History Main / FiveRoundsRapid

'''Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart:''' Chap with wings, there. Five rounds rapid.

* In the ''Film/StarshipTroopers'' movie, the Mobile Infantry seems to have forgotten everything we've learned about combined arms warfare. The MI's only tactic is to attack in [[ZergRush massed numbers using small arms]] and the occasional nuke. At no point in the movie is there any evidence of artillery or close air support, tanks or armored personnel carriers, special weapons squads with mortars or heavy machine guns. Nor do the ships seem to possess the capability of the orbital equivalent of shore bombardment, despite the fact that one scene has several bombers do a strafing run on the surface (which it's implied they could do at will if they weren't {{Jerk Ass}}es). We get the barest of a glimpse of such things in a flashforward near the end, where a trooper has what is functionally a grenade launcher. They do use a rocket launcher against two gigantic plasma bugs in the first major battle and later on a 'mini-nuke' against a swarm of Arachnid soldiers emerging from a cave... then never use either weapon again, even when faced with thousands of the things attacking at once.

* In the ''Film/StarshipTroopers'' movie, the Mobile Infantry seems to have forgotten everything we've learned about combined arms warfare. The MI's only tactic is to attack in [[ZergRush massed numbers using small arms]] and the occasional nuke. At no point in the movie is there any evidence of artillery or close air support, tanks or armored personnel carriers, special weapons squads with mortars or heavy machine guns. Nor do the ships seem to possess the capability of the orbital equivalent of shore bombardment, despite the fact that one scene has several bombers do a strafing run on the surface (which it's implied they could do at will if they weren't {{Jerk Ass}}es). We get the barest of a glimpse of such things in a flashforward near the end, where a trooper has what is functionally a grenade launcher. They do use a rocket launcher against two gigantic plasma bugs in the first major battle and a 'mini-nuke' against a swarm of Arachnid soldiers emerging from a cave... then never use either weapon again, even when faced with thousands of the things attacking at once.

* In the ''Film/StarshipTroopers'' movie, the Mobile Infantry seems to have forgotten everything we've learned about combined arms warfare. The MI's only tactic is to attack in [[ZergRush massed numbers using small arms]] and the occasional nuke. At no point in the movie is there any evidence of artillery or close air support, tanks or armored personnel carriers, special weapons squads with mortars or heavy machine guns. Nor do the ships seem to possess the capability of the orbital equivalent of shore bombardment, despite the fact that one scene has several bombers do a strafing run on the surface (which it's implied they could do at will if they weren't {{Jerk Ass}}es). We get the barest of a glimpse of such things in a flashforward near the end, where a trooper has what is functionally a grenade launcher.

It appears most good guys are GenreBlind. When [[RedShirtArmy military personnel]] or the [[LemmingCops police]] encounter the MonsterOfTheWeek, they invariably attack it with small arms fire. Unfortunately, this never works. The monster is always ImmuneToBullets. Thus, our heroes get an opportunity to save the day with some AppliedPhlebotinum or StockSuperPowers.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' story arc ''ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}'', Gangbuster attempts this against an out-of-control SelfDemonstrating/{{Bizarro}}. It does not go well.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': The Shinra Army attempts this with bazookas and artillery fire when the naval base Junon is attacked by [[GaiasVengeance Sapphire Weapon.]] They succeeded when they fired the second shot of the Mako Cannon (the huge main gun of the base) at the Weapon point-blank range.

*** The Brigadier later tried shooting it with the Robot's disintegrater, but the energy used enabled it to grow into a giant instead. At least the Brigadier is man enough to admit he made a mistake to the Doctor.

* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CfyU1mOZ1E this video]], Lindybeige discusses the tendency for players to unthinkingly conform to this trope in fantasy [=RPGs=] like ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', using small weapons like swords, axes, maces, etc. (all of which are designed for fighting human opponents) against huge fantasy creatures like dragons. He describes an RPG scenario where the players tried and failed to use this standard method against a house-sized monster, only to be shown up later by a unit of [=NPCs=] besting the creature using more effective specialised group tactics.

* Internally conversed by Peter in ''Literature/MyTeacherFlunkedThePlanet''; when the police discover Big Julie in the house, Peter muses that in a bad sci-fi movie, they'd be back in a few minutes with a few men and some guns, following this trope. As the town already knew that aliens existed, though, [[DefiedTrope they were likely going to be coming back with a heck of a lot more firepower than that]]. The ''only'' good news is that it would take the police some time to get that firepower ready, which gives Peter and the other team members enough time to evacuate. ''Just'' enough, as it turns out.

Compare with ShootingSuperman and GiantEqualsInvincible. Contrast with DeathOfAThousandCuts, which is when a relatively small weapon is used exclusively against a large target and ''succeeds''. See also UnderequippedCharge.

* Inverted in ''Manga/AssassinationClassroom''; Irina and her men tries to kill Koro-sensei by using machine guns instead of airsoft guns. It doesn't work, since Koro-sensei's body dissolves lead but is blown to chunks by airsoft bullets [[AppliedPhlebotinum made of a special material]].

An important part of this trope is that, in almost all cases, the good guys will ''only'' ever use small arms fire instead of escalating. Rockets, tanks, air support, artillery — all the things the military is known for — are rarely involved, even if the monster is gigantic. Not only are they more expensive for the producers to incorporate in to the film/show, in most cases, they might actually work, thereby stealing the thunder of the heroes of the story.

[[caption-width-right:350: They're gonna need a bigger gun.]]

* Tanks in ''VideoGame/RedOrchestra'' aren't particularly fussed by small arms. Doesn't stop players taking potshots at the hull. [[{{Subverted}} Sometimes they'll hit a crew member looking through a vision slit.]]

Compare with ShootingSuperman and GiantEqualsInvincible. Contrast with DeathOfAThousandCuts, which is when a relatively small weapon is used against a large target and ''succeeds''. See also UnderequippedCharge.

** In ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'', Ross' group keeps doing this to the title monster.

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* An available character option on Cubicle Seven's ''Series/DoctorWho'' RPG has this name (appropriately enough it's within its UNIT sourcebook), which allows the character to skip the standard order of the game's initiative (people who talk always go first, people who fight always go ''very'' last), allowing for a very literal use of TalkToTheFist.

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-->'''Burt''': Haha! Tried to break into the wrong ''rec room'', didn't ya!

* Many RTS games will have players doing this, especially if they involve TacticalRockPaperScissors in some way. Infantry might do half damage to tanks, but they're [[WeHaveReserves cheap]] to replace.
** ElementalRockPaperScissors has the same effect. Fire type does half damage to water type? [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer I guess if it's all that's available...]]
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