Has the military ever used bows?
- Thread starter Rembrandt
- Start date
Wildalaska
Moderator
Rambo did, but I don't know about anyone else.
WildhewassfAlaska ™
WildhewassfAlaska ™
Seems so.
Even in the Second World War, a detachment of American archers were used in several specialized actions in Asia.
http://library.thinkquest.org/27344/history.htm
some of the worlds special forces continue to make use of the bow or crossbow as a silent weapon of the night.
http://www.woodfordarchers.org.uk/clubinfo/history.html
Even in the Second World War, a detachment of American archers were used in several specialized actions in Asia.
http://library.thinkquest.org/27344/history.htm
some of the worlds special forces continue to make use of the bow or crossbow as a silent weapon of the night.
http://www.woodfordarchers.org.uk/clubinfo/history.html
I remember seeing photos of various clandestine op weapons which showed crossbows for silent sentry removal. Don't know if they were practical enough for field use, or if they were even used for that matter. This pic from The Museum of WWII shows some of the different weapons that the OSS supplied their agents with during the war.
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chris in va
New member
Now that was funny.
Lawyer Daggit
New member
I understand the SAS trains with crossbows for sentry removal. They are quiet, because they cut, they will penetrate body armour better than bullets can.
Chris Phelps
New member
In Vietnam, the Degar used bows.
For those who don't know, the Degar were the indigenous people that lived in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. (Also called Montagnards by the French, meaning "Mountain Men".)
Bows were also common in the medieval period, as well as being used by the Samurai of Japan.
In fact, I think nearly every army in the world, at one point in it's history, has used bows.
As for practical application... that would all be in the eyes of the beholder. As far as specops, I doubt it. Being required to stand up and stretch your arms outward for a shot, rather than to shoot from concealment without moving? Not a likely scenario.
For those who don't know, the Degar were the indigenous people that lived in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. (Also called Montagnards by the French, meaning "Mountain Men".)
Bows were also common in the medieval period, as well as being used by the Samurai of Japan.
In fact, I think nearly every army in the world, at one point in it's history, has used bows.
As for practical application... that would all be in the eyes of the beholder. As far as specops, I doubt it. Being required to stand up and stretch your arms outward for a shot, rather than to shoot from concealment without moving? Not a likely scenario.
Garand Illusion
New member
And US Marines have little pink bows on their issue underwear ... though they won't admit it.
Chinese officers bow all the time.
From another forum.....
In 1939 Captain Jack Churchill of the Manchester Regiment was a member of the British team competing in the World Archery Championship at Oslo. With war in the offing, the party arrived back in England after some difficulties and he went, almost immediately, with the advance party of the British Expeditionary Force to the Continent. Before embarking, Captain Churchill had made by Purle of London a hundred-pound yew bow together with hunting arrows; he also equipped himself with two steel bows which were later broken whilst sticking out of the back of a lorry that was backed against a wall.
During the days of the "Phoney War" of 1939, Captain Churchill took every opportunity of practising with his bow by shooting at targets. In December 1939 the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Division of the BEF, took over part of the Maginot Line. It was a bitterly cold winter and snow lay on the frozen ground, so that patrols formed of groups from all battalions were sent out in front of the Maginot Line wearing white nightgowns and with their legs encased in layers of straw and sandbags. Frustrated and irritated by the official policy of not provoking the enemy, Captain Churchill decided upon a symbolic gesture which he thought would not only give him great personal satisfaction but might also create a certain alarm, despondency and bewilderment in the enemy lines. On the 31st December 1939, whilst out with a patrol amid the undulating, snow-covered countryside of no-man's-land, he stealthily made his way to between fifty and eighty yards from the German lines and drawing his bowstring back to his cheek, let loose an arrow which he heard bite into a frost-hard ground with an audible "Clack!". there was no reaction whatsoever, so Churchill again drew his bow and loosed a second arrow - this time a German voice called out and there was obviously some consternation caused in the enemy defences, although he did not have the satisfaction of knowing whether or not his arrow had hit anyone. Although elated by his gesture, the archer regretted not being able to retrieve his arrows. The shafts cost him 10s. 6d each and the War Office had no financial responsibility for such ammunition.
On 27th May 1940, whilst in command of a mixed force holding the village of L'Epinette, near Bethune, during the retreat to Dunkirk, Captain Churchill, who had been slightly wounded on the 25th, became the only European for centuries who, in the action of war, had killed an enemy with the longbow. Climbing into the loft of a small granary, through a vertical opening in one wall he saw, some thirty yards away, five German soldiers sheltering behind a wall but in clear view of the granary. Quickly and quietly Captain Churchill fetched up two infantrymen and instructed them to open rapid fire on the enemy but not to pull the trigger until he had loosed an arrow at the centre man. Captain Churchill lifted his bow, took careful aim and loosed the shaft. At the same time as the bow string twanged, the air was shattered by the rapid fire of the two infantrymen. Captain Churchill was delighted to see his arrow strike the centre German in the left of the chest and penetrate his body; the remaining Germans of the party slumped to the dusty ground. With the idea of retrieving his arrow by pushing or pulling it through the wound, Captain Churchill swiftly ran to the body but was unable to extract the shaft. In his haste he broke the arrow, leaving the barbed-head in the German's body. At this moment enemy machine-gun fire was opened down the line of the road and everyone dived for cover.
Sheet 21 of the War Diary of the 4th Infantry Brigade, dated the 30th of May 1940, bears the following paragraph:
One of the most reassuring sights of the embarkation was the sight of Captain Churchill passing down the beach with his bows and arrows! His actions in the Saar with his arrows are known to many and his disappointment at not having had the chance to keep in practice had tried him sorely. His high example and his great work with his machine-guns were a great help to the 4th Infantry Brigade.
