Yet they would be a help in hand-to-hand fighting (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
small arms
'fighting' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'yet they would be a help in hand-to-hand' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' is found in the answer.
'hand' could be 'r' (abbreviation for right, as in the right-hand side) and 'r' is found within the answer.
'be' could be 'am' and 'am' is located in the remaining letters.
'to hand' could be 'l' (abbreviation for left, as in the left-hand side) and 'l' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for small arms that I've seen before include "Rifles etc" , "More than one weapon" , "Hand-held weapons" , "e.g. Guns" , "those of little calibre" .)