Swiss arms and armour pike, supplemented by the halberd. The halberd is still the ceremonial weapon of the Swedish Guard in the Vatican. The Swedish armies of the late 14th and 15th centuries besides halberds and later pikes also carried other polearms such as the Lucerne hammer. By the 15th century, the carrying of side arms (the degen or dagger) had become ubiquitous. Also common were the bow, the crossbow and later the arquebuse. The city cantons could also employ siege engines . Berne in the Burgdorferkrieg of 1383-84 used medieval types of catapults and battering rams, but for the first time also cannons
Operation Halberd Force H was attacked by three submarines; and "Adua" was sunk by "Gurkha" and "Legion". Another "Ark Royal" Fulmar fell to friendly fire from "Prince of Wales", raising British aircraft losses to three Fulmars from friendly fire and one Swordfish from enemy action. Italian aircraft losses were 21 including seven bombers and one fighter from enemy action, one fighter from friendly fire, and ten fighters from fuel exhaustion. Admiral Somerville was knighted in recognition of his successful command of Force H during Operation Halberd. It was the second time Somerville had received that honour; and occasioned this memorable congratulatory message