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10 Times the US was almost invaded according to this YouTube video.

Discussion in 'Military History' started by A-58, Jul 7, 2018.

  1. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    Most of these I have heard of, a few not. Interesting video.

     
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  2. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    Typical "setting the bar low" Top 10 tripe. Not to mention using s very loose definition of "almost invaded."
    To me, bombing NYC, does not constitute an invasion. Much the same goes for the whimsical Canadian plan to invade the US.

    My low expectations were met when they used a photo of the B-36 as the Nazi "Amerika Airplane"(I could have sworn it was the Amerika Bomber).

    I closed it at #6 Japan partially invaded Alaska. Paying no never mind that Alaska was not yet a State, and that other US territories such as Guam, Wake, and the Philippines had already been invaded.
     
  3. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    They also forgot the invasion at Grover's Mill.
     
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  4. KodiakBeer

    KodiakBeer Member

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  5. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    While it isn't serious history I suspect most Americans do not know half this list and everyone needs a entry level portal to history
     
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  6. Carronade

    Carronade Ace

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    As I understand it, the Canadian plan was a contingency in case of war between the USA and the British Empire, intended to delay or distract the US at the outset while Britain mustered forces to protect Canada. Small-scale raids into US territory would have been a surprise and would probably do more for them than just waiting for us to attack. He's correct that the US Army was larger than Canada's but I would disagree that it was better trained or prepared for war.

    They could have used a photo of the six-engine Ju-390. There's even a story of it flying to within sight of NYC, although that appears to have been made up by a POW trying to impress his captors.

    I'm not aware that Yamamoto ever advocated an invasion of Hawaii.

    If they are going to include bombing or rockets in the invasion category, how about the actual bombing of Oregon by an aircraft launched from a Japanese submarine, the bombardment (17 rounds of 14cm IIRC) by another sub on the West Coast, or the balloon bombs that actually killed 6 or 7 American civilians?
     
  7. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    I believe it was part of the early idea...just like it was originally a one-way-trip for the aircraft(they were to have been launched from a point beyond their ability to return to the carriers.)

    Because this top 10 was about "almost" invasions, not actual ones.
     
  8. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    The US-Canadian border offers a chance to test several scenarios. The War College would have mountains, open plains, large bodies of water and inland waterways to deal with, plus a few thousand miles of relatively open and almost completely undefended border zone. It would be like the exam from Hell for the post-docs attending that years class. Remember, the plan was written, IIRC, when we had the 18th largest army in the world and the "mission" was to deal with an 1,538 mile (2475 km) front.
     
  9. RichTO90

    RichTO90 Well-Known Member

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    Stop saying "invasion of Hawaii"! Don't you know that's like saying "Candyman" three times? Sooner or later robdab will show up and then everybody will be truly sorry...:eek::eek::eek:
     
  10. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    He's already involved in one over on the navweapons boards. Being uncharacteristically reasonable so far though. Maybe new meds...
     
  11. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    It's tough to choose which scheme (Kaiser's Invasion or Canadian Invasion) was more hare-brained.

    Logically the impossible logistics of crossing the Atlantic to 'Invade' the US by Imperial Germany is the obvious choice, but the Canadian 'terror raids' seem to be the more strategically crazy act. If we assume a Anglo-American war break outs some how it would be utter folly for Canada to launch raids to attack and burn American cities. Not because it could not work, but because it might.

    What would a US do? Concentrate the bulk of its effort on Canada. Best case scenario (for Canada) most or all of Canada's cities burned to the ground in retaliation. Worst case the US gains some 10 new states and maybe a 'New France' neighbor. The US would likely lose her handful of colonies, but that would be in US favor.
     
  12. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    If Canada bombed Buffalo we'd retaliate by bombing Detroit.
     
  13. Carronade

    Carronade Ace

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    I'm not sure this fellow's description of Canadian "terror raids" is accurate. It's been a while since I read about it, but competent military staffs have plans for all sorts of eventualities, and a Canadian officer, presumably the fellow mentioned in the video, cane up with the idea of doing something unexpected. Given the disparity in military power, most people assumed the Canadians would just try to defend against American incursions and hope that help arrived from Britain in time. This fellow's idea was to take the initiative and send fast-moving raiding forces into American territory. This would force the Americans to start by responding to the attacks and trying to drive the raiders out. AFAIK the physical damage he proposed to inflict would be destruction of bridges, railroads, and military/industrial facilities rather than wholesale vandalism which would invite retaliation.
     
  14. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    You give the man way too much credit.

    Once an arsehat, always an arsehat. The clown still has not figured out how to read, and still is only looking at the pretty pictures, continuing to misrepresent and misstate his sources...Par for his course...Still no closer to reasonable than he was during his AHF days and misrepresenting and misquoting sources.
     
  15. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    And Toronto would be rubble, of course.
     

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