Why?

[martin goddard]

Are there any matters of making or doing that raise the question "why?" in your mind as regards things military.
Maybe that will open discussion or information? Speculation is welcomed too.


martin

[martin goddard]

1. Why did some ECW brimmed hats have a high top (tall hat)?
2. Why did the Confederates use grey as their colour.
3. How many ways are there of exiting a Hetzer?
4. Why does Tiger I tank have a thin long steel cable and a thick long steel cable stored on the outside of the hull.
5. Why is the hierarchy back to front for generals. e.g. Lieutenant General is higher ranking than Major General.


martin

[Rittervonbek]

Major General used to be sergeant major general.

[Brian Cameron]

Confederates in grey:  My guess is that it was because grey would be a cheap dye and probably more easily available in quantity.

Brian

[John Watson]

Or was it because the Union nabbed all the blue and pink was bit of a no-no.

[Leman (Andy)]

Grey was adopted by the Confederacy because this was the colour usually worn by state militia units, both north and south. This emphasised the notion of states rights as opposed to the centralised federal government.

[Antioch (Bob)]

On a different topic...

Why is it any time you pick a new period to game.... its always  somewhere far away. Only thing close here is the pig wars (which of course has nothing to do with PP)?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_War_(1859)

Bob

[Sean Clark]

Why did ACW generals fail to learn that frontal assaults in troops in prepared positions was suicidal even at the end of the war? Cold Harbour for instance?

[pbeccas (Paul)]

Why did ACW generals fail to learn that frontal assaults in troops in prepared positions was suicidal even at the end of the war? Cold Harbour for instance?

A case for WWI generals too.

[Radar]

ECW hats: need to know a bit of background information on hats before the explanation makes sense.

Under Henry VIII there were laws about what sort of hats could be worn. After Henry's death these laws were repealed (mostly) so hats for the rich and fashionable started getting more ostentatious. And mostly taller. Result: Cambridge University implemented rules around scholars having to wear beret type hats as a response to these new fashion styles. Elizabeth introduced a law that every male aged 6 or over must have a beret type hat and wear it on Sunday. This was originally to boost and support the wool trade. The law was later repealed (not sure why).

So why were copotain hats so popular in mid seventeenth century Britain? Combination of fashion (around since Elizabeth, so trickles down to the oi polloi) plus a deep seated not-so-secret two fingers to the establishment (thou shalt wear a beret on the Lord's Day) that also told others which sub-set of the church you followed.

Of course the oi polloi only had one hat, which invariably was the style they could afford. You've got a bit more dosh? You buy a fancier hat to show off your status (BMWs and Audis hadn't been invented then).

(The copotain hat, coincidentally, is believed to be the inspiration for the top hat.)

[FifteensAway]

Confederate gray?  Gray was the color of uniform worn at West Point and most senior CSA generals hailed from West Point.  Though the militia argument above holds water, too.