Infantry: March 26, 2001

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Switzerland is planning to disband it's elite bicycle regiment. The 3,000 troops use mountain banks and train hard to stay in shape so they can quickly move on roads and cross country carrying rifles, machine-guns and anti-tank weapons. The bicycle troops can cover 200 kilometers a day, somewhat less if cross country. While there was a lot of grumbling when Switzerland disbanded their cavalry and carrier pigeon units in the 1970s, many see the bicycle regiment still useful. But the brass see the army as a high tech operation that has no place for the century old bicycle regiment.

 

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