Five years before the first atomic bomb exploded and nearly 600 years after the battle of Crecy an English archer had incongruously and briefly returned to the ancient battlefields of France.
A sniper in the 10th Mountain Division was encouraged to use his bow, and took it into combat in Italy in 1945. He used it to silence a German sentry in Feb 1945, and carried it and his 4 remaining arrows through the rest of the War. The weapon, quiver and arrows are on display at the Denver Public Library and photos are on their web site.
The 106th Cavalry while stationed in Panama in 1942 through 1943 used blow guns to silence Germans. The Germans were operating radio stations and supply bases for thier subs operating in the Gulf. The blowguns they got from headhunters in the jungles as well as the formula for making posion for the darts. This part 106th dsignation changed to the 32nd cavalry and while in Europe also had at least 2 members that used bows and arrows to silence Germans. They also used crossbows on occassions. This is according to Frank "Lindy" Fancher a living member of the 32nd Cavalry.
In 1939 Captain Jack Churchill of the Manchester Regiment was a member of the British team competing in the World Archery Championship at Oslo. With war in the offing, the party arrived back in England after some difficulties and he went, almost immediately, with the advance party of the British Expeditionary Force to the Continent. Before embarking, Captain Churchill had made by Purle of London a hundred-pound yew bow together with hunting arrows; he also equipped himself with two steel bows which were later broken whilst sticking out of the back of a lorry that was backed against a wall.
During the days of the "Phoney War" of 1939, Captain Churchill took every opportunity of practising with his bow by shooting at targets. In December 1939 the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Division of the BEF, took over part of the Maginot Line. It was a bitterly cold winter and snow lay on the frozen ground, so that patrols formed of groups from all battalions were sent out in front of the Maginot Line wearing white nightgowns and with their legs encased in layers of straw and sandbags. Frustrated and irritated by the official policy of not provoking the enemy, Captain Churchill decided upon a symbolic gesture which he thought would not only give him great personal satisfaction but might also create a certain alarm, despondency and bewilderment in the enemy lines. On the 31st December 1939, whilst out with a patrol amid the undulating, snow-covered countryside of no-man's-land, he stealthily made his way to between fifty and eighty yards from the German lines and drawing his bowstring back to his cheek, let loose an arrow which he heard bite into a frost-hard ground with an audible "Clack!". there was no reaction whatsoever, so Churchill again drew his bow and loosed a second arrow - this time a German voice called out and there was obviously some consternation caused in the enemy defences, although he did not have the satisfaction of knowing whether or not his arrow had hit anyone. Although elated by his gesture, the archer regretted not being able to retrieve his arrows. The shafts cost him 10s. 6d each and the War Office had no financial responsibility for such ammunition.
On 27th May 1940, whilst in command of a mixed force holding the village of L'Epinette, near Bethune, during the retreat to Dunkirk, Captain Churchill, who had been slightly wounded on the 25th, became the only European for centuries who, in the action of war, had killed an enemy with the longbow. Climbing into the loft of a small granary, through a vertical opening in one wall he saw, some thirty yards away, five German soldiers sheltering behind a wall but in clear view of the granary. Quickly and quietly Captain Churchill fetched up two infantrymen and instructed them to open rapid fire on the enemy but not to pull the trigger until he had loosed an arrow at the centre man. Captain Churchill lifted his bow, took careful aim and loosed the shaft. At the same time as the bow string twanged, the air was shattered by the rapid fire of the two infantrymen. Captain Churchill was delighted to see his arrow strike the centre German in the left of the chest and penetrate his body; the remaining Germans of the party slumped to the dusty ground. With the idea of retrieving his arrow by pushing or pulling it through the wound, Captain Churchill swiftly ran to the body but was unable to extract the shaft. In his haste he broke the arrow, leaving the barbed-head in the German's body. At this moment enemy machine-gun fire was opened down the line of the road and everyone dived for cover.
Sheet 21 of the War Diary of the 4th Infantry Brigade, dated the 30th of May 1940, bears the following paragraph:
One of the most reassuring sights of the embarkation was the sight of Captain Churchill passing down the beach with his bows and arrows! His actions in the Saar with his arrows are known to many and his disappointment at not having had the chance to keep in practice had tried him sorely. His high example and his great work with his machine-guns were a great help to the 4th Infantry Brigade.
Five years before the first atomic bomb exploded and nearly 600 years after the battle of Crecy an English archer had incongruously and briefly returned to the ancient battlefields of France.
A sniper in the 10th Mountain Division was encouraged to use his bow, and took it into combat in Italy in 1945. He used it to silence a German sentry in Feb 1945, and carried it and his 4 remaining arrows through the rest of the War. The weapon, quiver and arrows are on display at the Denver Public Library and photos are on their web site.
The 106th Cavalry while stationed in Panama in 1942 through 1943 used blow guns to silence Germans. The Germans were operating radio stations and supply bases for thier subs operating in the Gulf. The blowguns they got from headhunters in the jungles as well as the formula for making posion for the darts. This part 106th dsignation changed to the 32nd cavalry and while in Europe also had at least 2 members that used bows and arrows to silence Germans. They also used crossbows on occassions. This is according to Frank "Lindy" Fancher a living member of the 32nd Cavalry.
The OSS (the fore-runner of the CIA) issued at least two different types of crossbows for assassination purposes during WW2, the "Little Joe" and the "Big Joe". The Little Joe was a pistol crossbow, and the Big Joe was a mid-sized crossbow, but still smaller than a typical hunting crossbow of today.