A modern example would be that the Brits actually took Centurian tanks to the 1st Gulf war and some wargamers reading that would insist that their opponent had to use some in his armoured formations but the detail is that they were only used by the engineers as armoured dozers and as far as I am aware they never fired a shot in anger. Another example is in Carlisle castle where there are a couple of Ferret A/C's which are still listed on the regimental strength so they are cleaned and painted but again nobody expects them to actually get used. I'm sure that was the same situation with pikes.Churchill wrote: It also states that the English forces were not so forward in discarding the "Queen of Weapons", as some authorities have claimed.On 20th June 1702 we find the commanding officers of six regiments currently under marching orders for Ireland being advised as follows by the Secretary of War: ...Her Majesty's pleasure is that all pikes already issued to the Regiment of Foot under your command be returned into the Stores of Ordnance, in lieu of a sufficient number of muskets which you are first to receive out of the said stores.
Ray.
Cheers
Dave