Defensive weapons

[kcdusk]

Most people think of weapons as being "offensive".

What sort of weapons or equipment could be considered defensive

I guess some examples i can think of are flash/bang grenades used to disorientate the enemy to buy yourself time.

Caltrops, used to slow or stop an enemy on foot or to burst car tyres.

Can anyone think or list of any others

[kato13]

Mines

[Mohoender]

I would say air defense systems. Some can be used in an offensive role but their main purpose remain to defend an area.

Elsewhere, I might be burnt for that but mines (at least regular ground mines) are defensive as well. I can't think of someone throwing a mine at a tank . The one dropped by planes today are, however, truly offensive especially when they are launched on civilians.

Then, every type of gear that is not truly a weapon : helmets, bodyarmors, and most electronic systems. Radars were first used in a strictly defensive role and Asdic was designed for naval defense.

Interceptor planes is another type. Fighter planes are often used in an attack role but interceptors were made strictly to stop incoming ennemy aircrafts. They are becoming increasingly rare, however.

Tear gas but you might have said it.

Any weapon of course, depending on what end of it you are but that is the obvious .

[Mohoender]

Mines

[kcdusk]

I'll pay mines, body armour and radar.

how about smoke grenades, or vehiclar smoke.

[General Pain]

Mines

that was my first thought aswell : Claymore mines

[kcdusk]

Barbed wire.

And nets, as a form of non-lethal traps.

[kato13]

If you are including barb wire there are a bunch of passive sensors you should include as well.

the REMBASS system is interesting

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/rembass.htm

button bomblets (noise makers) and trip flares might also make sense.

[Targan]

Tank traps, anti tank ditches, sharpened stakes, caltrops. All low tech and very 'do-able' by people with hand tools but potentially very effective.

[Diamond_Spear]

Can we include handguns To paraphrase what a veteran once told me :If you need a pistol you should already have left.

[pmulcahy11b]

Technically, fragmentation grenades are "Defensive Hand Grenades..."

[Marc]

Technically, fragmentation grenades are "Defensive Hand Grenades..."

This post makes me remember that in the Spanish army, the R-41 (the standard hand grenade) has a different configuration depending if you use it in a defensive or offensive role. Basically the defensive grenade is an offensive grenade inside an special envelope that contains 3500 small steel balls to increase the damage in the burst area. The idea of the increased frag. power is that the soldier who uses a defensive grenade is throwing it from a cover. It is thought that the offensive configuration of the R-41 is better to prevent damage against the rest of the squad, immediately advancing to take profit from the grenade effect.

No idea if in others armies this difference between defensive/offensive grenade types exists.

[jester]

Weapons that are purely defensive, ARGH since most weapons can be used for either. Especialy if one is creative.

The flashbang example and how it is explained allow it to be used as a defensive weapon for the purpose of distraction. HOWEVER, as they are primarly used they are used in an OFFENSIVE ROLE, they are used by pole and raid units in distracting while a building or similiar operation is occuirng, ie being taken down.

A machinegun mounted on a tripod and in a fixed position is ususaly a defensive weapon, however the same schem as it delivers supporting fire to an infantry advance on an enemy position it is now an offensive weapon.

The improvised weapons mentioned, a Helmet, or an entrenching tool or a tent pin. Are they a defensive weapon when used to bash someone, or stab or hack Not really. They are offensive weapon, to use them as a defense weapon they loose ALOT of their effectiveness, surprise is what will help you win if you have to use such equipment as a weapon.

Mines for the most part are defensive, although they did teach how to use them to ambush vehicles or personel, the old trick of tying a line to an anti tank mine and pulling it under the track of a tank.

I digress.

Pistols for the most part are now more or less a last ditch weapon and thus can be used and are used for defensive purposes. Very few people have the skill or need to use one as an offensive weapon. However, I can see it being an offensive weapon in trench clearing, urban, tunnels and ship operations where it is close quarters. However, today there are alot more weapons that will fill the role much better.

Carbines USED TO BE defensive weapons for drivers, clerk and artillerymen. Now they are almost standard issue because of their size, portability and ease of use in close quarters and in modern methods of deployment via inside a mech vehicle or helicopter.

Today as I mentioned a few days ago, Submachineguns are now being issued as a means of personal defense to personel who would in the past be issued a pistol. Although again for a close quarters raid operation, they would be a good choice and used as an offensive weapon.

Claymores, yes mines, but they are so much more and I love them Used for strengthening perimeters and thwarting an enemy attack. but, also a cool thing to have if you are setting up an ambush.

I agree, most air DEFENSE systems are exactly defensive, almost exclusivly so unless of course you turn the system on infantry, but its primary purpose defense.

I would say, something like a mini gun in a fixed fortification would be a defensive weapon as well. And a very cool one.

Trip Flares are defensive.

Most of the time Knives because that means you are without a working firearm or ammo and things are now desperate. <The bayonet goes both ways, but traditionaly a bayonet is an offensive weapon ie the bayonet charge>

Mo, I like the idea that interceptor aircraft are defensive and it is, but to do the defensive role they must be offensive, since their purpose is to ATTACK incomming bombers. At the Macro level they are defensive, but at the micro level they are offensive.

Just like bomber aircraft, they are purely offensive.

This is actualy harder than I imagined it would be when I first opened this string.

I'll just make a list:

Pistols
Knives
Shotguns usualy
Some grenades
Mines mostly
Carbines and Submachineguns as they are generaly issued today
Air Defense Systems
Machinguns and heavy weapons when dug in in a fixed position
Obstacles <wire, tank traps, ditches, punji sticks etc>

[headquarters]

lol

Can we include handguns To paraphrase what a veteran once told me :If you need a pistol you should already have left.

hehe good one

[headquarters]

thats right..

Technically, fragmentation grenades are "Defensive Hand Grenades..."

its the one swith out shrapnel that are for offensive uses..