Believe it or not armies have studied this idea. It was found that a cylindrical bayonet penetrated better and bled more than a blade bayonet. Cylindrical wounds don't close or heal easily either.
We don't sharpen our bayonets at all, thats the British Army that is.. Its classed the same as filing down bullets to give them the 'hollow point' effect. Thou the saying of ''1 shot 1 kill'' is a nice thought, the weapons we are issued with are designed to injure not kill. It takes the other side more resourses to look after an injured soldier than a dead 1..
Recently, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to read Lieutenant-Colonel David Grossman's book
entitled On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society.
1
In doing so, it reminded
me of another exceptional book that had long sat dormant on my bookshelf and therefore, was in need of
re-reading. It was Lord Moran's penetrating piece, The Anatomy of Courage: The Classic Study of the
Soldier's Struggle Against Fear
2
. Both books examine some fundamental questions concerning the
psychological impact and costs associated with courage, fear, and the act of killing. They challenge and
question our beliefs on the very basest nature of our profession.
In On Killing, Grossman contends that soldiers have traditionally had an aversion to using the bayonet in
combat. This finding supported one of his major premises that soldiers invariably kill better from a distance
and, therefore, the psychological costs to the soldier were greater the closer the nature of the killing. While
seemingly logical in itself, his chapter specifically dedicated to killing with the bayonet and knife was both
illuminating and surprising. If one believes Grossman's assertion that soldiers do not like, and historically
have attempted to avoid using the bayonet, then question of the bayonet's relevance on the modern battlefield
is worth examining as Remarque in his work, All Quiet on the Western Front, prompts us to do:
But the bayonet has practically lost its importance. It is usually the
fashion now to charge with bombs and spades only. The sharpened
spade is a more handy and many-sided weapon; not only can it be
used for jabbing a man under the chin, but due to its greater weight
if one hits between the neck and shoulder it easily cleaves as far
down as the chest. The bayonet frequently jams on the thrust and
then a man has to kick hard on the other fellow's belly to pull it out
again; and in the interval he may easily get one himself. And
what's more the blade often gets broken off.
Once a soldier has completed his primary infantry training, his exposure to bayonet fighting will vary from
unit to unit and priority to priority. Rightly or wrongly, I have the perception that bayonet training is
disappearing from our training schedules, and perhaps from our military psyche. I recall about 14 years ago, a
sergeant was conducting a 40 minute period on bayonet fighting during an Airborne Indoctrination Course.
After this 40 minutes, I seem to remember being both physically and mentally spent. The training was good,
hard and relevant. I have seen little in the way of similar training being conducted since. I offer my apologies
and ask that those individuals who have conducted or participated in such training not take exception.
Remember, this is my perception.
There have always been three reasons for conducting bayonet training. They, in my estimation, remain
unchanged. First and foremost, the ability to kill and maim, must remain the central reason for bayonet
training. In combat, a soldier must be prepared to use every weapon to both achieve the mission and survive.
Although I do not fully support Grossman's contention that soldiers will attempt to avoid using the bayonet if
possible; not to providing him with the necessary tools is wrong.
Secondly, bayonet training has been one of the more fundamental methods of psychologically inculcating a
soldier into his profession. Historically, the racial characteristics or traits of an enemy were either placed on
the bayonet dummy, or certain epitaphs were employed by the soldier when skewering the dummy. These
were common practices when nations were locked in national or global conflicts of survival. Today's
geographically limited wars, although just as deadly, do not incur the same base instincts that were prevalent
during the Second World War, nor I suspect will society allow them. We no longer `Shoot-to-Kill'.
Bayonet training does serve to generate controlled, aggressive behaviour. It also serves on the other hand as a
release valve for the aggression and frustration of its trainees. Although society is placing great demands for
a quieter and gentler military, bayonet training and its associated psychological implications concerning an
in-your-face method of killing, directly conflicts with these demands. The push for more civilized training
methods directly contradicts the savagery of combat. Bayonet training, I believe, should always have a place
in both identifying and developing mental toughness in our soldiers.
Finally, the physical fitness benefits of conducting aggressive bayonet training cannot be understated. A
properly conducted bayonet period (with or without bayonet dummies) is an excellent upper-body workout
and provides a cardiovascular challenge. It can be conducted at any time and in just about any location
(parade square, drill hall, a field) with a minimum of preparation. All that is required is the soldier's standard
fighting order, time, and an aggressive and enthusiastic instructor.
by MCpl Bern LeBlanc
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CFB SHILO — During a seven-day training session, soldiers from the Western Area Training Centre Detachment Shilo learned and honed the unarmed combat skills that could help save their lives.
Soldiers can use hand-to-hand or unarmed combat in close-quarter battle. It is a quick and effective way to defend one’s self and to detain or kill the enemy. The soldiers used several different techniques, including striking, kicking and bayonet fighting. They also learned about pressure points on the human body.
The instructors ran the recruits through the obstacle course to get them as tired as possible to simulate a battle situation.
“They do various techniques, such as striking targets, and some endurance training to see how they react when they are fatigued,” said Master Bombardier Michael Burns. “This could be incorporated in the battlefield as well. If they are fatigued and can’t fight, the chances of them surviving are pretty slim. Hopefully, these recruits will learn from what I’m teaching them. It’s a good experience for the soldiers, and it keeps me fresh in my techniques as well.”
The training was fast-paced, with the new recruits showing aggression. They used offensive and defensive techniques, smashing through targets with their bayonets and punching and kicking with full force. Bayonet fighting was conducted throughout the week.
“I really love the bayonet training,” said Private Brittany Taylor of Liri Valley Platoon. “It’s just awesome. It’s quite intense, how you scream your lungs out the entire time you’re doing it. That is what you’re going to do in a real situation, so you have to put a lot of drive into it.”




























