Infantry soldiers are equipped with a variety of weapons and gear to carry out their duties on the battlefield. A common question is whether infantrymen carry pistols as part of their standard kit. The answer depends on the specific army and time period, as policies and equipment have evolved over time. Generally speaking, in modern armies, most infantrymen are issued rifles as their primary weapon, but may also carry sidearms or pistols in certain situations for additional firepower at close quarters. Let’s explore this question in more detail.
History of Pistols for Infantry
In the early history of firearms, muskets and rifles were long and cumbersome to reload. Pistols provided infantrymen with a faster-firing weapon for close combat. Flintlock pistols were commonly carried by infantry officers and NCOs in the 17th and 18th centuries. The bearing of swords and pistols was a mark of rank and leadership on the battlefield. Some regular infantry would also carry pistols, but they were considered a secondary weapon compared to the longer musket.
The development of repeating rifles and breech-loading weapons in the late 19th century meant infantry no longer needed to rely on pistols. The firepower and reloading speed of rifles had increased substantially. Bolt-action rifles became the standard for most infantrymen, equipped with bayonets for close quarters. Machine guns also provided high volumes of fire at short ranges. Pistols were still issued to officers and specialty troops, but regular infantry focused on their rifles.
World War I and II
During World War I, British officers continued to carry revolvers, but they were not general issue for regular infantrymen. The exception was trench raiding parties who sometimes carried revolvers for silently dispatching sentries. The most common pistols of WWI were the Webley revolver for the British and the Luger pistol for the Germans.
In World War II, the United States and Britain supplied officers with pistols, usually the Colt 1911 .45 caliber for Americans and Enfield No. 2 .38 revolvers for British troops. German officers carried Luger or Walther pistols. Again, they were not standard for regular infantrymen, who relied on bolt-action rifles like the Enfield, Mauser, and Springfield as their primary armament.
Submachine guns like the Thompson, MP40, and PPSh provided high rates of fire for infantry at short range, diminishing the need for pistols. But specialized raiding forces and commando units still sometimes carried pistols for added firepower in close quarters. The most famous was the American M1911A1 pistol.
Modern Infantry Forces
In the post-WWII era, pistols have remained as a secondary personal defense weapon for infantry forces. Assault rifles like the M16 and AK-47 provide high volume fire with 30 round magazines, keeping pistols as a backup and close range option. Special forces troops who conduct raids and room clearing operations are most likely to utilize pistols as a primary weapon.
For the U.S. Army, the standard sidearm was the M1911 pistol through the 1980s. It was replaced by the 9mm Beretta M9 pistol in 1985 and remains in service today. Officers and some non-commissioned officers are issued M9 pistols, while senior NCOs like sergeants major may carry a pistol. Regular U.S. Army infantrymen are typically not issued pistols.
However, infantrymen in airborne and air assault units are more likely to carry pistols since they focus on rapid deployment. Having a sidearm aids them in close quarters combat when dropping into hostile areas. Infantry in armored and mechanized units equipped with tanks and Bradleys are also prone to carry pistols when operating in confined interior spaces.
British and Russian Forces
The British Army issues the Browning L9A1 pistol to officers and vehicle crews. Russian military officers carry the Makarov PM pistol. Again, regular Russian infantry are armed with assault rifles and machine guns, not pistols. Conscripts have little access to pistals, while special forces like Spetsnaz rely on them heavily for raiding missions.
So in summary, modern infantry forces utilize pistols primarily for officers, senior NCOs, vehicle crews, specialized units expected to fight at close quarters, and special operations forces. Rifles remain the standard primary weapon for regular infantrymen in most militaries. Pistols serve as a supplementary sidearm for personal defense and added firepower in tight spaces.
Reasons for Limited Pistol Use by Infantry
There are several key reasons why pistols are not standard issue for most infantry forces:
- Effective range – Pistols have a much shorter effective range than rifles. Rifles are accurate to several hundred meters, while pistols are limited to 50 meters or less. This longer range is critical for engagements in open terrain.
- Magazine capacity – Assault rifles have 20-30 round detachable magazines. Pistols hold around 5-17 rounds in their magazines. This provides substantially less firepower for the infantryman.
- Stopping power – Pistol rounds like 9mm have less kinetic energy than high velocity rifle rounds. Rifle ammunition has superior penetration and creates larger wound cavities.
- Weight – Carrying a 5 pound rifle plus ammunition is lighter than carrying both a rifle for long range and a multi-pound pistol and ammo for short range.
- Accuracy – Effective pistol shooting requires substantial training and practice due to the difficulty of aiming precisely with short barrels and sights. Rifles with stocks are inherently more accurate in untrained hands.
These factors make pistols a specialized weapon reserved for particular infantry missions like raids or vehicle crews. For regular infantry troops, rifles provide superior range, accuracy, penetration, magazine capacity, and ease of use. Infantrymen rely on their rifles, machine guns, grenades, and specialized weapons like shotguns or flamethrowers when needing significant close-quarters firepower.
Pistol Use in Modern Conflicts
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan provide some examples of pistol usage by infantry in recent conflicts:
- Vehicle crews often carried pistols as a self-defense weapon if needing to exit a disabled vehicle in hostile situations.
- Special forces units like Delta Force, SAS, and Spetsnaz frequently carried pistols on raids and capture/kill missions of HVTs (high value targets).
- Rear area troops at bases would be issued pistols for guard duty or defense of facilities.
- Military police, air marshals, and other security forces relied heavily on pistols for close-in engagements and confined spaces.
- Pistols allowed personnel to conceal a weapon or have additional firepower when only light clothing was worn in hot environments.
- Officers, vehicle crews, and senior NCOs carried pistols even when forward deployed with infantry, per doctrine and regulations.
But again, regular infantry forces deployed to conduct patrols, raids, cordon operations, and engagements with the enemy largely relied on their assault rifles. Pistols saw only niche uses and were not a primary infantry weapon when facing contact.
Conclusion
In summary, whether infantry forces carry pistols depends greatly on the time period, unit type, and specific mission. Modern infantrymen are armed predominantly with rifles and specialized weapons rather than pistols. Pistols serve as a secondary personal defense weapon for officers, vehicle crews, special forces units, military police, and select infantry formations expected to fight at close range. But for the average infantryman, rifles remain the primary armament while pistols fill supplemental roles due to their shorter range and smaller magazine capacity. Proper pistol usage requires substantial training given the weapon’s accuracy challenges. While they provide a compact and fast-firing option, pistols generally serve specialized purposes rather than as a standard frontline weapon for infantry forces.