Are the French still a major world power? How would a war between them and Great Britain play out? them and Germany?them and the USA?
2007-02-13 08:42:10 · 17 answers · asked by mcc123 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Not really.
Lancslad, I'm gonna have to disagree with you here on several counts.
The total French military is about 260,000 folks.
The DeGaulle is a joke that can't even leave port (I'm exaggerating - she just participated in a great joint-arms exercise with us) - She lost her one of her props on her maiden voyage and is now using spare props from the Foch and the Clemanceau, her reactors leak like a sieve and her flight deck won't allow her Hawkeye's to operate properly (I know, I know - they supposedly fixed that). Her Rafael fighters and Super Etendard Fighter/Bombers aren't quite the equal of American or Brit weapons systems...The LeClerc tank is DEFINITELY not up to the Challenger/Leopard/Abrams standards...
You Brits have about 160,000 folks under arms.
The Germans have 250,000 folks in the Bundeswher - a lot of them conscripts.
But here's the rub - Sealift and Airlift capacity.
You Brits successfully projected YOUR military power to the far side of the world. The French had a HUGE issue trying to project ANY power to Afghanistan, or even to Banda Ach in Indonesia for the tsunami aid.
The Germans have pretty much no capability of projecting their military power beyond their own borders.
The US has over a million and a half currently under arms with another million plus available in the various reserves. We have more folks in the US Marine Corps than the entire British military has people. Our Airlift and Sealift capability is mind-boggling, as is our logistical capability. We also have experience exterminating French Air Defense Systems (Iraq).
Just due to sheer size and overall capability, the US could probably take on France, Germany, and the UK WHILE fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and still win. We'd get purty durn'd bloody doing it though. Very, VERY bloody.
The US Military is now the most combat experienced fighting force on the planet with almost all our junior officers and NCOs having combat experience as well as our line troops. We have immense logistical support and the ability to project that military power anywhere, anywhen. We could conceivably send two CVBGs and two MAUs to attack each of the three nations simultaneously and expect to win - handily. And that would only be half of our CVBG forces.
The carriers alone would bring nearly 150 fighters to the party - the entire Royal Air Force numbers only 900 or so aircraft of all types. And that's without any Marine, Air Force or Army support. We've already got the Raptor in squadron force and the Typhoon isn't online quite yet. (Thank goodness, 'cause that Typhoon would eat Eagles for lunch. I'm not sure it'd notice a Hornet at all)
Sheer numbers would be nasty to deal with.
France vs Germany? Hmm. I dunno. The Germans are outstanding tacticians and have absolutely top-shelf equipment. I'm afraid I'd have to give them the nod. The French had numbers and better quality gear in WWII and got whipped like a dog. They got obliterated in WWI. In fact, I can't find too many battles the French have every won - Although they did kill a lot of Americans coming to help them in North Africa. When was the last time the French won a battle? Wouldn't that be under that short little Corsican dude? And he ended up losing. I suppose we could count the final outcome at Verdun, but I'm not sure that's much of a victory. :-) It's telling that their most elite force is made up of non-French. Remember, these are the same folks who SERIOUSLY thought that French elan would defeat massed machine guns and didn't want to get rid of their bright red pants because it would damage that 'advantage'....
France vs the UK? That's going to be tough. The French Navy has some really oustanding Frigates and Destroyers - I'm afraid that with all the cuts in the Royal Navy and the weaknesses discovered in your Type 42's in the Falklands, I think I might give them the nod there. Plus, the RN is down to 91 ships...But I like your Trafalgar class better than the French Navy's Rubis class, and you've got more of 'em. Plus, you Brits have a STRONG naval tradition...But...Wow. This one would be a fight. I still think the French Navy might take you guys now though. If you guys pulled it off, it'd be the Trafalgars that would do it for you. Your Sea Harriers did well against Mirages and Super Etendards (non shot down) in the Falklands, but pilot quality was a huge factor there. The Argentines had some good pilots, but not quite up to the RN's standards and operating under difficult conditions.
The Germans just don't really have anything other than a littoral navy for all practical purposes. They've got some frigates but no destroyers, no cruisers, no carriers and only a few coastal submarines.
So..Final assessment....
French vs UK? Gonna be one HELL of a fight. Who's invading who? Defender wins. In an invasion, I think the Brits would damage the French more in both cases, but would be unable to 'take' France.
French vs Germans? I'm giving the nod to the Germans as Sealift/Airlift doesn't factor in here and the Germans know the route. :-)
French vs USA? Have you heard the term "Speed bumps"?
Again, the biggest factor in whether or not France is a major world power is force projection. They have A carrier. No real logistical tail, no sealift or airlift capability and their entire military isn't as many folks as we have deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They want the world to THINK they are, but the sad fact is, they're not.
The Russians learned the importance of those factors in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Side Notes: We will never forget France's invaluable aid in the Revolution (thank goodness you lot were tied up with them too!) - We remember every time we look at the Statue of Liberty. It's why we went and saved their bacon twice in WWI and in WWII.
