Bicycle Infantry, the push bike in WW2

[Blakdust]

Originally Posted by takman200

Are bicycle infantry better than cavalry?

Here would be my breakdown

Cavalry Pro's-
does not using up the troops energy
carry wounded
can move over more difficult terrain?
better shooting platform if your forced to fight (ambushed maybe)
better for long distance?

Bike Pro's-
you don't have to feed them
more stealthy than a horse an easier to hide
easier to transport
cheaper


The cost would make bikes better I think in most situations

[Senorankka]

We Finns had atleast three bicycle battalions back in the 1920s, but in mid 1930s these units were disbanded and reformed as jäger battalions. These Polkypyöräpataljoonat (Bicycle battalions) were the elite forces in Finnish army and later on units that succeeded them continued the tradition.

Bicycles were rather cheap way to move infantry from place A to place B, as Finnish army didn't have enough trucks to move large formations of troops.

[Karri]

I wonder if they are still integrated into the army, at least there are still bikes, and we did a 100km bike march back in the army. But maybe it was more of an endurance test...

[Dunnigan]

Bicycles were used extensively by German units late in the war. Beyond the 20th and 30th Schnelle Brigades equipped with bicycles, the Volksgrenadier Divisions would designed to have its Fusilier element (company or battalion) transported by bicycles and a number of its grenadier battalions with bicycles as well. Reality fell short of this but bikes were an expedient measure given the fuel and vehicle shortcomings of the Germans.

By the late fall and into the Bulge you had Panzer Divisions with bicycled panzer grenadiers! The 2nd Panzer Division's 1st Bn, 304th PG Regt was equipped with bicycles along with a company of their aufklarung (reconnaissance) battalion!

Even the vaunted SS had bicycle battalions... The 2nd SS's 1st Bn, 3rd SS PG Regt was also bicycle equipped by Nov/Dec 1944.

[The Exorcist]

Had an experience of my own along these lines.
I might have mentioned that I attempted a Bicycle trip last October, going over the mountains to the coast to spend a few days camping out.

Didn't work very well.
Here is me at the base of the real climb, Bear Camp road;

As you can see, the bike is somewhat over-loaded. But when you are pushing 50 y/o and the temp will be dropping to near freezing, you need a certain amount of creature comforts to make the trip reasonably comfortable... enough to be fun, anyway.
Well, 4 hours into the hill-climb I was still doing fine, physically, but when I was pushing the bike up a very steep part I noticed a tendency for the bike to up-end. This made me take a closer look at the tires much sooner than I thought I would have to.
Wow... long cracks were forming, length-wise, along the front wheel. You'd think the problem would have been along the rear wheel, but such is god's humor.

So, looks like bike-packing is out for people like me. Looks like more of a fair-weather thing than ever now. The pics here from WW2 seem to prove the point; where is the heavy gear?
How could you make an MG team bike-mobile with the crappy bike they had back then?

[Cult Icon]

I have always found it amazing that more bicycles were not used. (rubber shortages?)

From the modern person's standpoint, bicycles are very cheap items.

[lcm1]

Originally Posted by m kenny

IWM B8304 July 31st 1944

I also see the bloke nearest the camera is carrying a full size pickaxe not the normal entrenching tool,so I would say this little group were possibly follow up Engineers.Which makes the push bikes more logical. lcm1

[m kenny]

Originally Posted by Cult Icon

I have always found it amazing that more bicycles were not used. (rubber shortages?)

From the modern person's standpoint, bicycles are very cheap items.

Be amazed no more

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=5394

[Cult Icon]

Bicycles were used in certain companies and battalions in infantry divisions. 1 battalion of bicycles were common in an infantry division.

But I wonder, why not outfit all regiments (9-10 battalions) with them?

[Cult Icon]

On the surface, all the unmotorized armies: the Japanese, Germans/AxisAllies, and the Russians would have benefited from outfitted all battalions of their attacking infantry divisions with bicycles. A division on the defense could use at least one regiment on bicycles.

An infantry battalion on bicycle can move 2-4 times faster, (depending on road conditions of course.) The infantry would also be far less exhausted.

[m kenny]

Originally Posted by lcm1

I also see the bloke nearest the camera is carrying a full size pickaxe not the normal entrenching tool,so I would say this little group were possibly follow up Engineers.Which makes the push bikes more logical. lcm1

There are lots of pics of assaulting infantry carrying full size pick axe/shovel and even (1st pic) an axe!

B5952 27/6/44 Epsom




B5968 27/6/44 Epsom






B7759
Welsh Guards at Cagny 18/7/44

[lcm1]

Originally Posted by m kenny

There are lots of pics of assaulting infantry carrying full size pick axe/shovel and even (1st pic) an axe!

B5952 27/6/44 Epsom




B5968 27/6/44 Epsom






B7759
Welsh Guards at Cagny 18/7/44

Congratulations mk, you have the photo's to prove me wrong! I never came across it in 'light assault' I'm afraid, (or moved over rough terrain with a push bike!!)P.S.How many of those photo's were taken while actually in action?? lcm1

[m kenny]

Originally Posted by lcm1

.How many of those photo's were taken while actually in action?? lcm1

All 3 posted pics are genuine 1st wave advancing infantry in action.

[lcm1]

Originally Posted by m kenny

All 3 posted pics are genuine 1st wave advancing infantry in action.

Fair enough,but isn't it conveniant that the road is so handy each time! They can even use their push bikes!!! lcm1