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Why don't we train and equip modern soldiers with swords?

Sure, long range shooty shooty stuff is the way of warfare these days but still. When it comes down to close combat, swords are pretty flippin effective.
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hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
Google bayonets.
@hippyjoe1955

Not as good as a sword at close quarters.
It's essentially a short spear. Once you're inside the reach of a spear it loses a lot of effectiveness.
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
@Pikachu Ever had hand to hand combat training?
@hippyjoe1955

Yeah. Not military. And i've trained with swords too.
They're pretty great lol
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
@Pikachu And useless in the modern battlefield. Bayonets are highly effective and are not just a useless spear.
@hippyjoe1955

Why is a sword useless in the modern battlefield?
It's a very good close quarters weapon. Has been for centuries. What about modern close combat makes it useless?
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
@Pikachu Ever watch the trailer for a movie where the one guy is waving his sword like a true swordsman and the other guy 15 feet way pulls his pistol and shoots the swordsman dead?
@hippyjoe1955

I feel like you're not paying attention, joe.

"Sure, long range shooty shooty stuff is the way of warfare these days but still. When it comes down to close combat, swords are pretty flippin effective."
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
@Pikachu no they are not.
@hippyjoe1955


Um...yes, they are. That's why they were used in warfare by virtually every culture for centuries.
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
@Pikachu Do you honestly think that swords were discarded in battle because they were effective?
@hippyjoe1955


No, i think they were discarded because long range fighting became the norm.

I'm saying why not have the best of both worlds
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
@Pikachu So in the trench warfare of WWI swords were used or abandoned while doing full frontal assaults?
@hippyjoe1955

What about trench fighting? Are dug in, extended battles still fought in trenches?
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
@Pikachu And when they went over the top and charged the other guys trenches they fixed bayonets. Run out of bullets keep stabbing with the bayonet.
@hippyjoe1955

But only because they didn't know how to use a sword😉
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
@Pikachu They did know how to use a sword. In close quarters the sword doesn't work Not enough room or time to swing it.
@hippyjoe1955

maybe not in a trench. But how often are you fighting in a trench?

This isn't ww1 anymore, joe! lol
AceWarbringer · 41-45, M
@Pikachu it's urban combat and roomclearing now. Still close quarters stuff. Knives l, bayonets, grenades, shotguns are the tools of the trade. You have to move quick and hit hard.

Not to many people gave the reaction time or strength to swing a sword quickly enough in CQB. (Close Quarter Battle)

The problem is one of reaction. So you need to build as much buffer into yours, and take away as much of your opponents, as possible.

This is why we developed flashbangs, and short battle rifles (m4 carbine comes to mind)

A sword is approx. 18-36 inches (up to 100cm) long. Weighs about 8-10 lbs, (15-20 kilos) and takes a bit of windup to get in motion. Which is great, if you opposite is unarmed or has a sword themselves.

A firearm takes a triggerpull. And doesn't require too much training before you can be trusted not to cut off your limbs(or your buddies) swordmandhip can take years of training before you can even expect the ability. It only takes a few minutes to get someone equiped with a gun and trained up.

This is also the reason why bows were surpassed as the weapon of choice for long distance item throwing.

So it comes down to training, ability, usefulness, and speed.
sarabee1995 · 26-30, FVIP
@hippyjoe1955


Combine with a well-trained operator.