Bayonet Training Manual

At a glance..

This is the complete US army training manual on bayonet combat. Through training, the fighting skill of a soldier is developed to the highest point.

The details..

FM 23-25 War Department Basic Field Manual: Bayonet is a manual published by the United States War Department in 1943 which supersedes FM 23-25 from 1940. It provides guidance on how to use the bayonet weapon effectively during hand-to-hand combat with an enemy as well as advice for instructors teaching these techniques.

The manual outlines principles of bayoneting such as attacking aggressively without hesitation or preliminary maneuvering; using silence and surprise when secrecy must be preserved; taking advantage of openings that may present themselves or creating them through parrying the opponent's weapon; targeting sensitive areas like throat, face chest abdomen or groin.

Positions and movements are also detailed such as guard position, high port whirl long thrust short thrust withdrawal butt strokes slashes etc., along with group assault tactics involving coordinated attacks among multiple soldiers.

Finally there is information about training aids available to assist in instruction plus tips on conducting classes sequence of training conduct of training training in group assault tactics building an assault course and more.