As to who's troopers are better trained, I'll disagree with you on there being much disparity. Trooper for trooper, I think we're all pretty close, and we all train together in a lot of operations. American forces have more combat experience than anyone right now, which is an advantage, you must admit.
Orion
2007-02-13 14:55:07 · answer #1 · answered by Orion 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Sorry sport, but the British Army had a higher death toll than the Americans in Iraq. When you factor in % of forces on the ground. I belive the US military death toll was 8% and the British military death toll was 29%. The exact numbers were listed on the BBC, lol. You can't get a better source than that, lol. France has a better military and navy. And a better economy which is 20% bigger than the UK. The UK may fall big when Scotland leaves the UK. And the UK might have to store its nukes in the USA. The UK gave up its World power status when it refused to strike Syria. So france, China, Russia, and the USA are now the true World pwoers. The UK isn't even on the list. I'm sorry UK.
2016-05-24 06:31:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lets get one thing straight, Im a Brit and we have more right than anyone to have a dig at the French ( and believe me we do, we even write books on the subject ) but the French have a very powerful military, and always have. They were badly beaten in WW2 but there soldiers didnt just give up and go home, they fought on with the other allies ( French troops even liberated Paris ) but as they had no government, they fought under British, US, Canadian commanders. As for Vietnam, yeh they lost but guess what? So did you yanks, and believe me we all laugh at you for that. It actually doesnt make sense how Americans can even consider to doubt French military when you wouldnt even exist was it not for them, Britain would of destroyed you with ease but it is something many of you forget. Yes the French have a poor recent record but theres a reason for that, they spent over a 1000 years in wars with England most of which they lost but anyone else was no match for them. They were the second biggest power during the British Empire. They now have power projection ( Nuclear Aircraft carrier ), a reasonable sized military, superb special forces, the French Foreign Legion ( its better than the USMC by the way ), and a rather big say in world politics.
As for wars against Britain, they would get beat, but not with ease. The US again would win but they wouldnt be smiling about it, they would lose alot of men but against the Germans the French would obliterate the Germans.
Americans make me laugh when they think because they have all the equipment no body comes anywhere near, when infact Britain and France both have better trained soldiers than the US and the Germans are better trained to. Without the equipment the US would be nothing.
2007-02-13 13:07:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
I think it would be a short war against , the UK and US , but tell would beat germany , germany has no real big army just defense and no nukes .
probably the french would love to do that to germans
2007-02-13 09:02:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Euro Disney set off a fire works display at closing time last night, a half hour later the entire french army was at the gate demanding to surrender to Mickey Mouse.
2007-02-13 11:10:02 · answer #5 · answered by Oscarthing 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes they are a huge world power....
Them vs GB-------BLOODY WAR!!!! GB would win because of the US
Them vs Germany--------wont happen they are trting to combine their militaries
Them vs USA........the USA would win BIGTIME........do you have any Idea the amount of islamic support we would get from that. France is the biggest anti-islamic country on the planet....you cant even wear traditional islamic garments anymore......GB would help us with Poland Japan Israel Saudi Arabia, Austrailia, Canada, Mexico, and S Korea.......I saw bring it.....the French are an inch away from being a communist country
to the perso saying the French are cowards....no they are not.....the franch PEOPLE are a great people who helped create the U.S.......their government and leaders suck but htey are NOT Cowards
Also to the people thinking they have no military.......research your answers before posting stupid s h i t. France and Germany have a little plane called the EURO FIGHTER!!!!! It would eat our f14, f16, and our rapters up. we would still win the war but they would own the skies.
2007-02-13 09:09:41 · answer #6 · answered by raminrobert 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Are you joking ! france has never won a war ...lol..They usually get out of a fight and leave their allies in a bind. In world war 2 they lost to the Germany and then had the Vichy Government standing up with Germany.
They got their *** kick in Vietnam at Bein Bein Fue and we bailed them out and got stuck with the war there. We paid for 98 % of their war effort.They ran home and then were our biggest critics .
They lost in Algeria and you
know what happened at Waterloo.They also lost to the Britts in a sea battle that they were much more superior in numbers,I believe it was at Talaugfur(spelling).
You can see how well they backed the US and England in Iraq. Please don't turn your back to them.
BACK STABBERS !
2007-02-13 09:55:56 · answer #7 · answered by pretzgolf 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Those Frenchies should be given as much rights as Iranians. We would put a boot in their a** if they ever decided to mess with us. If they even go so far as to look wrong at the US, the French language will only be spoken in he11.
2007-02-13 09:41:26 · answer #8 · answered by USMC Recon 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
LMAO. The way they fought in past wars, they should just give up on a military. Stick to making wine and bread.
2007-02-13 08:51:42 · answer #9 · answered by brewer82 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
germany cant build an army anymore, its home defense just like what the japs got
French aren't a military power, they still need to keep their colonies alive just like GB
GB would win against France, but others would get involved, the U.S. would easily win against all of em
2007-02-13 08:46:21 · answer #10 · answered by Evil Man 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