Bayonet

A **bayonet** (from French *baïonnette*) is a knife, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on the end of the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar firearm, allowing it to be used as a spear. From the 17th century to World War I on Earth, it was considered the primary weapon for infantry attacks. Today, it is considered an ancillary weapon or a weapon of last resort.

## Overview

The term *bayonette* itself dates back to the second half of the 16th century, but it is not clear whether bayonets at the time were knives that could be fitted to the ends of firearms, or simply a type of knife. For example, Cotgrave's 1611 *Dictionarie* describes the bayonet as "a kind of small flat pocket dagger, furnished with knives; or a great knife to hang at the girdle". Likewise, Pierre Borel wrote in 1655 that a kind of long-knife called a *bayonette* was made in Bayonne but does not give any further description.

In modern warfare, the bayonet is considered to be obsolete and most military doctrines prefer to have their soldiers carry more ammunition, rather than a bayonet. However, bayonet training is still performed to instill an aggressive fighting spirit and for the soldier to fall back on as a final option. Most of the functions of a bayonet can be performed by the soldier's fighting/utility knife.

### Types

* **Plug bayonets** - Early bayonets were of the "plug" type, where the bayonet was fitted directly into the barrel of the musket. This allowed light infantry to be converted to heavy infantry and hold off cavalry charges. The bayonet had a round handle that slid directly into the musket barrel. This naturally prevented the gun from being fired.
* **Socket Bayonets** - The major problem with plug bayonets was that when attached they made it impossible to fire the musket, requiring soldiers to wait until the last possible moment before a melee to fix the bayonet. The defeat of forces loyal to William of Orange by Jacobite Highlanders at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689 was due (among other things) to the use of the plug bayonet. The Highlanders closed to 50 metres, fired a single volley, dropped their muskets, and using axes and swords quickly overwhelmed the loyalists before they had time to fix bayonets. Shortly thereafter, the defeated leader, Hugh Mackay, is believed to have introduced a socket bayonet of his own invention. Soon "socket" bayonets would incorporate both socket mounts and an offset blade that fit around the musket's barrel, which allowed the musket to be fired and reloaded while the bayonet was attached.
* **Sword bayonets** - The 19th century introduced the concept of the sword bayonet, a long-bladed weapon with a single- or double-edged blade that could also be used as a shortsword. Its initial purpose was to ensure that riflemen could form an infantry square properly to fend off cavalry attacks when in ranks with musketmen, whose weapons were longer. A prime early example of a sword bayonet-fitted rifle is the British Infantry Rifle of 1800–1840, later known as the "Baker Rifle". The hilt usually had quillons modified to accommodate the gun barrel and a hilt mechanism that enabled the bayonet to be attached to a bayonet lug. A sword bayonet could be used in combat as a side arm. When attached to the musket or rifle, it effectively turned almost any long gun into a spear or glaive, suitable not only for thrusting but also for slashing.
* **Multipurpose bayonets** -One of these multipurpose designs was the 'sawback' bayonet, which incorporated saw teeth on the spine of the blade.The sawback bayonet was intended for use as a general-purpose utility tool as well as a weapon; the teeth were meant to facilitate the cutting of wood for various defensive works such as barbed-wire posts, as well as for butchering livestock. It was initially adopted by the German states in 1865; until the middle of WWI approximately 5% of every bayonet style was complemented with a sawback version, for example in Belgium in 1868, Great Britain in 1869 and Switzerland in 1878 (Switzerland introduced their last model in 1914). The original sawback bayonets were typically of the heavy sword-type, they were issued to engineers, with to some extent the bayonet aspect being secondary to the "tool" aspect. Later German saw-backs were more of a rank indicator than a functional saw. The sawback proved relatively ineffective as a cutting tool, and was soon outmoded by improvements in military logistics and transportation; most nations dropped the sawback feature by 1900. The German army discontinued use of the sawback bayonet in 1917 after protests that the serrated blade caused unnecessarily severe wounds when used as a fixed bayonet.The *trowel* or *spade* bayonet was another multipurpose design, intended for use both as an offensive weapon as well as a digging tool for excavating entrenchments. From 1870, the US Army issued trowel bayonets to infantry regiments based on a design by Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund Rice, a US Army officer and Civil War veteran, which were manufactured by the Springfield Armory. Besides its utility as both a fixed bayonet and a digging implement, the Rice trowel bayonet could be used to plaster log huts and stone chimneys for winter quarters; sharpened on one edge, it could cut tent poles and pins. Ten thousand were eventually issued, and the design saw service during the 1877 Nez Perce campaign. Rice was given leave in 1877 to demonstrate his trowel bayonet to several nations in Europe. One infantry officer recommended it to the exclusion of all other designs, noting that "the in-trenching [*sic*] tools of an army rarely get up to the front until the exigency for their use has passed."The Rice trowel bayonet was declared obsolete by the US Army in December 1881.

## Bayonets in the New World

### Third Civilization Area and Outside Civilized Areas

Though not mentioned in the LN or WN, bayonets or some kind of attached fighting blades would most likely be used by forces armed with single-shot muskets, such as the Parpaldia Empire. Due to the slow reloading speed of such weapons, conflicts would quickly devolve into melee combat after the musketeers fired their first volley.

### Second Civilization Area

During World War 1 on Earth, soldiers were still equipped with the bayonets for close-quarters fighting in the trenches. Since nations like Mu are around that level of technology, it is possible that their soldiers are also equipped with bayonets. However, since the Gra Valkas Empire had the solution to trenches, namely tanks, the bayonet would be utterly useless in any case.

### First Civilization Area

It's unknown if any military in this region uses bayonets, due to their usage and dependence on magic. It is very likely that fighting mages are armed with swords and knives if their magic fails them.

### Gra Valkas Empire

Since they are at World War 2 level in terms of technology, it is possible that Gra Valkas infantry have bayonets as part of their equipment. However, they would prove to be ineffective against the longer-ranged and rapid fire assault weapons of the JSDF.

### Japan

Japan is known for using bayonets and bayonet fighting, especially during WWII. Although the modern JSDF soldier is now equipped with assault rifles and portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry, they are still issuing bayonets as a last resort weapon. **Jūkendō** (銃剣道) is the Japanese martial art of bayonet fighting, and has been likened to kendo (but with bayonets instead of swords).

According to Tanaka Fumon, Jukendo techniques are based on Japanese sojutsu (spear fighting) and 19th century French bayonet fighting techniques. However, according to Jukendo French researcher Baptiste Tavernier, Jukendo techniques are mostly based on the teachings and influence of the French military missions to Japan at the beginning of the Meiji era.

During the Meiji period, Japanese bayonet fighting techniques were consolidated into a system named jukenjutsu, and taught at the Toyama military academy in Tokyo. Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, trained in jukenjutsu and incorporated some of this art tactics into his own interpretation of the use of the wooden staff or Jō. Following World War II, the practice of jukenjutsu was banned by the Allies, but it later returned in the modern form of jukendo. Like all modern military forces, the JSDF considers bayonets to be obsolete and to be used as a last resort.