# War, Ethiopia, & their military. A Question. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-ethiopia-their-military-a-question/386146 "2006-12-30T21:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-ethiopia-their-military-a-question/386146/1 "2006-12-30T21:51:17Z")
> **[BBC NEWS | Africa | Ethiopians chase Somali Islamists](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6219763.stm)** > > Ethiopian tanks backing Somali forces advance towards the port stronghold of Somalia's Islamist fighters. Ethiopia is moving swiftly & strongly into Somalia. What is Ethiopia’s military like? What kind of tanks do they have? Artillery? Mech Infantry vehicles? Combat aircraft? Small arms? Communications? Training? All info helps, links especially. Any Doper who has been to Ethopia, can you add personal observations to this Thread? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-ethiopia-their-military-a-question/386146/2 "2006-12-30T23:42:23Z")
I was wondering the same thing. [Wikipedia has some info.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Somalia_%282006-present%29) Look at the “strengths” table to the right. I’m also curious how the oddly shaped border plays into military tactics. Seems like if they were military equals (which they don’t appear to be) that Somalia would have some flanking advantages, but I’m not any kind of military strategist… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-ethiopia-their-military-a-question/386146/3 "2006-12-31T01:11:43Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] I was wondering the same thing. [Wikipedia has some info.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Somalia_%282006-present%29) Look at the “strengths” table to the right. I’m also curious how the oddly shaped border plays into military tactics. Seems like if they were military equals (which they don’t appear to be) that Somalia would have some flanking advantages, but I’m not any kind of military strategist… [/QUOTE] Hmmm..T-55 tanks. Probably more than a few BMPs out there, too. Note (in the link) the grossly exaggerated estimates of Ethiopian force strength by the ICU. Non-professionals, when being badly beaten, tend to exaggerate the size of veteran forces. They fail to grasp that trained pros are worth more than enthusiastic amateurs, and explain away failure by claiming vast (phantom) opposing forces. This reveals much about the ICU forces. I suspect that flanking motions won’t happen soon, if at all. Poor central command/control/communications likely limit the effectiveness of Somali forces. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-ethiopia-their-military-a-question/386146/4 "2006-12-31T03:42:13Z")
Also, where did Ethiopia get their weapons? A related Wiki article makes me think they have some weapons from the US (looks like only their TOW missiles and some artillery) and the rest from Russia/former USSR (at least in design, if not actual sale.)