Bayonets: Are they practical?

[Chewster]

These days, I'd say not really considering the advanced combat armour that soldiers are wearing, but back in the day, when it took a minute and a half to reload your rifle and all that stood between you and the enemy was a fancy outfit, then yeah, I'd say so.

I suppose you could use a bayonet to cut someone's throat, but chances are, to execute a move like that, you're going to want more direct control over your blade anyway.

I'm just speculating though.

 

[PinkAngelKitty]

when im breaching a room and i get bull rushed with a knife it would be nice to have a bayonet but a goot butt-stroke can work, and i do love my shotgun

a 5.56 wont alays stop a charging person

true combat isnt like a video game a knife on the end of your gun can be very useful with all the urban settings we have now

Wait are we talking about ACTUAL combat or the fantasy combats you children like to participate in?

i assumed we were talking about ACTUAL combat since something being practical in a video game matters about as much as someones COD rank (not at all)

Yea see I thought that too but everyone keeps talking like these are ACTUAL experiences they've had and the thought of soldiers on the escapist is rather laughable.

 

[wizzerd229]

as a last ditch yes

 

[Superbeast]

I am well aware of bayonet usage in the current wars, like that officer in the Royal Regiment of Scotland that charged the Taliban rebels. However, what percentage of enemy casualties are caused by the bayonet? I'll give you a very liberal estimate of 200 people. There's something like 30,000 enemy casualties in Iraq alone. What percentage of those were killed by bayonets? It's less than 1%. There's a reason that count isn't higher; bayonets are impractical in modern warfare.

This isn't even counting the casualties in Afghanistan.

I was just pointing out that they had been used within the last 10 years, and (as the second article cites) was actually a very tactical choice.

That, in my view, makes it practical.

If the bayonets weren't issued then a charge wouldn't have been an option - and in a 20:100 fight my money isn't on the side of the 20 in a firefight.

Plus there was relative extensive use of the bayonet in the Falklands, and that was 20-30 years ago.

Just saying that there are still some situations in which it's practical - and therefore worthy of issue.

It gives you range, but in closer quarter combat you might as well use the pistol. Really, bayonets are only useful if you don't have ANY other possibility.

You're better of throwing a knife than fighting with a bayonet to be honest.

Uh...no - throwing knives doesn't work very well. Even with training you can miss (particularly as the knives issued to the military aren't balanced throwing knives - they can/will land handle-first), and it probably won't put the enemy down immediately.

As mentioned pistols have limited ammo, and rifles are impractical in tight confines (caves, cities) - the bayonet makes a very handy back-up.

These days, I'd say not really considering the advanced combat armour that soldiers are wearing, but back in the day, when it took a minute and a half to reload your rifle and all that stood between you and the enemy was a fancy outfit, then yeah, I'd say so.

I suppose you could use a bayonet to cut someone's throat, but chances are, to execute a move like that, you're going to want more direct control over your blade anyway.

I'm just speculating though.

Most troops are issued with bullet-proof vests which, ironically, aren't very stab-proof. Plus if they are they leave the sides, groin, arms, legs and neck vulnerable. They're quite easy to hit with what is essentially a short-spear.

 

[twostripe]

when im breaching a room and i get bull rushed with a knife it would be nice to have a bayonet but a goot butt-stroke can work, and i do love my shotgun

a 5.56 wont alays stop a charging person

true combat isnt like a video game a knife on the end of your gun can be very useful with all the urban settings we have now

Wait are we talking about ACTUAL combat or the fantasy combats you children like to participate in?

i assumed we were talking about ACTUAL combat since something being practical in a video game matters about as much as someones COD rank (not at all)

Yea see I thought that too but everyone keeps talking like these are ACTUAL experiences they've had and the thought of soldiers on the escapist is rather laughable.

what we cant play games when we get home? they exist my friend, my buddies love to give me grief cus im a nerd being a social outcast is kinda what brought me into the military

 

[hazabaza1]

Why would I bother having a knife on my gun, when I can shoot knives from my gun?!

 

[ryai458]

In close range, yes. Now all what we need is a gun that shoots bayonets.

like the rail road nail shooter in fallout 3, the one that makes a train horn noise when ever you shoot? yes that would be awesome

 

[twostripe]

In close range, yes. Now all what we need is a gun that shoots bayonets.

this wins ^^

i second that

 

[flaming_squirrel]

Modern weapons arent the right size/shape to properly use a bayonet, worked in WWI/II due to the long, thin shape of rifles.

