Bicycle for the SAF?
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http://www.togoparts.com/showroom/viewpic.php?srid=1&file=20050217215847425.jpg
As stated in the pic. This bike is supposely owned by the SAF. Anyone have any idea what for? -
Bicycle use to ride by soldiers to go for a quiet jalan jalan see see walk walk.Originally posted by Hidden^OnE:
As stated in the pic. This bike is supposely owned by the SAF. Anyone have any idea what for? -
Guard duty perhaps?Originally posted by Hidden^OnE:http://www.togoparts.com/showroom/viewpic.php?srid=1&file=20050217215847425.jpg
As stated in the pic. This bike is supposely owned by the SAF. Anyone have any idea what for? -
The SAF did experiment with using MTBs when the concept of BRC was first introduced...that's cos' my fren was part of the first batch...lol pity him...
so the first batch of BRC troopers were actually guinea pig test subjects....lol
I think even mini bikes are not new with the army...apparently, there were mini motorbikes dropped together with Brit or U.S. paratroopers during Operation Market Garden...very cute-looking...and a rare find now...
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Buying these things and use it is no problem,the problem is who will take care???
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eh... has anyone actually considered that its actually quite siong to ride a MTB on exercise???
with SBO, helmet, weapon, signal set??? hmmm...
firstly, unless got good suspensions, your backside will be numb before u're even near your destination...
second, recces are SUPPOSED to keep off the roads ANYWAY!
third, if u're ever contacted, good luck.
anyway, not impressed with the concept at all. its applications are severely limited. -
If there is a special situation where you need to move troops from a secure area to the front, this is a useful idea. This was exactly what the Japs did. They use confiscated bikes to move quickly forward along mostly secure roads.
They also had air superiority and didn't fear much air attacks from the Allies so they boldly rode along the roads.
They didn't ride bikes into battle as that would create some unique problems.
I think this is a very good idea for moving troops in secure areas in place of marching or using motor transports as this can sometimes become scarce. -
The bicycle range is too short, too slow and too tiring for modern troops. If you can airdrop a bicycle nowaday, you may as well drop a motorbike instead. You get longer range, fast and better mobility.Originally posted by tvdog:If there is a special situation where you need to move troops from a secure area to the front, this is a useful idea. This was exactly what the Japs did. They use confiscated bikes to move quickly forward along mostly secure roads.
They also had air superiority and didn't fear much air attacks from the Allies so they boldly rode along the roads.
They didn't ride bikes into battle as that would create some unique problems.
I think this is a very good idea for moving troops in secure areas in place of marching or using motor transports as this can sometimes become scarce. -
Yeah, but you need petrol. And you can't make a motorcycle for $200.Originally posted by storywolf:The bicycle range is too short, too slow and too tiring for modern troops. If you can airdrop a bicycle nowaday, you may as well drop a motorbike instead. You get longer range, fast and better mobility. -
world war 2, japanese soldiers use bikes too. haha. stealthy ninja action all the way
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The photo is actually "The Paratrooper TM"
see http://www.militarybikes.com/
Don't knock the humble two wheeler, check out:
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/5265/atb.htm
and
http://savvysurvivor.com.cnchost.com/bike_mobility.htm
the Swiss, Danish, Finnish and Vietnamese maintained such bycycle troops. During Vietnam war up to 200lbs of load could be carried on strengthened frames. Little maintenance and no need for external fuel supply/support (leg power), able to cross mountains, rivers etc. -
bicycle you need manpower can cannot go far !!! yes in older days they are use effectively.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:Yeah, but you need petrol. And you can't make a motorcycle for $200.
Army nowaday more important is fast and mobile !!! A full tank already can get you miles and miles which take you at least 4-5 days to ride in a bicycle ! Even if break off engagement with enemy you still have a chance of running for it. As for petrol, nowaday everywhere also can get supply.
You say $200 ? think the army pay more than that for a good bike, so in actual the different between a bicycle and bike is not that much different compare to the benefit of better speed, range and load. -
at my place there, there is even a bicycle lot for RSM which is near the Spec's mess
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good bicycles dont cost 200 bucks...if u watched Pacific Blue.....their bikes are in excess of thousands of dollars...Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:Yeah, but you need petrol. And you can't make a motorcycle for $200. -
Why say you cannot go far on a bicycle? I thought everybody knows that on a bicycle you can go three or four times the distance you can go on foot, and at 3 or 4 times the speed. I thought this was common knowledge?
And what makes you think petrol is availble anywhere? Ever heard of a naval and air blockade? Or what if you are in the middle of nowhere?
That the VC could haul heavy equipment strapped to bicycles is a perfect examples of how a bit of ingenuity goes a long way. Cannot afford to be too straight and narrow. -
Look you are going in for mission, not to be train to be world cycle champion ! You there to go on mission, your main aim is save your strength for recce and the mission, and not 1/2 dead from cycling.Originally posted by tvdog:Why say you cannot go far on a bicycle? I thought everybody knows that on a bicycle you can go three or four times the distance you can go on foot, and at 3 or 4 times the speed. I thought this was common knowledge?
