While there are military successes and failures, there are also military blunders. When it comes to war, there's no room for error because often times, it's a life and death situation. Unfortunately, errors are sometimes unavoidable. Whether mistakes, bad planning, or carelessness, military blunders have massive repercussions. Take a look at the biggest military mistakes throughout history and just how damaging they were to a military's war effort.
Zhao Kuo Got Carried Away
In 260 BC, the Chinese state of Qin, led by Zhao Kuo was attempting to siege the fortress of Shangdang, which was being held by general Bai Qi. In an attempt to end the siege once and for all, General Zhao Kuo led an army of 450,000 men to overrun the fortress. As Bai Qi's troops began to retreat, Zha Kuo sent his whole army after them to crush him, leaving his supply trains behind unguarded.
Bai Qi's cavalry, in turn, destroyed the supply train, leaving the army with nothing. Zhao Kuo was killed 46 days later in a failed breakout attempt, and his entire army surrendered due to starvation. Instead of granting the army pardon, Bai Qi had all the men, up to 400,000 executed.
The Battle Of Agincourt Did Not Turn Out How The French Had Planned
In 1415, King Henry V, with an English army of around 8,000, was marching in northern France when they were confronted by a much larger French army of around 30,000. The English army was fatigued, sick, and hungry. All the French had to do was block off the English from moving forward. However, the Englishmen taunted them to the point that the French performed a full-on charge.
The English longbows were far superior to those of the French, and the battlefield was wet and muddy. As the French attacked and became stuck and disorganized in the mud, they became fodder for the English archers. The English crushed the French and won the battle. In total, around 6,000 French soldiers were lost while the English only lost around 400 men.
Napoleon's Retreat From Moscow Decimated His Army
In 1812, the French Emperor Napoleon led an army of around 680,000 Frenchman and allies in an invasion of Russia. The armies warred for three months until the Russians eventually retreated. Napoleon then took Moscow, yet the Russians refused to let up. Napoleon's army was direly low on supplies and decided to head back the way they had come to regroup and find supplies.
However, on the way back, there were no supplies to be found, and the army was caught in a bitter winter. Without adequate clothing and supplies, Napoleon's army was devastated by the conditions. By the time they had left Russia, 380,000 of his men had died, 100,000 had been taken as prisoners, and more than 50,00 were unfit for service.
Flaminius Got Ahead Of Himself
In 217 BC, Hannibal, a Carthaginian commander, and conqueror was moving his army in northern Italy in preparation for a war against Rome. The Roman commander Gaius Flaminius Nepos went out to meet Hannibal for battle, yet Hannibal's army had eluded him. At one point, Flaminius' army caught up to what looked like the rear of Hannibal's army.
Without hesitation, Flaminius sent his entire army to attack. Unfortunately for Flaminius, everything had been staged, and Hannibal's main arm was actually hiding in the surrounding hills waiting to ambush Flaminius' troops. It was a slaughter with Flaminius losing his life, over 15,000 of his men killed, with thousands captured.
Pride Cost Tiberias His Army
In 1187, the Muslim leader Saladin laid siege to the Crusader fortress of Tiberias. To save Tiberias, King Guy of Jerusalem gathered a large Crusader army at Acre. His advisors recommended that they attack Saladin's supply train, however, Guy considered this to be cowardly and not something that a noble king would do. Instead, he chose to march directly across the desert to reach Tiberias.
However, Saladin's army had blocked the access to fresh water and set fire to all of the shrubberies. Once the Crusader army was weakened and slow, Saladin attacked and either killed or captured the entire army.
Custer Divided His Forces At Little Big Horn
In 1876, United States Luitenant Colonel George Custer led the 7th Cavalry Regiment, comprised of 647 men against an encampment of Sioux, Cheyanne, and other tribes that were camped on the Little Big Horn River. Custer had planned for the attack to be a surprise by attacking from all sides, but the plan backfired.
The tribes knew that Custer was coming, and waited for his attack. 210 of Custer's men were separated and overwhelmed, while the rest of the troops were pushed back. In all, General Custer lost both his life and the battle because he had decided it was wise to divide his forces.