 

[Snotnarok]

They can be useful, I have a bayonet from my ancestor ages ago that looks heavily used. They had guns too back then and it seemed to work just fine considering the wear on the blade.

 

[Premonition]

Sure, why not. In close quarters, like buildings, it could come in handy. That is, if you don't have a handgun there.

 

[Indecizion]

Meh if theyre used on the end of a rifle as a spear else wise why not just use a big knife? its not practical on its own.

 

[Shanecooper]

well, if your gonna rush the enemy base (or vice versa), chances are you'll be fairly close to your enemy's, and stabbing and shooting aren't really all that different when your opponent is three feet in front of you.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

I'd rather have one than not have one on my gun.

 

[PinkAngelKitty]

when im breaching a room and i get bull rushed with a knife it would be nice to have a bayonet but a goot butt-stroke can work, and i do love my shotgun

a 5.56 wont alays stop a charging person

true combat isnt like a video game a knife on the end of your gun can be very useful with all the urban settings we have now

Wait are we talking about ACTUAL combat or the fantasy combats you children like to participate in?

i assumed we were talking about ACTUAL combat since something being practical in a video game matters about as much as someones COD rank (not at all)

Yea see I thought that too but everyone keeps talking like these are ACTUAL experiences they've had and the thought of soldiers on the escapist is rather laughable.

what we cant play games when we get home? they exist my friend, my buddies love to give me grief cus im a nerd being a social outcast is kinda what brought me into the military

That's not what I'm saying. Did you do a tour of duty? Would you share those experiences here, on the Escapist, with some children? Would you discuss the finer points of combat strategy and whether you prefer to stab with your gun or with a hunting knife?

 

[twostripe]

think of it this way

if a guy starts 3-5 feet away from you and lunges for you with a knife you can shoot him and they may be kill shots but will he die instantly and just go limp? more likely his last bit of life and forward momentum will ruin your day

 

[twostripe]

when im breaching a room and i get bull rushed with a knife it would be nice to have a bayonet but a goot butt-stroke can work, and i do love my shotgun

a 5.56 wont alays stop a charging person

true combat isnt like a video game a knife on the end of your gun can be very useful with all the urban settings we have now

Wait are we talking about ACTUAL combat or the fantasy combats you children like to participate in?

i assumed we were talking about ACTUAL combat since something being practical in a video game matters about as much as someones COD rank (not at all)

Yea see I thought that too but everyone keeps talking like these are ACTUAL experiences they've had and the thought of soldiers on the escapist is rather laughable.

what we cant play games when we get home? they exist my friend, my buddies love to give me grief cus im a nerd being a social outcast is kinda what brought me into the military

That's not what I'm saying. Did you do a tour of duty? Would you share those experiences here, on the Escapist, with some children?

yes and no, but i like to give my input on topics like this because people seem to think that what they see in video games is how it really works

 

[PinkAngelKitty]

when im breaching a room and i get bull rushed with a knife it would be nice to have a bayonet but a goot butt-stroke can work, and i do love my shotgun

a 5.56 wont alays stop a charging person

true combat isnt like a video game a knife on the end of your gun can be very useful with all the urban settings we have now

Wait are we talking about ACTUAL combat or the fantasy combats you children like to participate in?

i assumed we were talking about ACTUAL combat since something being practical in a video game matters about as much as someones COD rank (not at all)

Yea see I thought that too but everyone keeps talking like these are ACTUAL experiences they've had and the thought of soldiers on the escapist is rather laughable.

what we cant play games when we get home? they exist my friend, my buddies love to give me grief cus im a nerd being a social outcast is kinda what brought me into the military

That's not what I'm saying. Did you do a tour of duty? Would you share those experiences here, on the Escapist, with some children?

yes and no, but i like to give my input on topics like this because people seem to think that what they see in video games is how it really works

Then we are on the same page.

 

[GrinningManiac]

They lost all usefulness by the time of the American Civil War, as by that point, musket salvos were too deadly to have an infantry charge be of much use (look at Gettysburg)

By the time WW1 rolled about, not only was it nigh-on impossible to reach enemy lines, most soldiers preferred the sharp edge of the Entrenchment Tool (a very sharp, stubby shovel (the thing the Soldier from TF2 has)), as the bayonet was prone to breaking off or getting stuck in things.

These days, It'd likely be a hinderance, as you'd probably just use a bowie knife or the like by the time you reach that range

and there's always that martial art the Israelis teach their military...seriously, who needs GUNS with that stuff?

 

[probunk]

Generally no. Though there have been a few incidents involving British charges recently, for the majority of the tim they are not really practical.