What if: US marines vs Roman legions

[Al B. Sure!]

I believe in ancient times, the oil used for things like pitch was acquired when it just seeped up from the ground or into wells.

[ZEE]

i believe in the ancient times too, bro

[N35t0r]

Well, the Byzantines were able to deploy pitch/oil weapons (greek fire, which most mordern scholars believe was based on oil) a handful of centuries later, and there were natural wells somewhere on the Ionian islands IIRC.

[Lorizael]

i believe in the ancient times too, bro

I believe in a thing called love.

[Felch]

How hard would it be to get rudimentary drilling going on? I'm curious about how 19th century wells operated, or were those more advanced than you might think?

[The Mad Monk]

You can't run a diesel on love.

Only a hadoken can do that.

[Tupac Shakur]

What pretend? All you have to do is strain out any solids, and you're done.

This is factually inaccurate.

[The Mad Monk]

My information is probably incomplete, but haven't people driven cross country on fast food frying oil?

[molly bloom]

Anyone who controlled distillation technology in Roman times could become one of the richest people on earth. In addition to being highly addictive, the stuff can also stop wounds from being infected.

As far as I can recall, they used hot wine or vinegar to sterilize wounds. They also used poppy juice as an anaesthetic. There are depictions of battlefield medics on Trajan's Column.

Osprey Books have published a volume on battlefield medicine in Classical times (it might cover the whole ancient world, can't quite recall). I think there's a section on it too in 'The Roman War Machine' but I don't have the book to hand at the moment.

[Aeson]

What pretend? All you have to do is strain out any solids, and you're done.

Sarge: You! run down to the store and goddamn buy us a strainer... er"
Private: Hey Sarge, why don't we use that there radiator grill instead? It looks kinda like a strainer.
...
Sarge: That worked worked like a mother****ing charm Private. Now the goddamn engine is overheating because the radiator grill is all clogged up with olives you ****ing moron!
Private: Hey Sarge, how bout we take out the engine, tie the crank to those oxen turning around, and then use the engine in reverse to create a high pressure water pump to spray the solids out of the radiator?
...
Sarge: That's the finest mother****ing water cannon I've ever seen. Private, you are a goddamn ****ing genius!
Private: Hey Sarge, see those ho's in togas?
...
Wet toga contest and exchange of STDs ancient and modern ensues, everyone is killed by Huns. The end.

[The Mad Monk]

How 'bout they just use coarse cloth?

You know, like the Romans did. To filter things like oil and wine.

[molly bloom]

How 'bout they just use coarse cloth?

You know, like the Romans did. To filter things like oil and wine.

The Romans used sponges too. At least to clean themselves...

[Aeson]

How 'bout they just use coarse cloth?

You know, like the Romans did. To filter things like oil and wine.

That would be an awful waste... Course cloth isn't see-through when wet.

[kentonio]

I think that has happened multiple times, especially during WWII.

If you haven't already, read Robert Leckie's 'Helmet for my Pillow' for an idea about how well the marines did when they were dropped off on an island and basically cut off from support.

[The Mad Monk]

I believe in ancient times, the oil used for things like pitch was acquired when it just seeped up from the ground or into wells.

Yes, I just want to know which sources would be nearest, and which of those are higher quality (ie, easier to distill).