The Soldiers Should Have Rested Before The Battle At Carrhae
In 53 BC, the Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus used an army of around 45,000 men to invade the Parthian empire. Upon hearing that the Parthian army was busy attacking Armenia, Crassus marched his army to capture the cities of Mesopotamia. When Crassus arrived at the town of Carrhae, there was a force of 10,000 Parithiam calvaries commanded by Surenas waiting for him.
Crassus didn't want Surenas to escape, so he ordered an immediate attack instead of allowing his men to camp and rest before the battle. By this time, the Roman army was weak for such a fight and was eventually overwhelmed by Surenas. When Crassus went to offer peace terms, he was murdered along with half of his army killed and 10,000 sold into slavery.
Hitler's Failed Attempt At Capturing Stalingrad
During the summer of 1942, the Nazi army, along with some of their allies, led an arrack on the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front of World War II. Their goal was to obtain the oil fields of Caucasus and mining areas of the Don and Volga Rivers.
During their push into the Soviet Union, Hitler also decided to capture the city of Stalingrad to protect their flank. However, taking Stalingrad wasn't that easy, and Hitler was forced to send reinforcements. By doing so, he separated his forces; they were soon defeated by a Russian counteroffensive, causing Hitler to lose 330,000 men.
England Still Prides Itself On The Defeat of The Spanish Armada
In 1588, Spain launched what was considered to be an invincible armada of ships to invade England. They were extremely confident in their attack considering the technology and number of their ships. On July 21, the English began a counter-attack by firing at the Spanish Armada from a safe distance with their superior cannons. However, when the armada continued approaching, the English sent eight burning ships towards the fleet.
This forced the Spanish to unanchor and retreat into open waters which was a huge mistake. The armada became disorganized, which the English capitalized on. The English then came in with their superior guns and faster ships and defeated the Armada after an eight-hour battle. It was a highly embarrassing loss for the Spanish and is remembered as one of the greatest naval battles of all time.
The Battle Of New Orleans Was An Embarrassment
The Battle of New Orleans occurred two weeks after the end of the War of 1812. However, news that it had ended had not reached the British troops preparing to attack the Gulf coast. On January 8, 1815, an army of 7,500 British soldiers under Sir Edward Pakenham marched on New Orleans. Under Andrew Jackson, the American army of only 4,500 waited for the British to engage.
During the charge, Sir Edward Pakenham had his soldiers hold their fire for a little too long, and the American soldiers decimated the troops in a half an hour. During the fighting, only eight Americans were killed while the British lost 2,000 including Sir Edward Pakenham.
When Distrusts Leads To Failure
In 636 AD, Khalid ibn al-Walid led an army of 40,000 Muslim Arabs to raid in the southern provinces of the Byzantine Empire. In response, the Byzantine sent the commander Vahan with an army of 100,000 men to stop the invasion. Vahan eventually found the Arabs at Yarmouk and ordered an attack.
Yet, Vahan and his second-in-command named Trithyrius didn't trust each other, and neither of them wanted to send in all of their troops for fear of being betrayed by the other. After five days of heavy casualties, Vahan and Trithyrius were attacked by the Byzantines and the two commanders lack trust once again led to losing the entire army.
The Battle Of Teutoburg Forest Was A Massacre
In September of 9 AD, Publius Quintilius Varus was leading three Roman legions along with their auxiliaries and other civilians through the Teutenberg Forest. During his travels, he had been warned by numerous German nobleman that a man named Arminius was planning to ambush the army. Varus ignored these warnings and continued on. What he didn't know was that Arminius had a Roman citizenship, and received a Roman military education.
This way, he knew exactly how the Romans would react to an ambush and how to defeat them. Sure enough, in the tight confines of the Teutenburg Forest, Arminius led an army of Germanic tribes and ambushed the army, slaughtering everyone. This is considered to be Rome's greatest defeat and changed the course of Roman history.
The Nap That Cost Mexico Texas
On April 21, 1836, during the Texas war for independence, the Texas Militia launched a surprise attack on the forces of Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Within 12 minutes, the Texas militia had defeated de Santa Anna's army regardless that they were outnumbered.
However, the reason for such an overwhelming defeat was that General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana had ordered his troops to take a siesta, or nap, which allowed the Texans to sneak up on the army and overwhelm them. The defeat led to de Santa Anna signing a treaty recognizing Texas' independence in return for his freedom.
