Swiss Guards Get A Rest

Philly.com ^

[Perdogg]

The pope's retirement means his famous Swiss Guards get a few days off before they have to protect the new guy.

Stern-face and standing as erect as the halberds they grasp, Swiss Guards rarely betray emotion on duty. Â But their storied history has its early roots in a bloody drama.

[Perdogg]

I wonder how good these guys are. Could they go toe to toe with, let's say, Al Qaeda?

[1rudeboy]

With halberds, or guns?

[Perdogg]

They carry SIG SG 552/553.

[Boogieman]

I dunno, but those halberds aren’t going to do much good in the modern day, unless there is a terrorist cavalry unit I’ve never heard of. I know they look cool, but if these guys are supposed to be more than just ceremonial, maybe they should think about upgrading to a modern rifle, like the Buckingham Palace guards.

[1rudeboy]

I was aware they carry guns (but not the make). Some also carry halberds.

[Oberon]

The halberds are largely ceremonial, although it would not surprise me to learn that the Swiss Guard trained with them. When they really have to go into action, they go with modern weapons and gear. And they are highly effective.

[oh8eleven]

I wonder how good these guys are. Could they go toe to toe with, let's say, Al Qaeda?
Well, you could look it up - "Great Battles in History Won by the Swiss Guards."

Oh, wait ...

[Perdogg]

There is a first time for everything.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

A friend was touring the Vatican and said he made a wrong turn. He saw some well armed guards in modern gear hiding in the shadows. If he didn’t turn back he swears he would have met them and not had a good day.

[TurboZamboni]

They raided MC Hammer’s closet and stole all his pants.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Saw a show about them and what they would let the show air rivaled any special forces training in the world. The ceremonial guards are only the tip of the iceberg of Vatican security.

[ansel12]

The Swiss were famous as warriors and mercenaries.

[VR-21]

Over 600 Swiss Guards died bravely, standing their ground defending the Royal Family from an armed mob at the Tuileries Palace in 1792 during the French Revolution. There's a monument to them in Lucerne, which Mark Twain described as "The saddest, most moving piece of rock in the world." I agree with him. Here's a google link to some pictures of it. Give yourself a treat and have a look.

[AzSteven]

They have always had some standard military training - basic training at their recruitment center, and additional training within their kaserne at the Vatican. Since the assassination attempt, they have gotten more focused on it and they train more extensively internally and with Italian military or security services.

Every now and then you will see pics of the guards in their finery toting some modern firepower in place of the halberd. For various reasons it always makes me laugh a little. I don't know how good they really are, but certainly they are getting better.

[AzSteven]

They have always had some standard military training - basic training at their recruitment center, and additional training within their kaserne at the Vatican. Since the assassination attempt, they have gotten more focused on it and they train more extensively internally and with Italian military or security services.

Every now and then you will see pics of the guards in their finery toting some modern firepower in place of the halberd. For various reasons it always makes me laugh a little. I don't know how good they really are, but certainly they are getting better.

[Wyatt's Torch]

They carry H&K’s, SIG’s, and Glock’s:

Modern arms

SIG P220 (P75)
Glock 19
Heckler & Koch MP5A3
Heckler & Koch MP7A1
SIG SG 550
SIG SG 552

[discostu]

Sometimes the sign of being a highly skilled force is never having to fight.

[reed13k]

Well... they aren’t pikers...

be here all day folks tip the hat...

[oh8eleven]

Over 600 Swiss Guards died bravely, standing their ground defending the Royal Family from an armed mob
Ah, that would be considered a loss, hence, not in the book of great victories.

[buffaloguy]

Don’t mess with them. They are some of the very best.