And what makes you think petrol is availble anywhere? Ever heard of a naval and air blockade? Or what if you are in the middle of nowhere?
That the VC could haul heavy equipment strapped to bicycles is a perfect examples of how a bit of ingenuity goes a long way. Cannot afford to be too straight and narrow.
You can go 3 to 4 times the distance than by foot on a bicycle - then ? some one with a motorbike can go also 5-10 times the distance than you on bicycle and much faster and with more load - that is common knowledge also !
You can fly in a bicycle then you can fly in a motorbike with full tank also. If naval and air blockade is so successful then all the better, at least on a motorbike, you know there is nothing within miles that can catch you even spotted . If naval and air blockage is that good , that mean you have control of the field, so what the problem of flying in even bigger vehicles ! I fly in even a hummer or landrover !!!
The VC use bicycles ! yes why ? because at that time that the best they have ! If they have motorbikes , you think they will not have used them instead ! By the way, you know what happen to the VC, they crease to exist as a effective combat forces before the war ended. It was the NVA which finally won the US. By the way NVA also have tanks, trucks....... if your way of suggestion they should may as well all use bicycles with cannon mount on top instead !!! I am sure they won the war with tanks and trucks, as I sure remember seening footage of NVA tanks & trucks rolling into sagions and not any VC's bicycles.
In China people are abandoning bicycles as they adopt cars and motorbikes in their daily lives and that basic transport. Even your VC in vietnam have take to motorbike and discarded their bicycles, ask them to fight the war now, it be on motorbikes more ! http://www.f8.com/FP/Vietnam/VNEssay.html .
Sorry to say, it is you who are the one who is straight and narrow. -
I was talking about less urgent transport needs, not some commando raid - you're too caught up with yourself and missed the point completely. I'm not sorry to say.Originally posted by storywolf:Look you are going in for mission, not to be train to be world cycle champion ! You there to go on mission, your main aim is save your strength for recce and the mission, and not 1/2 dead from cycling.
You can go 3 to 4 times the distance than by foot on a bicycle - then ? some one with a motorbike can go also 5-10 times the distance than you on bicycle and much faster and with more load - that is common knowledge also !
You can fly in a bicycle then you can fly in a motorbike with full tank also. If naval and air blockade is so successful then all the better, at least on a motorbike, you know there is nothing within miles that can catch you even spotted . If naval and air blockage is that good , that mean you have control of the field, so what the problem of flying in even bigger vehicles ! I fly in even a hummer or landrover !!!
The VC use bicycles ! yes why ? because at that time that the best they have ! If they have motorbikes , you think they will not have used them instead ! By the way, you know what happen to the VC, they crease to exist as a effective combat forces before the war ended. It was the NVA which finally won the US. By the way NVA also have tanks, trucks....... if your way of suggestion they should may as well all use bicycles with cannon mount on top instead !!! I am sure they won the war with tanks and trucks, as I sure remember seening footage of NVA tanks & trucks rolling into sagions and not any VC's bicycles.
In China people are abandoning bicycles as they adopt cars and motorbikes in their daily lives and that basic transport. Even your VC in vietnam have take to motorbike and discarded their bicycles, ask them to fight the war now, it be on motorbikes more ! http://www.f8.com/FP/Vietnam/VNEssay.html .
Sorry to say, it is you who are the one who is straight and narrow. -
Bicycles are good for guard duty or going out to buy supper if duty driver lazy to do it. Anyway, Swiss Army scrapped its bicycle tradtion, maybe because they realise cycling in mountains is very tough
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1325485.stm -
Wow lau !!! that type of special bike just for less urgent need ? you wasting tax payer money that damn thing cost more then $300 at least !Originally posted by tvdog:I was talking about less urgent transport needs, not some commando raid - you're too caught up with yourself and missed the point completely. I'm not sorry to say.
If for that type non urgent just get a normal $60 bicycle from bicycle shop !!! -
HAHAHAHA!!!! Sure took them a long time to realise that.Originally posted by spacemarine:...Anyway, Swiss Army scrapped its bicycle tradtion, maybe because they realise cycling in mountains is very tough.
But cycling troops is not completely rubbish. For example they still have ski-equipped mountain troops. Going uphill it is a nuisance to carry you skis. But for level or downhill, nothing beats skiing.
So too, for Swiss bicycle troops. Going uphill you have to push your bike, but for level and downhill transport, it is beats walking. Of course, as Sorrywolf pointed out, you first have to be proficient at mountainbiking - a skill that can take months to master.
But the worst thing about cycling is that it forces you to stay on the road, which is why I say it is only good for use away from combat areas.
And when ambushed, you cannot immediately react if you are on a bicycle. You have to disembark and that would lose valuable seconds. And imagine soldiers trying to run for cover under attack and tripping over abandoned bikes. -
doublepost
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Only two countries in the world have entire units fighting on motorcycles- Switzerland and North Korea.