Posted on 05/16/2004 8:46:27 PM PDT by 1066AD
OUTNUMBERED British soldiers killed 35 Iraqi attackers in the Army’s first bayonet charge since the Falklands War 22 years ago. The fearless Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders stormed rebel positions after being ambushed and pinned down.
Despite being outnumbered five to one, they suffered only three minor wounds in the hand-to-hand fighting near the city of Amara.
The battle erupted after Land Rovers carrying 20 Argylls came under attack on a highway.
After radioing for back-up, they fixed bayonets and charged at 100 rebels using tactics learned in drills.
When the fighting ended bodies lay all over the highway — and more were floating in a nearby river. Nine rebels were captured.
An Army spokesman said: “This was an intense engagement.”
The last bayonet charge was by the Scots Guards and the Paras against Argentinian positions.
Forrest to my mind may have been the best soldier ever. His tactics are still admired and studied in Europe, but the PC crowd has almost eliminated his name in the States.
"Cold Steel! Cuts Deep!" Go Brits!
Yes, a bayonet charge is highly unusual against an enemy armed with AK-47s. I don't think this article tells the whole story of this battle. The Brits would never attempt a bayonet charge into automatic weapons fire, except at very close range (like ten feet.) I'll bet the attackers used up all their ammo firing at the Brit soldiers who had taken cover behind their Land Rovers. The attackers probably "killed" eight Land Rovers but used up their ammunition in the process. When the Brits figured out that their attackers had run out of ammo, that's probably when their commander ordered the bayonet charge. Exactly when the Warrior armored vehicles arrived and what role they played is not discussed in detail here either. It's possible that 30 attackers were shot by the Warriors' machine guns and 5 were bayoneted. Who knows...but it makes a great tabloid story.
The cry of the bayonet fighter: "MORE AMMO!!!
Geez, I checked this thread, even though I saw a hundred posts, just to unburden myself of the "they don't like it up 'em" line. I was sure no one else would have used it. And there it is in the poster's comment.
Jonesy, is that you?
I must say too that it's an odd coincidence that just days after Nick Berg felt the cold steel of Al Qaeda in his neck, these insurgents have felt the cold steel of the British army in their guts. One can only hope that those who were bayoneted were also Al Qaeda terrorists.
Need more drills,about 55 got away.But it was a good showing.GO BRITS
The latest rumor in London is that all of these casualties were caused by one of Commander Bond's new high-tech weapons and the bayonet charge is just a cover story. The British troops are reportedly "shaken but not stirred" by these events, and MI6 is refusing comment.
If you get your ass kicked by people whose concept of "formal dress" is a woolen skirt, you need to look into a profession that doesn't involve fighting.
Looks like Bond may have been involved in this fight. Q won't say a word about this little battle, but he seems rather pleased with himself about something.
This definitely makes me proud of my Scottish heritage. I'm a Kennedy - the first Kennedy was married to the daughter of King Robert the Bruce. My ancestors came to the Carolinas in time to fight in the American Revolution. Another branch of the clan allowed the English to chase them into Ireland. We know who some of their descendents are.
Anyhow, because of their kilts and their ferocity in battle, Scottish warriors have been called "ladies from Hell".
They also have one helluva bunch of pipers. They put on a show in Tucson back in 1974 that had the crowd on its feet.
Don't mess with a Highland Regiment.
I like your screen name. My ancestors came across with William.
When the fighting ended bodies lay all over the highway — and more were floating in a nearby river. Good for them, big clangie danglies...but I want to know how many of those enemy dead had bayonet holes in them. I'm guessing none. Suspect it was violence of action...and .223
maybe not that SS108/M855 stuff... *grin*
That's amazing. I didn't know anyone used bayonets anymore. Go Brits!
No. The SLR that was in use with UK forces was semi-automatic. We never adopted either the burst or automatic version. The standard service rifle is the SA-80.
The following is the L85A2(SA80A2)upgraded variant ably modeled by a female soldier in Iraq
Thanks for the information!
Nothing you or I wouldn't have done... by the time of this depiction these guys would've had news of what happened at Isandhlwana.
OK, that makes sense.
"Stop this capturing stuff. No more prisoners"
A 100% kill rate would have sent a much needed message to Jihad.
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