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Hi,

I need a bit of help for an urban fantasy I'm writing with military elements. It's set on a parallel Earth with an early 1900's level of technology.

I have a couple of questions about uniform design factors. I want to know if it is likely that a particular style of uniform might influence the likelihood of different parts of the body being targeted by marksmen or snipers.

Instead of low pants and tunics that hang down, army uniforms have extremely high waisted pants and shirts tucked in. Is it realistic to think that pants like this would make the gut or the lower abdomen a more likely target?

If a detachment of troops is being used as a diversion and marching in formation towards a dug in enemy, would it be realistic to have an enemy officer ordering his troops to aim for the gut, either because he's sadistic or simply practical (i.e. - wanting to demoralize the oncoming troops)?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer this.

Well now – where to begin ?

High waisted trousers as in the days of Al Capone would produce more
head wounds. ( If the enemy aimed higher because of the induced trick of
vision. No real advantage there then).

Troops advancing on enemy slit trenches while wearing red jackets and
white leather webbing in a fashion worn across the chest proved to be an
excellent ‘X’ target for the troops resident in said trenches….
Same would apply if both sides were facing each other on open ground.
The use of troops as diversions seems to have lost it’s appeal and usage
since the days of Haigue.

Instructions once existed that in the event of having to scout out an area
where one could expect enemy presence one should send out the men
one could “most afford to lose” – this proved very unpopular with some of
the men – who could be known to take this very personally and engage
Shop Stewards to plead their case, thereby lengthening the time it took to
scout out the area…..

The use of kilts may perhaps explain the high rates of knee wounds in
1917 – on the other hand when the kilts were drawn up around the ears
to ward off cold a higher percentage of injuries to the genitals was
experienced, thus, perhaps, supporting your theory.

The issuance of stilts to some of the forward troops in order to surmount
the barbed wire and more effectively gain access to the trenches of the
opposing team seems sound as no list of casualties from this type of
injury has been found.

Troops have always fired “Aimed Shots” – that is – designed to kill –
and the broadest part of the body is preferred.

It would appear to this reader that your planned fantasy seems more
urbane than urban….more polished in thought than fact – but there again,
I’m old…..

The solution to future warfare will be based on the film “Avatar” where
artist drawn characters will replace real troops in the front lines as they
indeed replace actors in the film.

So, it's too unrealistic even for a fantasy novel. Thank you very much for that.

ooohh, a fashion question! Well, let's make one of those design factors BIG shoulder pads!! Our boys would look GREAT in silhouette and it has the added advantage that any bullets would just go straight through (makes a real mess of the fabric though...)


Even in fantasy land I assume snipers still aim for the largest bit of a target they see at the end of their sights? Thats's normally the torso.

As for patterns and designs, the RAF have been issuing these t-shirts to their boys for ages.......


Normally I'd say it's not a good idea to wear one if you're in sniper country..... But with the RAF, the likelihood of having snipers anywhere near their 5 star hotels in Bahrein is slim.

And as for sadistic officers ordering their men to aim for the gut.... FAR too general a description. If he's in charge of proper snipers he should be shouting "Aim for the spleen!"

There's a picture!

If they're wearing shoulder pads, there's nothing else for it but have them mincing in formation.

With barbed wire, they should really be mincing on stilts.

It's going to be a bestseller, I just know.

bradsneddon wrote: they should really be mincing on stilts.

Mincing is good.... perfect diversion to confuse the enemy.

Observe ........... <click link>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0dWo31hwpI

Do I detect a sense of humor here?
If so,then stop it.It's very silly.

The question was serious but I'm not too precious about any particular ideas I have for the story, so if answers are humourous, I can get into the swing of that.

bradsneddon wrote:Hi,

I need a bit of help for an urban fantasy I'm writing with military elements. It's set on a parallel Earth with an early 1900's level of technology.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer this.

Yes I find that if you cannot be seen in what your wearing then the likelyhod of being shot,slapped,injured in anyway are dramatically reduced, Although I did hide behind a door once and got punched in the face by the wife, so Door's are not much good!