It is true that some special forces trained to effectively use that sapper shovels shown on photo as weapon. Kind of Russian version of tomahawk. Silent, deadly and handy thing, that shovel blade is made from very good, nearly knife grade steel (have one in car trunk as a tool). So, it is quite possible that in some circumstances some reconnaissance/saboteur group killed some enemy guard with shovel.
That is the only truth behind that article.
Also, there exist an old anecdote (just like about any profession) about engineering forces (stroybat) - "Stroybat is toughest Russian forces among all, they even afraid to give them guns, looking at what they do with shovels."
Something tell me that in other countries, special forces have a lessons of using sapper shovels as a weapon too and that is not uncommon thing at all.
Do you know what exact model of shovel used by US military as trench/sapper one? Can't find any info on that. And obviously, special forces have to have such tool for obvious reasons.
It is true that some special forces trained to effectively use that sapper shovels shown on photo as weapon. Kind of Russian version of tomahawk. Silent, deadly and handy thing, that shovel blade is made from very good, nearly knife grade steel (have one in car trunk as a tool). So, it is quite possible that in some circumstances some reconnaissance/saboteur group killed some enemy guard with shovel.
That is the only truth behind that article.
Also, there exist an old anecdote (just like about any profession) about engineering forces (stroybat) - "Stroybat is toughest Russian forces among all, they even afraid to give them guns, looking at what they do with shovels."
Something tell me that in other countries, special forces have a lessons of using sapper shovels as a weapon too and that is not uncommon thing at all.
Yes, I have heard the stories, pretty standard stuff honestly.
I made this post mostly in jest of the wording used.
How would it make sense to anyone Russians would use melee weapons in placement of guns in any mind. Clearly they would be taken out at range.
For close quarter fighting, I suspect a shovel would be a decent choice.
Do you know what exact model of shovel used by US military as trench/sapper one? Can't find any info on that. And obviously, special forces have to have such tool for obvious reasons.
No, I took a quick pass and there seems to be no direct verified answer I could find easily.