Melee Weapons
Since the earliest days of organized conflict, when humanity first picked up a sharpened stick, melee weapons were the most personal tools of war. Before powder, propellant, or electronics, victory often came down to reach, strength, training, and nerve. Clubs and spears gave way to swords, axes, and polearms as metallurgy improved, and entire cultures shaped their military doctrine around hand-to-hand combat. Even as bows, crossbows, and early firearms emerged, melee weapons never disappeared bayonets, sabres, and trench clubs remained critical when battles collapsed into close, chaotic encounters.
The industrial age didn’t end melee combat either. In WW1, when rifles jammed and trenches forced soldiers within arm’s reach, knives, entrenching tools, and improvised weapons returned to prominence. WW2 refined this further with standardized combat knives and bayonets, while elite and specialized units emphasized close-quarters training. Even in modern conflicts, melee tools persist not as primary weapons, but as last-resort equipment, utility tools, and symbols of discipline and tradition.
Here’s where melee weapons could open an interesting discussion for Warthunder Infantry. Knives, bayonets, swords, improvised tools, and even ceremonial or experimental close-combat weapons could add depth to infantry gameplay especially in tight environments like urban combat, trenches, or surprise encounters. Whether used as emergency weapons, stealth options, or just for the vibes of having a sword, melee gear has centuries of history behind it. If it requires getting up close and personal, it belongs in the conversation so feel free to bring up ideas, historical examples, or wacky implementations that could give infantry combat more grit and character.
Remember Share Your Ideas and information so when Infantry fully opens up we can fill the suggestion box full of our collective ideas!
Good Luck Out There Swords Man
