Crossbow.

This is coolbert:

"They are not only a silent killer, they also have a psychological effect".

Recall that photo of the Indian MARCOS [Marine commando] with crossbow? From a previous blog entry. An archaic weapon perhaps not so archaic? Definitely NOT so!

Here from Suvorov on the crossbow, the deadliness of same, and the potential use by Soviet/Russian special operations forces [Spetsnaz]!

"In spetsnaz the most up-to-date weapons exist side by side with a weapon which has long been forgotten in all other armies or relegated to army museums. One such weapon is the crossbow. However amusing the reader may find this, the crossbow is in fact a terrible weapon which can put an arrow right through a man at a great distance and with great accuracy."

[AND IS NOISELESS, AS COMPARED TO EVEN A SILENCED OR MUFFLED FIREARM!!]

"that noiseless action is exactly what spetsnaz needs today. The modern crossbow is of course, very different in appearance and construction from the crossbows of previous centuries . . . It is aimed by means of optical and thermal sights . . . The arrows are made with the benefit of the latest research in ballistics and aerodynamics. The bow itself is a very elegant affair, light, reliable and convenient To make it easy to carry it folds up."

Crossbows, the modern version, ARE a deadly weapon! Advancements in technology, cranking devices to "cock", optical sights, bolts of ingenious variety for killing [the "arrows" fired from a crossbow are technically referred to as a "bolt"!!], high-tech material for stock, etc. All make for a deadly combination. The recurve variety is the crossbow of choice for the military?

"Recurve crossbows are still used by elite military organizations when stealth and accuracy are required for assassination missions."



AND SILENT TOO!! Especially useful for special operations units when stealth is a factor!

And from the wiki entry on crossbows, we find:

"Indian Navy's Marine Commando Force were equipped until the late 1980s with crossbows supplied with cyanide-tipped arrows, as an alternative to suppressed handguns."

NO! This is a violation of the Laws of Land Warfare! Using poisoned weapons in this manner is illegal!

In fact, the militaries of a whole host of nations in addition to the Soviets/Russians and Indians still use the crossbow to some extent. Militaries to include:

* Peru.
* Brazil.
* Serbia.
* China.
* Greece.
* Turkey.



The above photo shows Peruvian troops with crossbows. Those objects carried diagonally across the body in the manner of a haversack are ropes for a zip-line!

"A zip-line (also known as a flying fox, zip wire, aerial runway, aerial ropeslide, death slide or tyrolean crossing) consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline."

coolbert.