A bayonet charge undertaken by British soldiers against the Mahdi Army in Afghanistan in 2004 is being used by the US as an example of how to tackle insurgents.
Just 20 British soldiers took on 100 insurgents, but when they started running out of ammo the British fixed bayonets and charged, screaming, at the enemy. The insurgents fled in terror, 20 of them were killed, whereas the British suffered no fatalities.
US warfare experts were clearly impressed by the British soldiers.
US warfare experts inspired by bayonet charge by British troops
14/04/2009
The Mirror
British soldiers in Afghanistan
Warfare experts in the US are using a famous bayonet charge by British troops as an example of how to tackle insurgents.
They were inspired by the heroic assault by 20 members of the 16th Air Assault Brigade in Basra in May 2004.
A convoy was ambushed by more than 100 members of the notorious Shia militia, the Mahdi Army. When they started to run out of ammunition the Brits fixed bayonets and charged at the enemy positions screaming.
Many of the Iraqis fled the British onslaught, which left more than 20 dead.
Just a handful of British soldiers were wounded and the incident is now being hailed as a major triumph for shock tactics.
The Urban Warfare Analysis Center said: "The attack captured the element of surprise. Enemy fighters probably believed propaganda stating that coalition troops were cowards, unwilling to fight in close combat."
dailymail.co.uk
Just 20 British soldiers took on 100 insurgents, but when they started running out of ammo the British fixed bayonets and charged, screaming, at the enemy. The insurgents fled in terror, 20 of them were killed, whereas the British suffered no fatalities.
US warfare experts were clearly impressed by the British soldiers.
US warfare experts inspired by bayonet charge by British troops
14/04/2009
The Mirror
British soldiers in Afghanistan
Warfare experts in the US are using a famous bayonet charge by British troops as an example of how to tackle insurgents.
They were inspired by the heroic assault by 20 members of the 16th Air Assault Brigade in Basra in May 2004.
A convoy was ambushed by more than 100 members of the notorious Shia militia, the Mahdi Army. When they started to run out of ammunition the Brits fixed bayonets and charged at the enemy positions screaming.
Many of the Iraqis fled the British onslaught, which left more than 20 dead.
Just a handful of British soldiers were wounded and the incident is now being hailed as a major triumph for shock tactics.
The Urban Warfare Analysis Center said: "The attack captured the element of surprise. Enemy fighters probably believed propaganda stating that coalition troops were cowards, unwilling to fight in close combat."
dailymail.co.uk
