by Andy_S on Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:39 am
SNIP
Every time the experts say the knife is obsolete, something happens to show otherwise. It is true that edged weapons have played only a slight role in combat for the last century or so, but the role never quite disappears, despite turning into a bit part. You can never be quite sure things won't degenerate to hand-to-hand.
SNIP
Yes, but its use is so rare, it is barely worthwhile training it. Look at the amount of time modern armies spend on bayonet training versus weapons handling (ie firearms and missile weapons).
SNIP
The body armor of the present era might even increase, slightly, the incidence of face to face, belly to belly combat, by reducing the effect of projectiles. Statistically, I would think a certain number of people who would have been stopped but for the armor will continue forward because they have it. TIme will tell on that one. In any case I expect military organizations to go on training and packing edged weapons, even if only for the purpose of instilling the idea that soldiers may have to close with the enemy. It's a psychological plus if that idea is not foreign to you.
SNIP
MA can be useful for PT (the Korean Army uses it for this) and for aggression - the 'spirit of the bayonet' is, indeed, important in training. This does not change the fact that its use is very, very, very rare. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders made a bayonet charge in Iraq, but I don't know if they actually bayonetted any of their enemy (the enemy scattered) Knives are, indeed, useful to the modern infantryman living in the field - but as tools, not weapons. The possibility of someone re-designing a rondel and issuing it to modern troops is, I think, about 10000-1 against. If I were taking a platoon to fight in Afghanistan, I would be training my guys in tactical movement, section battle drills, marksmanship and air support - not knife fighting or MA.
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