Ruminations on wargaming, especially the Seven Years War, the English Civil War and other 'black powder' periods. Occasional forays into obscure Nordic music and opinionated 'dribble' [sic] on Grimsby Town Football Club.
Wednesday, 24 April 2024
Ancient and Modern
Came across this article today. Evidently the device has been used for some time in recent conflicts. Not being a modernist, or really an ancientist * (to coin a term), I wasn’t aware of their use in WWII.
It is funny, interesting and alarming to see how much this modern war has taken on shades of previous wars like WW1's use of trenches etc. For all the tech it still boils down to the infantryman on the ground.
Yes, it's still the PBI who have to do the grunt work. If anything, it must be more scary and stressful with drones flying around, dropping grenades or acting as observers for artillery, there's less chance to hide.
Reminds me of a line in the 1980's Frederick Forsyth BBC doco "Soldiers" on The Infantry - "In war, possession is ninth tenths of the law - and the infantry are the bailiffs' men"!
We've gone full circle on personal body armour too when you think about it. Obviously the material has changed, but the average contemporary infantry is accoutred much like a late medieval solider (bang stick aside). Soldiers from the 20th C look very vulnerable by comparison.
I think the Police version is called a stinger...?
ReplyDeleteYes, that's the word. Couldn't think of it earlier.
DeleteIt is funny, interesting and alarming to see how much this modern war has taken on shades of previous wars like WW1's use of trenches etc. For all the tech it still boils down to the infantryman on the ground.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's still the PBI who have to do the grunt work. If anything, it must be more scary and stressful with drones flying around, dropping grenades or acting as observers for artillery, there's less chance to hide.
DeleteReminds me of a line in the 1980's Frederick Forsyth BBC doco "Soldiers" on The Infantry - "In war, possession is ninth tenths of the law - and the infantry are the bailiffs' men"!
Delete😆
DeleteTher is very little new, under the sun, Chris! Our police also use road spikes or "stingers"!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't think of the word earlier.
DeleteNothing new under the sun, indeed.
ReplyDeleteLiked the post title.
Alan Tradgardland
I could have called it’Nothing new under the Sun’.
DeleteVery interesting use of old technology.
ReplyDeleteWe've gone full circle on personal body armour too when you think about it. Obviously the material has changed, but the average contemporary infantry is accoutred much like a late medieval solider (bang stick aside). Soldiers from the 20th C look very vulnerable by comparison.
Delete