Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/958224
The last, spectacular bayonet charge took place in 2004 in Iraq when 20 British soldiers were attacked nearby al- Amara (around Basra) by 100 insurgents. British vehicles were immobilized and attackers were firing everything in them, mortars included. CO decided for a clearly suicidal move – he ordered "fix bayonets!" and charged. Distance to entrenched enemies was about 200 meters, but Brits managed to make. In bayonet fight they killed 20 enemies. The rest of them fled. Legend says that shortly after that situation, during the interview, one of the British commanders was accused of unnecessary brutality which he just answered "welcome in the bayonet fights world". Second incident was in Afghanistan. Then corporal, Sean Jones, was an executive commander of a patrol which got under well-coordinated Taliban fire in Karakan in Helmand Province. British soldiers were in the open and the fire came from two directions (north and east), including village. Soldiers took cover in irrigation ditch, but it was clear enough that enemy would try to flush them out of there. Jones ordered 3 men to fix bayonets and remaining two to give covering fire. They charged towards buildings 80 meters further - after reaching them it was revealed that disoriented enemy retreated which gave soldiers chance to regroup. What is interesting, both of that situations involved soldiers from the same unit, 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Regiment. Those lads have L85A2 rifles which happen to be not the best rifle for bayonet fight. If bull-pup ever would… www.fragoutmag.com