Wapsi Square Forum

jwhouk wrote:She cuts quite a figure.

THAT looks like an artillery saber- a naval commander would carry a cutlass. I know that sounds a bit nit-picky, but seriously- a full sized saber requires a lot of room to use and ships do not offer that. Any enemy she would face would be armed with cutlasses- a saber would be at a disadvantage because they cannot move as fast and can hang up on too many things. In open terrain, the saber would be the better choice because of it's reach. Remember, the era she represents with what she is wearing does not see a sword as a decoration- it is in fact a weapon intended for use. As such, the weapon has to be suited for the circumstances. One does not haul a heavy machinegun into a surgical drop strike. Nuclear devices at a border conflict are absurd. A sniper's skills are useless in a jungle so thick that visibility is less than 30 meters. And full-sized land swords are a liability onboard a ship- she might wear that to a political function in dress uniform, but not in battle.

That could actually be the cutlass formerly owned by the captain of the Acheron. Remember, Shelly is a fairly short woman (albeit taller that Monica) and she might be showing off a prize weapon made for a taller opponent.

Sgt. Howard wrote:One does not haul a heavy machinegun into a surgical drop strike.

Of course not. That's what Daisy Cutters are for.

The size of the opponent has no bearing here- close-quarters swordplay demands a smaller sword. Period.

Daisy cutter... nice... very subtle there, Dave... do you have urban redevelopment in mind? I just about fell off the bed when I read that... unfortunately, there were only 225 of them made, and I do not have access to a delivery system. Several targets do come to mind... and should I name them, I might get arrested....

It's not that hard to make a daisy cutter. At least, not from a technological point of view. Just stuff a train car tanker with ANFO, give it some sort of fuse, and drop it of a b-29 superfortress.

"First, skin one medium elephant..."

Sgt. Howard wrote:THAT looks like an artillery saber- a naval commander would carry a cutlass. I know that sounds a bit nit-picky, but seriously- a full sized saber requires a lot of room to use and ships do not offer that. Any enemy she would face would be armed with cutlasses- a saber would be at a disadvantage because they cannot move as fast and can hang up on too many things. In open terrain, the saber would be the better choice because of it's reach. Remember, the era she represents with what she is wearing does not see a sword as a decoration- it is in fact a weapon intended for use. As such, the weapon has to be suited for the circumstances. One does not haul a heavy machinegun into a surgical drop strike. Nuclear devices at a border conflict are absurd. A sniper's skills are useless in a jungle so thick that visibility is less than 30 meters. And full-sized land swords are a liability onboard a ship- she might wear that to a political function in dress uniform, but not in battle.

1) You'll see paintings of Napoleonic War naval officers holding swords just as large, if not larger. These might not be the swords that they used in most shipboard actions, but they did have them and carry them around at times.

2) Not all battles fought by naval officers were aboard ship.

3) I don't see her wearing a scabbard, so it's likely a sword that she just picked up in whatever circumstances.

4) Shelly isn't a naval officer in battle, she's a gal just having fun dressing up and being silly.