BHP war history
- Thread starter eldon519
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orchidhunter
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Not off hand, but very many of the worlds armys have put it to use for a very long time. orchidhunter
jonnyc
Member
Well, considering the spread of the HP and its colonial users during and post WWII, it would be easier and shorter to make a list of conflicts that did not include Hi-Powers.
earlthegoat2
Member
The Browning Hi Power is the reason the 9mm round has killed more people than cancer.
incomplete list, just exercising the brain
British/Canadian WWII, Korea
US special forces, SOG Vietnam
Austrialia Vietnam ?
British counter-insurgency Mayalsia,1940s-1950s
British Suez Canal crisis 1956?
British Falklands War
British (Canada?) Afghanistan
Israeli forces, 1948,1956,1967,1973?
British forces, Northern Ireland
and lots more
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Hi-Power
British/Canadian WWII, Korea
US special forces, SOG Vietnam
Austrialia Vietnam ?
British counter-insurgency Mayalsia,1940s-1950s
British Suez Canal crisis 1956?
British Falklands War
British (Canada?) Afghanistan
Israeli forces, 1948,1956,1967,1973?
British forces, Northern Ireland
and lots more
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Hi-Power
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Not to mention the Germans issued them in WW2 thanks to occupying FN. One with capture papers from Dick Winters (Band of Brothers) is for sale for a cool $12,000.
No way on the 1911, A few used by the french in algeria but not many.
The Makarov probably not. Russians used in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Georgia and used by Cubans in Angola and Central America. Some used in Africa but many more BHP's were used in Africa too.
I would bet the BHP has the longest pistol combat useage.
Beagle-zebub
Member
I think a better question would be how much the BHP was fired in combat vs. other sidearms. I've read at least a dozen accounts of the 1911 being used in battle (most being Medal of Honor citations), but can only think of one involving the firing of an M9. The BHP could have been in every war in the 20th century, but if it wasn't used to kill people, then it might as well have been in none. Not many people crowing about the long combat history of the Makarov PM.
If you just want to believe that your 1911 is the all time Combat gun so be it ,but hard to believe that the BHP was in everywar in the 20th century and it appears to be the 21st century too, and didn't kill anyone.
The BHP wasn't used to kill people. ??? Silly comment. Perhaps you should read more than US military history Well, according to Col. David Hackworth, who up until recently our most decorated living soldier (RIP), the 1911 has the distinction of being the only U.S. service arm that caused more American casualties than enemy casualties.
Probably something you could extend to almost any service pistol, though.
Probably something you could extend to almost any service pistol, though.
rellascout
member
Depending on what you define as a war but the CZ 75B might be in the same league.
Except that the BHP has about 40 years and a World War on the CZ. Further the Czech's did not fight anybody since the gun was built and was it even a Czech military gun? CZ82 was but the 75?
BHP was adopted by over 60 countries and I cannot think of many that adopted the CZ75. Which is a great gun nevertheless.
I just don't think your going to find a handgun with as much war time experience, and certainly not very many that are still being issued to active military units.
The P38 is probably close in battles but it is not really issued anymore.
There's no way the BHP made it into every conflict since 1935 (at least if we're limiting this to officially issued weapons, be they standard, substitute-standard or irregular issue), but I will easily believe that it has done so more than any other sidearm. The 1911 has been around since, well, 1911, but we're really the only major military that uses it. The British were a massive military presence, and most of the commonwealth nations used or still use the BHP, and there were a LOT of wars created by the death of that empire. The BHP probably served in each and every one of them, right up through and including Gulf War I and II and the Afghanistan conflict.
Mike
Mike
Thanks for the feedback. That is about what I had imagined. I'm a young guy, and I really like the BHP, but it doesn't seem to get much respect with my generation being born into the plastic era. I still had suspected though that there probably isn't a more battle-tested semi-automatic handgun out there.
RON in PA
Member
I've read that some HPs were used by Americans in Viet Nam.
Sport45
Member
Maybe S&W .38? I think it's been around for a while. The name or model number might have changed, but the gun remained pretty much the same.
Yup, private purchases. They used to have a nickel plated HP-35 on display at the USAF Museum in Dayton Ohio, that was used by a pilot in Vietnam.
Australians used them in Vietnam too. The occasional Inglis turned up in VC hands, obviously came from China.
I would have to agree the HP-35 has seen more conflicts officially and unofficially. Not mentioned is the various brush fire wars in Central, South America as well as Africa from the 50s to present day. The image of Mike Hoare with his Hi-Power on his hip is near iconic.
Beagle-zebub
Member
I have no particular love for the 1911, and wouldn't carry one in combat if I had the choice--they're too heavy (both the gun and the ammo), and the overall safeties' arrangement makes me nervous.
For sure, I haven't read much first-hand military history from anyone but Americans, but that's from not knowing where to look. If you can point me in the direction, in particular, of accounts where the BHP was used in combat, I want to read them, because I'm curious to know how they performed. (Something tells me that it would be South Africans, and then SAS--I'd prefer to hear about non-special ops accounts, since special ops are such a small minority and often choose unconvetional weaponry.)
redbone
Member
Eldon:
The Brits must think they're okay - still using them here in Iraq. A classic, but still performing.
RBH
The Brits must think they're okay - still using them here in Iraq. A classic, but still performing.
RBH
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