We actually have MORE bayonets now than we did in 1916 (Posted on 10/23/12 at 3:18 p.m.)
Following the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, Congress decided to set the maximum strength of the Army at 100,000 in 1901. The actual strength varied year to year and was set by annual appropriations. On 30 June 1915 the Army's actual strength was 105,993, including Hospital Corps.
Between the Spanish American War and World War I, the strength of the Marines ranged between 10,000 and 18,000.
This brings the total strength of troops using bayonets to roughly 124,000 - 125,000 max.
The USMC's strength as of June 2011 is 200,827 active with 40,000 reserve bringing the total number of personnel who train with bayonets today to roughly 240,827.
The Army no longer trains with bayonets, but until 2010 many units were still performing bayonet drills in BCT. If you are familiar with Army "logistics" you can probably assume they still have thousands of M9 bayonets laying around. Hell, I was issued an M16A2 with a serial number form the 80's.
If we assume only 1 issued bayonet per soldier/marine (which is a stretch.) Today there are well over 100,000 more "bayonets" than in 1916 not including the Army's obsolete supply. |
