The Role of Bicycles in War

[johannrissik]

The first known use of the bicycle in combat occurred during the Jameson Raid, in which cyclists carried messages. In the Second Boer War, military cyclists were used primarily as scouts and messengers. One unit patrolled railroad lines on specially constructed tandem bicycles that were fixed to the rails. Several raids were conducted by cycle-mounted infantry on both sides; the most famous unit was the Theron se Verkenningskorps (Theron Reconnaissance Corps) or TVK, a Boer unit led by the scout Daniel Theron, whom British commander Lord Roberts described as "the hardest thorn in the flesh of the British advance." Roberts placed a reward of £1,000 on Theron's head—dead or alive—and dispatched 4,000 soldiers to find and eliminate the TVK.^[4]

 

 

 

^{Another South African first that I didn't know about!}

 

Jy van alle mense!

 

I'll dig up the long version of the story, very interesting reading.

[johannrissik]

Is there any mention of the Buffalo Soldiers?

In those days the Buffalo Soldiers were the likes of Sir Redvers General Buller (described as a "fat and stupid man") So they were more likely Clydesdales than Buffalo

[johannrissik]

@ Dawid,

 

This was the original motivation for the PA Dikwiel Kommando:

 

http://samilitaryhis...g/vol041dm.html

 

@OP: Nice thread, is that a Farmall M ?

Edited January 3, 2014 by johannrissik

[kosmonooit]

Bicycles laden with supplies on the Ho Chi Minh Trail

 

http://www.psywarrior.com/BicycleSuppliesTrail.jpg

[DJR]

They even take their bikes flying

[DJR]

Then unfold them and ride fight

[Pooh_bear]

This is so freaking awesome! Next weekend I'm going skydiving.

[CAAD4]

Is there any mention of the Buffalo Soldiers?

 

I don't know about bikes, but didn't they smoke and fly???

[Tractor]

Bicycles laden with supplies on the Ho Chi Minh Trail

 

http://www.psywarrior.com/BicycleSuppliesTrail.jpg

 

Vietnam was a case in point where the use of bicycles literally changed the outcome of a war. The Vietnamese modified the bikes to carry heavy loads (think in the line of 270kg's as an average) and could still cover 40 km's a day - a porter on foot struggles with a 45kg load. One of the sources quotes the heaviest single load as being 328 kg!!

[Tractor]

They even take their bikes flying

 

Imagine landing on a pedal

[Scooter69]

A most interesting and informative thread.

 

Many thanks for all the contributions.

[johannrissik]

This is so freaking awesome! Next weekend I'm going skydiving.

Enjoy the skydives!

[chris_w_65]

[Ed-Zulu]

Vietnam was a case in point where the use of bicycles literally changed the outcome of a war. The Vietnamese modified the bikes to carry heavy loads (think in the line of 270kg's as an average) and could still cover 40 km's a day - a porter on foot struggles with a 45kg load. One of the sources quotes the heaviest single load as being 328 kg!!

A bit off topic...back in the early 2000's I did work in Madagascar. The then president, Ravolamanana <he's in excile here the last I read>, bought about 10,000 bicycles as a side business. I was in Tamatave the day the vessel literally beached and dropped the entire load on the beach in front of the Neptune hotel area. I stood there snapping away with my camera, it was an awesome sight . I eventually asked someone what the deal was and it was explained the pres did this as a sideline, with riding lessons.

 

Some months later when again in the area I noticed very few riding their bikes, but most used it for goods carriage and understood the project got shelved due to no one taking the riding lessons.

 

Unfotunately lost the pictures of the 10000 bikes on the beach as i was arested later the afternoon and my camera film confiscated.

 

On a side note...I was told that a tandem bike <6 rider version> from the Second Boere Oorlog is on display at the military museum in JHB...anyone care to go take a picture for us?

[johannrissik]

Vietnam was a case in point where the use of bicycles literally changed the outcome of a war. The Vietnamese modified the bikes to carry heavy loads (think in the line of 270kg's as an average) and could still cover 40 km's a day - a porter on foot struggles with a 45kg load. One of the sources quotes the heaviest single load as being 328 kg!!

 

That's known as the Kulubuse Bicycle, if I'm not mistaken?

[chris_w_65]

That's known as the Kulubuse Bicycle, if I'm not mistaken?

 

I suspect there is no such thing as a Kulubuse bicycle.