The Charge Of The Light Brigade Was A Huge Tactical Error
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British light cavalry on Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on October 24, 1854, during the Crimean War. Lord Raglan, the commander of the British forces meant to send the light brigade to protect captured weapons from the Russians.
Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication and the brigade was sent into a full-frontal assault where they came face-to-face with a fully dug-in and prepared artillery battery. The British suffered catastrophic amounts of casualties and those who survived were forced to retreat. Although the brigade understood the certain outcome of their charge, they continued to do so anyway.
A Spy Won The Battle Of The Red Cliffs
During the Han Dynasty in early 200 AD, a spy infiltrated the ranks of the northern Chinese warlord Cao Cao. The spy eventually became one of Coa Coa's personal advisors and had earned his trust. While warring with the southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan, Cao Cao's spy turned advisor recommended that Cao Cao chain his navy together in order to prevent seasickness.
Trusting his advisor, he chained his ships together stem to stern. While traveling upriver, the southern forces floated ships that were on fire toward Cao Cao's army. Chained together, Cao Cao's navy was destroyed and his army defeated.
Pickett's Charge Was An Unnecessary Loss Of Life
Pickett's charge was an infantry assault that was ordered by Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. The charge was led by Major General George Pickett on July 3, 1863, on the third and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The charge was supervised by Lieutenant General James Longstreet of the Confederacy although he did not always agree with Lee on the war tactics they used.
The charge resulted in 50 percent of casualties out of 12,500 men and was a decisive defeat and cost the Confederacy the battle. It has been described as the most avoidable mistake from the Southern war effort which they never recovered from.
The Bay Of Pigs Backfired
During the Cold War, Fidel Castro had overthrown Cuba's American-backed president General Fulgencio Batista and successfully took over Cuba. The United States then devised a plan to take Castro out of power and stabilize Cuba once again. So, the CIA ordered a top-secret plan to have a 1,400 American-trained Cubans sneak into Cuba and overthrow Castro.
However, the invasion did not go as planned, and Castro's troops greatly outnumbered the 1,400 fighters sent by the United States. After just 24 hours of fighting, 114 were killed, and the others were taken as prisoner.
Too Much Wine For An Invasion
When the British Parliament was dissolved in 1625, the Duke of Buckingham ordered a naval conquest on Spain. He wanted the conquest to be comparable to the success of the naval conquests during the Elizabethan era. Sir Edward Cecil was in charge of the conquest and set sail with 100 ships and over 10,000 men. Unfortunately, they had insufficient supplies, which led them to raid the port city of Cadiz.
During the raid, the soldiers pillaged the ports wine supply and overindulged. Before the ships even reached Spain, the drunken troops had given up on the conquest and threatened a mutiny against Sir Edward Cecil. Eventually, Cecil managed to get everyone back on the ships before setting sail back to England.
The Japanese Flooded Their Own City
During World War II, the Japanese began building what they call the Yamato. The Yamato specific type of heavy battleship with each one being able to carry 72,000 tons on a full load. During this building phase, the Musashi was commissioned and was the second heaviest battleship in history.
The Japanese military had high hopes for the ship and wanted to get it in the water as soon as possible. When placing it in the water, it caused a four-foot tsunami in the Nagasaki harbor, which flooded the surrounding buildings, rivers, homes, and even capsized other boats. If that wasn't problematic enough, their plan backfired, and the Musashi didn't even make it through the war.
The Terribly Constructed F-35 Threw Away Trillions
It's no secret that the government spends an egregious amount of money on military spending. In 2015 alone, the United States spent 54% of their federal discretionary on the Army, a whopping $598.5 billion. While much of this money funds new technology, not all of those projects end up working. Here are the most expensive mistakes made by armies around the world.
Since 1996, the Joint Strike Fighter program has poured $1.5 trillion into a new fighter plane, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. It was meant to be a plane that could take off from anywhere, land on anything, and deploy nearly every weapon. That didn't happen. Instead, the F-35 ended up being slower than the F-14 Tomcat from the 1970s and got destroyed during a dogfight test with the 1960s F-4 Phantom. It struggled to land on aircraft carriers and was exceptionally prone to lightning strikes. Nick Harvey, a defense chief from the U.K., called the F-35 "one of the biggest white elephants in history."
