OT: Murphy's Laws of Combat

[Heydrich]

With all the trouble in the world lately, now seems as good a time as any to reprint something that has been around since World War II:

Murphy’s Laws of Combat

1.) You are not a superman.
2.) If it’s stupid, and it works, it isn’t stupid.
3.) Don’t look conspicuous – it draws fire. (That’s why aircraft carriers are called, “Bomb Magnets”.)
4.) When you pull the pin, Mr. Grenade is not your friend.
5.) When in doubt, empty your magazine.
6.) Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are.
7.) Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
8.) If your attack is going well, it’s an ambush.
9.) No plan survives the first contact with the enemy intact.
10.) A five-second grenade will burn down in three seconds.
11.) Try to look unimportant because the bad guys might be low on ammo.
12.) If you are forward of your position, the artillery will fall short.
13.) The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack.
14.) The important things are always simple.
15.) The simple things are always hard.
16.) The easy way is always mined.
17.) If you are short of everything except enemy soldiers, you are in combat.
18.) When you have secured an area, don’t forget to tell the enemy.
19.) Incoming fire has the right of way.
20.) Friendly fire – isn’t.
21.) If the enemy is in range, SO ARE YOU!
22.) No combat ready unit ever passed inspection.
23.) Beer math is: two beers times 37 men = 49 cases.
24.) Body count math is: two guerillas + one probable + two pigs = 37 enemy killed in action.
25.) Things that must go together to work, usually can’t be shipped together.
26.) Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support desperately.
27.) Anything you do can get you shot – including doing nothing.
28.) Tracers work both ways.
29.) The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
30.) Make it tough for the enemy to get in, and you can’t get out.
31.) If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will soon have more than your fair share of objectives to take.
32.) If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly.
33.) When both sides are convinced that they are about to lose, they are both right.
34.) Professional soldiers are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs.
35.) Murphy was a grunt.

[wterrell]

36. If it ain't broke.....you ain't trying hard enough.

[lugerholsterrepair]

Heydrich, If I were Defense Minister I would require this to be printed on the inside liner of every soldiers helmet. It pays to be reminded every once in awhile. First rule of a gunfight, Bring a gun. Jerry Burney

[Edward Tinker]

We did have that on more than one bulletin board in our companies.

Also;

A unloaded gun never is.

When you carry for a living and you swear the gun is unloaded before turning it in and pow, it goes off in the clearing barrel, or you see the ricochets in the all cement arms room....

[Michigan Gunner]

Here's another.

"If you need a weapon, you probably really need two."

Regards.

Lock and Load!