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Bicycle infantry

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by NihonNOGAY, Aug 23, 2018.

  1. NihonNOGAY

    NihonNOGAY New Member

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    Quick question are Bicycle Infantry considered motorised? I assume no.
     
  2. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Is there a "bicycle infantry"? or infantry using bikes...I would assume they were considered "mobile".
     
  3. NihonNOGAY

    NihonNOGAY New Member

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    Would bikes be considered limited cross-country or cross-country
     
  4. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Don't know...I doubt it...they weren't mountain bikes! : )
     
  5. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    I don't know...doubt it....they weren't mountain bikes! : )
     
  6. green slime

    green slime Member

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    Many countries used bicycles with their infantry. But no, they weren't considered motorised. But they can cover roughly three times as much distance than footsloggers without bikes along roads in the same space of time. Consider that the German infantry and their replacement units actually walked all the way to Stalingrad.

    It's not on the front the bikes are used, but to get there. As long as there is a track or path, bicycles could be used. Except in mountains, of course...

    [​IMG]
    Well, except by the Italians.
     
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  7. JJWilson

    JJWilson Well-Known Member

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    The Japanese used bicycles where terrain, and lack of fuel, made vehicles impractical......
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    The French used bicycles to get to the Western Front in WW1......and they were used in WW2
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    The Germans widely used bicycles in almost all theaters.......
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    The British had bicycles........
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    The Americans used bikes..........sorry I had too.........
     
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  8. Highway70

    Highway70 Member

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    Last edited: Aug 24, 2018
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  9. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    The British Army had cyclist battalions in WW1, but not sure if they were only used on the Home Front.
     
  10. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    I can recall a British Propaganda film showing bicycle troops training in the late summer of 1940 to boost morale in the face os a possible invasion.
     
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  11. Carronade

    Carronade Ace

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    Hopefully they didn't show it at the same time as the films of German tanks rolling across France ;)
     
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  12. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    It was purely propaganda that was likely shot and quickly forgotten.
     
  13. USMCPrice

    USMCPrice Idiot at Large

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    Japanese bicycle troops did play a significant part in inflicting the greatest British defeat in history. A smaller force defeating a larger force, capturing an impregnable bastion and the largest capitulation, all in one campaign.
     
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