the Spartan 300 where 300 Spartans and a force of 1100 Greek volunteers held off a Persian army of 2 million men for days and killed thousands.

Answer 6

I'm sorry but this is a very poor question. If you took out SAS and subsituted another group from the past it would be better. Trying to compare a modern special forces unit to ancient soldiers in a physical contest is no contest.

Modern soldiers have the advantage of modern nutritional knowledge, as well as access to any kind of food they want or need to fill their requirements. The armies and soldiers of the past didnt have that luxury. Soldiers of the present also have the luxury of modern medicine and vaccinations. There is already a noticable difference between the average soldier in WWII and an average modern soldier. We are taller and heavier, thanks in part to our diets.

But if I would have to vote, I would vote for the Spartans. They were trained from birth to be soldiers. It was a pure warrior society. From the little that is known of that great culture, they were a people that embraced hardship and looked down upon any kind of weakness.

And unlike what a previous answer already given, they were not a bunch of savages. People should do a little research before they form an opinion on things.

Answer 7

Hmm... the Samurai were pretty badass. Both the SAS and the Spartans have a few screws loose, and would tie for second. The Romans were disciplined and organized but their soldiers were actually kind of scrawny because diet was so poor back then.

Answer 8

I would say SAS because modern fitness training is more sophisticated than ancient. And "adaptability" is a key word. The SAS go into all kinds of situations. The Scots and Germans both ran rings round apparently much stronger Roman legions when hills, bogs and forests were intheir favour.

Answer 9

The Special Air Service are far more highly trained than your average soldier. Physical stamina is far and away of more importance in the Field than a healthy sense of insanity (as is so often depicted on TV ) But let's face it , only fools who haven't beaten the clock tower would ask such a question. Any good squaddie could answer this question at length. But obviously You have not thought out the parameters of the question.
Location Weather conditions Climate Time of Day Hours in the Field of Operations,etc, etc,etc.
Put some real thought into Your question - then come back.

Answer 10

The Spartans would lose first. Then The Smaurai and the Leigionares fight each other while the SAS plants bombs all over the place, killing everyone else.
WINNER: The SAS