Murphy's Combat Laws
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
1. You are not a superman
2. If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid
3. Don't look conspicuous-it draws fire
4. When in doubt, empty your magazine
5. Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are
6. Always remember that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder
7. If the attack is going really well, it's an ambush
8. No plan survives the first contact intact
9. All 5 second grenade fuses burn down in 3 seconds
10. Try to look unimportant because the bad guys may be low on ammo
11. If you are forward of your position, the artillery will fall short
12. The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack
13. The important things are always simple
14. The simple things are always hard
15. The easy way is always mined
16. If you are short of everything except enemy, you are in combat
17. When you have secured an area, don't forget to tell the enemy
18. Incoming fire has right of way
19. Friendly fire isn't
20. If the enemy is in range-SO ARE YOU!
21. No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection
22. Things that must be together to work, usually can't be shipped together
23. Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support desperately
24. Anything you do can get you shot-including doing nothing
25. Tracers work both ways
26. The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire
27. Make it tough for the enemy to get in and you can't get out
28. If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will have more than your fair share of objectives to take
29. When both sides are convinced they are going to lose, they are both right
30. Professional soldiers are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs
31. Murphy was a grunt
2. If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid
3. Don't look conspicuous-it draws fire
4. When in doubt, empty your magazine
5. Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are
6. Always remember that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder
7. If the attack is going really well, it's an ambush
8. No plan survives the first contact intact
9. All 5 second grenade fuses burn down in 3 seconds
10. Try to look unimportant because the bad guys may be low on ammo
11. If you are forward of your position, the artillery will fall short
12. The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack
13. The important things are always simple
14. The simple things are always hard
15. The easy way is always mined
16. If you are short of everything except enemy, you are in combat
17. When you have secured an area, don't forget to tell the enemy
18. Incoming fire has right of way
19. Friendly fire isn't
20. If the enemy is in range-SO ARE YOU!
21. No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection
22. Things that must be together to work, usually can't be shipped together
23. Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support desperately
24. Anything you do can get you shot-including doing nothing
25. Tracers work both ways
26. The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire
27. Make it tough for the enemy to get in and you can't get out
28. If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will have more than your fair share of objectives to take
29. When both sides are convinced they are going to lose, they are both right
30. Professional soldiers are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs
31. Murphy was a grunt
