There are always threads about ''the best tank'', ''the best fighter'' even seen a thread for ''best helmet''. Has anyone ever started a thread called , ''who had the best entrenching tool?'' Quite an important bit of kit , it gets overlooked.
Crackingly strange question, mate. But first we need to look at some entrenching tools. The mother & father of them all? Roman, 1st-3rd Century: http://www.roman-artifacts.com/military%20accessories/Legionary%20Entrenchment%20tool/Legionary%20entrenching%20tool.htm
The German '38 And the US M43 (Copied from the German? ), with a handy spike for that all-important back-swing. Fusilier Tom Payne models the Shovel, General Service & Entrenching tool haft with head in carrier: THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944. © IWM (B 9006)IWM Non Commercial Licence Contents of Entrenching tool carrier: WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION. © IWM (B 9008)IWM Non Commercial Licence The British tool not unlike the Roman above, and there's possibly something to be said for a nice sharp separate spade that requires no assembly, despite it's lack of 'multi-purpose' use so elegantly achieved by the US & German patterns above. Maybe a lesson learnt in Trench-fighting 20 years before? I'd rather have a spade when things got really nasty than many more 'sophisticated' H2H weapons.
Good topic. I have a modern US entrenching tool for "general use" around the yard. Very interesting to see the Roman version. From what I understand the Romans were the first to fully organize armies in a modern way, with each Legion consisting of infantry, artillery, combat engineers, medical staff and the like. Not entirely surprising they had entrenching tools. The Roman item could also be used to brain someone if your pilum was not immediately available.
Looking at the entrenching tool in post 3, it seems to have a large portion of it extending out of the backpack, such that it seems to me that it would catch on underbrush, railings and like. I have never served in the infantry, so I don't an infantryman's view of that, but I have served as a firefighter, where moving in difficult quarters was to be expected. I did not like extra appendages protruding from my person. But, adding to Adam's comment, it does appear to be a fine fighting weapon and its heft would go far in assisting the man in assembling his fighting hole. I live in south Alabama, where red clay takes on the qualities of finely poured concrete in the summer, so the heavier tool would certainly provide an advantage over the pressed-metal variety. I've seen post-hole diggers and shovels bend under the strain of trying to defeat our clay. So, wear your men carrying the implement or wear him out digging the hole?
I don't know who had the the best, but here's a short video that shows the US Ames entrenching tool (1944) and cover. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDbVo_cjg98
The British did have an entrenching tool that looked like the German one from WW1. 1939 Pattern Top of here. http://www.karkeeweb.com/patterns/1937/1937_entrenching_tools_tools.html In Martin MacIntyre's book The Wiltshire Regiment 1914-1959 is this picture of 4th Wilts on a route march in Kent.
Going back to 1918 now, one thing the Aussie troops did with the 1908 Pattern entrenching tool was to wear it over the groin area & give themsleves some protection. Whether it worked or not I don't know. I knew there's be a photo on the internet somewhere. enlarge pic for a better view. http://www.flickr.com/photos/82596826@N03/8679746681/ Not seen that repeated in WW2 though.
As my late Father said, ".......... did you know you can take a mans head clean off his shoulders with your trenching tool............" from when he ran out of ammo in the Reichswald forest fighting. Seems you can't beat a nice sharp spade.!!!
I've got what I believe is an East German e-tool that I THINK was modeled after the WWII German one. It is stoutly made and has one sharped side--to cut roots with, of course .
The Germans had the same etool as the US http://www.captainjacksmilitaria.com/uploads/images/Jan%202011/IMG_5083%20(Large).JPG However, I think the US had the best in a class all its own.
The Russians also issued a sturdy, non-folding entrenching tool. http://www.russianarmysurplus.com/product/spade/
Those who frequent the other place, may have noticed I've caught a terrible obsession with the ever-growing IWM archives - I'm afraid I can't stop myself... I found the first rather interesting - Japanese personal gear not the most widely covered subject on the parts of the Internerd I hang out on: German M1938: Entrenching Tool, M1938 (folding head) & harness: German. © IWM (EQU 4072)IWM Non Commercial Licence British 1908: Entrenching Tool & Helve, 1908 pattern: British Army. © IWM (EQU 2906)IWM Non Commercial Licence Entrenching Tool & Helve, 1908 pattern: British Army. © IWM (EQU 2906)IWM Non Commercial Licence Presumably German, British WW1 capture: entrenching tool. © IWM (EQU 2552)IWM Non Commercial Licence Entrenching Tool, M1887 (with ersatz cover): German http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30110779 Intrenching Tool (sic), M1910 (with short shaft) and carrier: US Army Intrenching Tool, M1910 (with short shaft) and carrier: US Army. © IWM (EQU 4080)IWM Non Commercial Licence Tool, entrenching (non standard) Tool, entrenching (non standard). © IWM (EQU 409)IWM Non Commercial Licence