The Tootsie Roll Dilemma
During the Korean War, the 1st Marine Division was pinned down in the Chosin Mountain Reservoir. The marines were around 15,000 strong. However, they were facing an oncoming Chinese army of about 120,000. In addition, they were in below-zero temperatures, causing their rations to freeze. When putting out an order for resupplies, someone ordered "tootsie rolls," the slang term for mortar shells.
When the resupply was airdropped down to the troops, there were crates dropped that were full of the tootsie roll candy and not mortar shells. This put the marines in a terrible situation because what they needed was ammunition to defend themselves, not candy.
Hitler's Atlantic Wall Got Obliterated In One Day
In 1942, Adolph Hitler predicted that the Allied Forces would invade his French territory. To prevent future invasions, Hitler commissioned a 2,000-foot-long wall filled with guns, tank traps, and other obstacles. The "Atlantic Wall" would have been the most impressive engineering feat ever conceived if it worked.
To start, Hitler wanted the Atlantic Wall finished within a year; it took two years to build. He bought 1.2 millions tons of steel, enough to build 20,000 tanks. Around 25,000 Germans worked on the wall, and the entire endeavor cost $200 billion in today's money. The Atlantic Wall ended up scattered and unstable, and even Hitler's generals weren't impressed. The wall fell within a day.
The Airbus A400M Atlas, Europe's Multi-Billion-Dollar Disaster
In the early 2000s, Airbus Military (now called Airbus Defense and Space) began designing a military transport aircraft to replace older models. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, and Luxembourg funded the Airbus A400M Atlas. Almost immediately, construction was postponed to renegotiate "certain technical characteristics."
By 2009, Airbus expected the program to lose €2.4 billion ($3 billion) and run €11.2 billion ($13.6 billion) over budget. In 2010, the A400M was three years behind schedule. The issue became so bad that some countries bought or leased cargo planes from the U.S. The British Prime Minister of Defense called the A400M "a complete, absolute [expletive] disaster, and we should be ashamed of ourselves. I have never seen such a waste of public funds in the defense field in the past 40 years."
Project Nike: Missiles That Were Never Fired
During the late 1940s and 1950s, engineers delivered the United States's first anti-aircraft missile through Project Nike. But that was the only thing this project achieved. Originally, the Military planned to build these anti-aircrafts across the country to combat Soviet bombers. But they never entered combat.
In 1953, Nike Ajax came into existence. It was soon replaced with Nike Hercules, and then Nike Zeus. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union was in the process of phasing out bombers, which made the Nike missiles useless. By the late 1970s, Project Nike disappeared, swallowing a catastrophic $20 billion.
The Maginot Line Consumed One-Third Of France's Military Budget
A defensive wall that cost 7 billion Francs became the reason that the country fell to Germany in World War II. After World War I, the French Military worked on an impregnable border called the Maginot Line. The problem is that it turned out to be a glorified trench.
Because the army poured so much faith into the Maginot Line, its forces were scattered. The German Wehrmacht went around the wall and punched through France's undefended territory in southern Belgium. Within six weeks, German troops successfully invaded France. Now, Maginot line has come to mean "a defensive barrier or strategy that inspires a false sense of security," according to Merriam-Webster.
The Strategic Defense Initiative Wasn't So Strategic
A few days after his "evil empire" speech, President Ronald Reagan announced that the government was working on the Strategic Defense Initiative. This missile defense system was supposed to shoot down any nuclear missiles that Russia fired at the U.S. If it sounds like too much to tackle, it was. The project quickly descended into a black hole of lasers and supercomputing that were impossible to achieve.
Senator Ted Kennedy called the Strategic Defense Initiative a series of "reckless Star Wars schemes," and the public quickly hopped on the joke wagon. Physicists from MIT and atomic bomb researchers all explained that the laser physics were unfeasible. The project ended in 1993, but not before draining $150 billion.
The Boeing YAL-1's Airborne Laser Didn't Even Work
The Boeing YAL-1 was a less-impressive prototype of the Boeing NKC-135A. The Department of Defense wanted to give the aircraft an oxygen-iodine laser to shoot down ballistic missiles. After 50 attempts, the laboratory finally designed the laser. And it still wasn't up to par.
