Infantry cyclist

The infantry cyclist indicates the Soldat S of Infanterie which operate on the battle field by using Bicyclette S. Its appearance goes back to the end of the {{Romain|XIX}}{{exp|E}} century, when the bicycle became popular in Europe, with the the United States and in Australia.

Initial use

Many a Expérience S was carried out to seek military applications to the bicycle. With the the United Kingdom, units with bicycles were first of all formed in the Milice and the units " territorial " , but not in the regular units. In France, various experimental units were created, using mainly a series of bicycles designed by a French officer.

With the the United States, the most massive experimentation of the units with bicycles is organized by first Lieutenant Moss of the 25e Infanterie of the United States (a regiment of infantry only made up of Afro-Américain S with white officers). Using a large variety of bicycles, lieutenant Moss and his troops carry out epic days with bicycle traversing of 800 with 1 600 km at the same time. At the end of the {{Romain|XIX}}{{exp|ème}} century, the American army evaluates the use of the bicycle for the transport of troops on long distances. The Buffalo Soldier S stationed in the Montana thus traverse hundreds of kilometers in cross-country at an impressive speed.

The first known use of the bicycle to the combat dates from the " Jameson Raid " who preceded the Second War by Boers, during which cyclists acted as messengers. With the war, the military cyclists also carried out missions of information; however, various combat were held implying of the infantry cyclist on the two sides.

First and Second world war

During the First World War, the bicycle extrèmement was extrèmement used that it is in the infantry, the information, the transmission of information or for the medical care. The German Armée leads a study on the use of the bicycle and publishes its results under the title " Die Radfahrertruppe ". During this time, in Italy, units of mountain " Bersaglieri " use bicycles until the end of the war.

At the time of the invasion of China in 1937, the Japan employs 50 000 soldiers with bicycle. At the beginning of the Second world war, their campaigns in the south to capture Singapore while passing by the peninsular Malaysia depend largely on the soldiers with bicycle. The bicycle allows a transport quiet and flexible hundreds of soldiers, able then to surprise and sow confusion in the defenders. The bicycles also make it possible to reduce the requirements on the machine of Japanese war, not requiring neither additional truck nor boat to transport them and not using an invaluable Pétrole. The use of the bicycle by the Allies during the Second world war is limited, but includes bicycles for the parachutists and the messengers inside the friendly lines. The Opération Biting in Bruneval in 1942 is thus led by airborne bicycle-commandos .

Nonconventional war

Although massively used during the First World War, the bicycles were largely replaced by the transport motorized in the modern armies. However, they took again a new life like " arms with the peuple" in the nonconventional Guerilla and wars, where the capacity of the bicycle to transport heavy loads (approximately 180 kg) and provisioning at the speed of a man who walks makes it very useful for the light forces. On long periods, the Vietcong S and the Armée popular Vietnamese used bicycles to transport the provisioning of the " Track Ho Chi Minh " , thus avoiding the repeated attacks of the United States and the strategic bombardments of the Allies. Heavily charged, these bicycles were with difficulty airships. The supply craft worked then to side, pushing the bicycle like a wheelbarrow. With certain very heavy loadings, the supply craft attached sometimes stems of bamboo to the bicycle to direct it as with a rudder (this method is still used in China today). " bicycles of transport" Vietnamese was rebuilt in workshops in the jungle with a framework reinforced to carry heavy loads on any ground.

{{Romain|XXI}}{{exp|E}} century

The use of the bicycle as means of transport of infantry continued with E century with the regiment cyclist of the Swiss Armed , composed of 3 000 soldiers, who existed until in 2003.

Some report that bicycles any ground were used by the American special forces like conveys information at the time of the American invasion of Afghanistan and of the consecutive battles.

In Sweden

At the beginning of the Second world war, the Swedish army counted six regiments of infantry with bicycle. They were equipped with Swedish bicycles soldier. Most current were the m/42, a right bicycle and at only one speed, produced by various large Swedish manufacturers of bicycles. These regiments were removed between 1948 and 1952, and the bicycles preserved for a general use in the army. At the beginning of the Years 1970, the army starts to sell them like military surplus. They become very popular thanks to their low costs and with their weak maintenance, especially in the students. To answer this popularity, an independent company, Kronan, started to produce a modernized version of the m/42 in 1997.

References

Jim Fitzpatrick, The Bicycle In Wartime: Year Illustrated History the Bicycle in Time of war: A Illustrated History”, Brassey' S Inc., Washington, cd., 1998
Gert Ekström, Ola Husberg, Älskade cykel , Bokförlaget Prisma, 2001,1e ED.

Random links: