Nudity in combat
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Nudity in combat is rare, because apart from the social aspects of nudity, one lacks even the basic protection and practicality (e.g. no pockets) of clothes, e.g. when diving for cover, or crawling. On the other hand, Robert A. Heinlein suggests in Tunnel in the Sky that among scouts, the sense of anxiety and vulnerability created by complete nudity (besides body paint) heightens the scout's senses, thus enhancing his or her ability to avoid detection.
In Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Celts were reported to charge into battle completely in the nude, only carrying shields and swords. Sometimes the soldiers wore no clothing but were covered in war paint, a custom that allegedly gave the Picts their name.
This practice was maintained up until at least the 18th century in Highland Scotland. Highland soldiers routinely came to battle fully dressed, however coming onto the field, they would discard their heavy woolen plaids, and wore only their leines (shirts). This made them much more agile, and also protected their plaids from damage.
In warmer climates, sparse clothing and even (virtual) nudity was not so uncommon, even among such refined cultures as the Etruscans. While the social elite (and some crack units) would often wear characteristic armour (expensive, so rather exclusive; in some societies the soldier often paid for his own, not the state, so hoplites for example were from the wealthier classes) the common men in "light" units were often deprived of (full) protective clothing; apparently in other cases tradition saw to equality taking care of the military (dis)advantage.
Even in some present martial arts which continue techniques fit for military fighting, full or partial still occurs, e.g. the traditional styles of stick fighting practised by the young, now bearing firearms, warriors in the Omo Valley of the Suri (donga, often entirely naked; serious injury not uncommon, occasionally fatal) and the neighbouring Nyangatom (bare-chested, aiming to mark the adversary with visible stripes on the back).
In Liberia, soldiers loyal to Charles G. Taylor formed the Buck Naked Brigade, which fought naked in order to terrorize their opponents [1]
