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Flechette use in WW1


Gildwiller1918

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Flechettes are metal darts that were used extensively in early WW1. These were dropped by airplanes onto troop concentrations, moving targets, artillery positions, etc. Not very accurate by any means but was a good psychological weapon, as you would not hear them raining down upon you. Typically these darts were loaded into canisters underneath an aircraft and released upon finding a target. These canisters held as little as 20 darts up to as many as 500 darts. Credit for the invention goes to the Italians in 1911-192, it is thought the flechette was first used by the French in 1914, but soon Britain and Germany used them as well. The Germans, even added a special tough to one of their designs, which had an inscription stamped on them saying Invention François, Fabrication Allemande meaning ‘A French invention, German made’. The idea was to give the French a taste of their own medicine with a note on it, and it did prove quite significant to some extent.

After 1915, the use of the flechette dropped off as more effective means of eliminating enemy troops was employed such as improved artillery and aerial bombs. However there are some accounts of them being used as late as 1917. the British tried using them to destroy the Zeppelins however they proved ineffective. Against human and animal targets (Horses, mules, etc.) they tended to make deep narrow wounds, sometimes penetrating all the way through a body, usually causing a agonizing death. 

Below is an example from my collection. 

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Here is a image of flechettes being dropped from a plane and one stuck in a piece of wood.

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WW1 postcard showing flechette use against soldiers.

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The flechette came in many shapes and sizes, the images below shows some of the variations.

(Source: internet)

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British made Flechette.

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Example of the German type mentioned in the first post.

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  • 2 months later...

Another new item to the collection, British Mk 3 type Flechette. 

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  • 4 months later...

So small. Great collection. Seen a few for sale recently. Sticking to WW1 grenades for now though.

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Be mindful on the flechette's, I have seen fakes being made now. 

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