1 Commando Is Equal To How Many Soldiers
Special forces selection processes—such as the US Army Delta Force selection, Navy SEAL BUD/S, or the Indian Army Para SF probation—are designed to break normal human limits. Attrition rates often exceed 80% to 90%.
The ratio changes drastically depending on the situation.
In 1941, British Combined Operations assessed that one trained commando was worth roughly 20 regular German soldiers during a raid. How? During Operation Archery (the raid on Vågsøy, Norway), 570 commandos inflicted over 150 German casualties, destroyed factories, and captured documents—while losing only 17 men. That's a tactical exchange rate of nearly 9:1. But strategic planners argued that the disruption caused (diverting 20,000 German troops to guard the Norwegian coast) made each commando worth 20 to 30 conventional soldiers. 1 commando is equal to how many soldiers
A four-man sniper or sabotage team can paralyze an entire enemy battalion by eliminating high-value targets or blowing up a critical bridge. In this scenario, those four men have effectively countered hundreds of enemy soldiers. 2. Why the Ratio Shifts (Mission Profiles)
So the next time someone asks you, "One commando equals how many soldiers?" you can smile and reply: "It depends on who chooses the battlefield." Special forces selection processes—such as the US Army
A commando is not a "better soldier" in a fair fight. Put one commando against ten soldiers in an open field at noon, and the ten soldiers will likely win. But that is a scenario commandos are trained to avoid.
However, in terms of sheer holding power, a conventional soldier is more effective. The true answer is that they are designed for entirely different roles, and comparing them solely by number diminishes the specialized, invaluable nature of both. In 1941, British Combined Operations assessed that one
Because only a small percentage of soldiers pass commando selection (such as the UK's All Arms Commando Course