Unlike other failed projects, the YAL-1 successfully intercepted all of its targets in test runs. However, the "beam misalignment" and laser strength never improved. "I don't know anybody...who thinks that this program should, or would, ever be operationally deployed," said Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. "You would need a laser something like 20 to 30 times more powerful than the chemical laser in the plane right now to be able to get any distance from the launch site to fire." In 2014, the $5 billion YAL-1 was scrapped for parts.
750,000 Useless Albanian Bunkers
From the 1960s to the 1980s, Albania lived under the communist rule of Enver Hoxha. He was incredibly hostile toward his neighboring countries and believed that they would invade at any moment. To protect civilians, Hoxha commissioned thousands of round, concrete bunkers across the country.
These domes are everywhere in Albania, from vineyards to towns to beaches to mountains. By 1983, over 173,000 bunkers existed, around 15 per sq mi (6 per sq km). While the government spent one-fourth of its money on "bunkerization," roads and housing crumbled from the lack of income. Once Hoxha died in 1990, the program ended, leaving behind 750,000 bunkers that were never used.
Navy Officers Won't Even Use The Zumwalt-Class Destroyer
When the Zumwalt-class destroyer began operating in 2016, it became the most sophisticated warship in existence. It is also the most expensive — so costly that Navy officers are hesitant to use them in combat.
The Zumwalt-class began as an anti-aircraft model until the Navy repurposed it as a ship. It has two Advanced Gun Systems and Long Range Land Attack Projectile ammunition. The rising costs cut the project from 32 boats to ten, and then from ten to three. By April 2016, the program spent $22.5 billion total, costing around $7.5 billion per ship.
The XM2001 Crusader, A Failure That Prompted Future Failures
In 1994, the XM2001 Crusader was scheduled to be the United States's most mobile, durable, lightweight, and precise artillery. An official called the Crusader "a wonderful system — for a legacy world." But after several budget changes and testing, the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld canceled the $11 billion program in 2002. Two billion dollars had already been lost.
The Army redirected the Crusader's funds to Future Combat Systems, which also failed. Within the program, the Crusader's designs reappeared in the XM1203 Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon, which attempted to switch shell types quickly in intense combat. The XM1203 was killed in 2009, with only eight prototypes.
The Peacekeeper, Also Known As The MX Missile
During the Cold War, the U.S. Department of Defense began constructing the LGM-118 Peacekeeper, also called the MX Missile. This land-based Peacekeeper was designed to fire MIRV warheads against Soviet missiles, using increased accuracy and firing power. However, the program suffered from long delays and downgrades that cost the government $25 billion.
For starters, the Peacekeeper was supposed to hold 100 silo-based missiles, but this was cut to 50 in 1984. Engineers also produced substitute Peacekeepers in case of attack, which cost even more money. Construction started and ended several times because the missiles were hard to store. Finally, around 2002, the Peacekeeper was phased out of service.
The Space-Based Infrared System Kept Being Replaced
After the Persian Gulf War, the United States Department of Defense decided that they needed better missile-detection technology. For almost 30 years, the Air Force has worked on the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), a system of satellites that use infrared surveillance to detect missiles. Three systems evolved, and all of them were replaced.
The Government Accountability Office suggests that the programs failed because of high cost and immature technology. In 2018, the Air Force told SpaceNews that they would abandon SBIRS after spending $1.7 billion on each satellite. They claim that they're working on a new system that is "simpler."
The Future Combat System Never Went Into Combat
In 1999, the U.S. decided to build an integrated system of manned and unmanned vehicles that would dominate 21st-century warfare. The Future Combat System created a series of tanks that U.S. Army called "the most ambitious and far-reaching modernization" since World War II. Then the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred, and the project went downhill.
Future Combat System was pushed back due to ballooning costs and technical problems. As the Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina drained resources and funds, the project continued to be delayed. The teams announced that the tanks would roll out by 2015, even though they never met its 2004 incentive. In 2009, the Future Combat System ended, resulting in only eight prototypes and $19 billion wasted.
The Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche Could Barely Fly
In the 1990s, the U.S. Military constructed prototypes for the Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche, designed to replace all Cobra, Kiowa, and Huey helicopters. It was intended to be stealthy, speedy, and flexible. In reality, it could barely get off the ground.
In late 2000, engineers for the project had to reduce the Comanche's weight by 100 lb (91 kg) to help it fly. By 2002, they built a second prototype and scheduled it for massive restructuring. At the time, estimated costs put the Comanche at $26.9 billion. The U.S. Army finally canceled the project in 2004, although it had already wasted $7 billion by that time.
M247 Sergeant York Shot At Stands Instead Of Planes
In the late 1970s, the United States Army began constructing the M247 Sergeant York, a self-propelled anti-aircraft tank. It was meant to take down Soviet aircrafts alongside the M2 Bradley and M1 Abrams. The tank underwent several proposals because engineers couldn't agree with cannons to use. From there, the craft's radar failed to detect helicopters behind trees and in time for "pop up" attacks.
At this point, engineers began using off-the-shelf parts to save money, such as World War II-era firearms. When the M247 finally surfaced in 1982, the guns immediately targeted review stands, causing members to scramble for cover. In 1985, the Secretary of Defense canceled the project after the Army spent $6 billion on 50 vessels.
The National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Failed Twice
In 1994, the U.S. Air Force teamed up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to invent a next-generation satellite system. In theory, the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) would monitor Earth's oceans, atmosphere, and weather. The only thing it succeeded at was failing twice.
By 2011, NPOESS was five years behind schedule. It had to undergo three Congressional reviews for being 75% over budget. The Air Force's portion ended in 2012, while NOAA's part lasted longer, until 2017. Both organizations poured over $5.8 billion into NPOESS before it ultimately failed.
Mikoyan Project 1.44: One Prototype Spent $70 Million
Russia began working on the Mikoyan Project 1.44 (or MiG 1.44) in the 1980s to combat the United States' Advanced Tactical Fighter. They aimed to construct a fifth-generation jet fighter with advanced stealth and maneuverability. As the designs evolved, though, the costs heightened. The Soviet Union implemented an economic plan to try to remedy the situation.
At first, development sailed. The MiG 1.44 passed the Soviet Air Force’s critical review and began testing. However, engineers kept postponing upgrades because they didn’t have enough funds to implement them. After a change in management, the once-secret project became public, hiking the cost further. The Soviets finally killed the MiG 1.44 in 2000 after one prototype.
Australian Light Destroyer Project Only Destroyed Money
In 1966, the Royal Australian Navy aimed to create a vessel that could support their patrol boats. Their simple light destroyers, labeled DDL, were intended to be small, fast, and strong enough to haul cargo alongside haul ships.
By 1967, it became clear that DDL would have to replace patrol ships instead of joining them. Despite the growing cost, this design was approved in 1972. Each ship cost around $210 million. Eventually, they had to cut costs, which resulted in a smaller vessel that couldn't compete with American and British maritime technology. After dumping $1.7 billion on the project, the Navy abandoned DDL in 1973.
The U.S. Spent $11 Billion On Joint Tactical Radio Systems
In 1997, the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) entered development, with the goal to replace all existing radios used by the American Army. Instead of using multiple radio types, the JTRS would have a set of software-defined radios that would allow it to switch frequencies. At least, that was the idea.
Because the project kept replacing management in the early 2000s, it lasted much longer than intended. Around 2006, the Army no longer aimed to replace all radios, so they canceled JTRS after spending $6.8 billion that produced 180,000 radios. By 2007, they revived the program. As the military waits for JTRS to finish, they continue to spend $11 billion on radios that will eventually be replaced.
The Bobcat Personnel Carrier Didn't Carry Much
After World War II, the Canadian Army realized that much of their technology was outdated. They decided to replace their armed personnel carrier, the Kangaroo, in 1952. Hence, construction on the Bobcat began. The design underwent several changes in the first four years, and like several other failed projects, the Bobcat's price skyrocketed.
The Canadian government finally approved the Bobcat budget in 1961. By then, it had been under development for nine years, and nothing had replaced the Kangaroo. Meanwhile, the Bobcat's testing had negative reviews reporting problems such as tripping hazards and loud operating sounds. With no solution in sight, the Bobcat was terminated in 1963.
