Actual "tactical" use of a tomahawk?

V

veeteetee

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Aug 9, 2008
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Hawing browsed these pages a couple of times I´m curious to know, if there is a single DOCUMENTED case of a tomahawk having been used in a "tactical" situation i.e. in combat, to actually hit somebody, during the last 100 years?
 
An Army Ranger used one in Afghanistan to kill an insurgent/Taliban fighter a few years ago.There's a few scattered stories from Nam but that's about it.When the rest of the forum wakes up I'm sure somebody will be more helpful.
 
point of clarification - technically "tactical" encompasses more than actually whacking somebody with the hawk - it includes any use to enhance one's ability in a combat situation - hawks are used a lot to break open doors, clear sniping spots, etc.
 
The 19th standing order for Rogers Rangers during the French and Indian War was:

“Let the enemy come till he's almost close enough to touch. Then let him have it and jump out and finish him with your hatchet.”

Has combat really changed all that much in the past 300 or so years? Then, troops had long guns, handguns, cannons, knives and hatchets. Today they have long guns, handguns, cannons, knives and some carry hatchets.

The information you are asking for is very sensitive and personal. I don’t know that you will see first hand posts on a public forum.

Daniel
 
I don't think anyone uses a hand to hand weapon unless they absolutely have to.

That said, I'm sure the enemy has been dispatched by such means, beit tomahawk, e-tool, knife, whatever.

I mean people say there's no reason to carry bayonets anymore, yet a company fromt he British Highlanders regiment had to execute a bayonet charge when they ran out of ammo in Iraq -- with bullpup rifles, no less.
 
I read a story from the father of a soldier in Afghanistan who used his RMJ Forge Tomahawk to bust through a cinderblock wall, the soldier and his team were forced into the buidling and kept in there by enemy fire. So that would count as tactical to me. IIRC American Tomahawk VTAC (LaGana Tactical Tomahawk) is actually issued gear to Striker Brigages.
 
I certainly wouldn't want to go to war without one. A hawk can open doors, walls in some cases, and however rarely open an enemy if needed. It can damage your enemy's ability to wage war and enhance your own. Very useful indeed.
 
Smashing windows, doors, puncturing tires, opening things they don't want you to open, digging, etc etc. Relatively unexciting things compared to killing bad guys but they've gotten a work out.
 
I used one to dig out a bomb in Afghanistan. Don't know if that counts as tactical, but it was lots of fun.:D

HawkandBomb.jpg
 
I was told in our (Mickey Mouse) military that dispatching sentries with a knife is fantasy. Just use a hatchet or spade and that's all she wrote, helmet or not.
 
I would say a 'hawk gets as much combat use as a knife, possibly more from the people who carry them. For a nasty hand-to-hand encounter, I'd rather have a 'hawk. Simple to use and lots of force coming from that edge. The spike is of questionable hand-to-hand use to me, but I've heard about them being used to puncture fuel drums and such. Apparently they'll puncture most helmets, which is useful for sentry removal, if one hasn't got a suppressed weapon available.

I've been out of the shooter game fro twenty years, but If I were to go today I'd definitely bring my v-tech with. It's indestructible and a very handy size.
 
It's just a piece of junk I picked up in an Afghani village for about $2. I've always assumed it was made in Pakistan, since we were pretty close to the border, and that's where most of their manufactured goods seemed to come from.

It wouldn't take, or hold any kind of edge, but it was handy for digging pretty frequently. I tried to bring it home, but customs stole it on my way out.:grumpy:
 
EOD? Which class were you? And tomahawks have been used in warfare for mallenia, and the cool part is they were invented individually for hand to hand and ranged warfare all over the globe by dozens of civilizations. Good indicator that they are extremely efficient killing weapons.
 
brother cubisthamster - thanks for your service.

you let us know when you want a hawk from us, and we will give you an Investor's Discount, in thanks for your service.

[/thread hijack]

...........

cops are starting to use tomahawks more and more in forced entry busts, from what my LEO client base is saying.

Proper Hawks are as much a tool as a weapon.

I'd rather cut wire with a hawk than defend myself with tin snips. :cool::thumbup:


vec
 
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