What if: US marines vs Roman legions

[Hauldren Collider]

Kitted out properly, they could go for a while. 5.56 NATO is all you'd need to outclass the Roman legions, and it's easy to carry thousands of rounds in a truck. Assuming that you have fuel to make it to Rome, you could keep your vehicles there, and just send out detachments to quell the occasional uprising. Most Romans won't mess with a crew that has modern assault rifles, much less mortars and grenades.

I think you could probably do the trick with ammo much smaller and lighter than 5.56. It just has to punch through cloth and small strips of iron.

[BlackCat]

The Roman Legion's strength was pretty much entirely their discipline. They were able to get close to the enemy by not breaking ranks when they were scared and then stabbing the baddies to death at close range. US Marines' strength lies primarily in their physical fitness, training, and equipment. Trying to compare them is nonsense.

I'm pretty sure that the romans physical fitness was just as good if not better than marines, and when it comes to close combat an experienced legionaire would kick a marines ass seriously.

[Hauldren Collider]

I severely doubt that they had anywhere near the physical capabilities of a US marine, given the advances in nutrition and physical training.

[kentonio]

I'm pretty sure that the romans physical fitness was just as good if not better than marines, and when it comes to close combat an experienced legionaire would kick a marines ass seriously.

Far, far better I'd imagine. These would be people who had spent their entire lives doing hard physical labour and living in tough conditions that make modern western lifestyles seem utterly pampered.

[Ecthy]

Hard physical labour can actually destroy a body rather than train it. It's all a matter of the right measure, so second HC.

[BlackCat]

Kitted out properly, they could go for a while. 5.56 NATO is all you'd need to outclass the Roman legions, and it's easy to carry thousands of rounds in a truck. Assuming that you have fuel to make it to Rome, you could keep your vehicles there, and just send out detachments to quell the occasional uprising. Most Romans won't mess with a crew that has modern assault rifles, much less mortars and grenades.

Controlling a million city with 2000 men ? That could be an interesting task

[Ecthy]

Once inside of Rome it'd be Mogadishu all over.

[Felch]

5.56 is pretty damn small.



From left to right it's a .22 LR, 5.56, 7.62 NATO, 7.62 WP, and 9 mm.

At first glance the three in the middle look similar, but you can clearly tell that the 5.56 is skinny. A 5.56 is really just a .22 LR that's been stretched out and boosted with more powder. It's about as small and light as you can make a bullet and still use it at ~250 meters.

[kentonio]

Hard physical labour can actually destroy a body rather than train it. It's all a matter of the right measure, so second HC.

Well as the legions managed to march across Europe and conquor most of it along the way, I reckon they probably did ok physically.

[Felch]

Controlling a million city with 2000 men ? That could be an interesting task

You'd just co-opt existing institutions. Rival generals were always taking Rome over. The Marines would be no different than Sulla or Caesar.

[Felch]

Once inside of Rome it'd be Mogadishu all over.

The Plebs would break out their AKs?

[Ecthy]

All the legions had to do to win was outperform their enemies at the time, not the marines. Would you say the improvements in nutrition and knowledge of the human body would account for nothing?

Also, being trained for long marches with heavy baggage as well as for wielding a sword and spear doesn't necessarily mean you're physically fitter than a modern soldier who has spent years on fitness. Though a direct comparison in cardio performance would be interesting.

[BlackCat]

Hard physical labour can actually destroy a body rather than train it. It's all a matter of the right measure, so second HC.

Sure, but I seriously doubt that a roman legion would be subject to hard physical labor (except in extreme situations such as building fortifications etc). It would more likely be training.

[Ecthy]

You'd just co-opt existing institutions. Rival generals were always taking Rome over. The Marines would be no different than Sulla or Caesar.

That's actually a pretty strong point. Once they won the above mentioned 1-2 battles with armor shells, the legions may even have flocked to them and they could easily have taken over the empire by clientelae.

As for the Mogadishu comparison: sticks and stones would still break their bones, no?

[Ecthy]

Sure, but I seriously doubt that a roman legion would be subject to hard physical labor (except in extreme situations such as building fortifications etc). It would more likely be training.

I was responding to the argument that hard physical labour would have steeled their bodies, which, if it was a lifetime of fieldwork, it would most likely not.