Platoon in the attack

Military training film RAOC series B119 C95 produced by Publicity Films Ltd. This film illustrates the action of a platoon in a tactical training attack on an enemy post. The platoon is supported by its weapons only. Reel 1: each member of the platoon speaks describing his arms and duties, illustrating the make-up of a platoon. Sketch map used to illustrate the proposed tactical training attack. reels 2 and 3 show the method of attack.

[@mdog111]

The closing shot with the runner still diligently pushing his bike as the platoon advanced off into the distance made me laugh.

[@davidwebb8380]

love the scouts crossing the road at 10;48,,, so much like a walk on holidays!!!!

[@coy0te9]

And very fashionable to wear a single leaf stuck to the side of the helmet.

[@coy0te9]

I shouldn't mock. I've never been in a war and these are some of the men who saved the world.

[@Stephen-wc8fn]

And looks both ways to make sure he doesn’t get hit by a car

[@gillesguillaumin6603]

​@@Stephen-wc8fn. Or a bus...😂

[@dulls8475]

A very British training film....superb drill.

[@WozWozEre]

Semper Fidelis 👍

[@dulls8475]

@@WozWozEre What years were you in?

[@WozWozEre]

@@dulls8475 2003 until amalgamation

[@dulls8475]

@@WozWozEre I was in 83 to 93. It was sad day when we lost our Regiment. SF.

[@biggiouschinnus7489]

Magnificent drill, as to be expected. Assuming this film was 1940, these men were probably regulars (the Guards battalions retained a relatively high number of regulars for quite some time.)

[@Peter-lm3ic]

The procedure was officially called ‘Battle Drill’ and was used also for Section attacks. Practiced up to about the mid 1940’s but well out of use by 1950 or before.

[@johnsalt1157]

Nope -- I was still taught platoon and section battle drills, remarkably similar to what's done in this film, in the late 70s and early 90s.

[@Peter-lm3ic]

John:.Nope, ‘Battle Drill’ as it was known at the time was not just about platoon and section battle drills that came under TOET’s. But ‘Battle Drill’ was performed on the barrack Parade Ground as a drill you understand, a parade ground drill, with polished boots, you came to attention, you stood at ease you, you sloped arms, you marched, you doubled at the present. It was certainly all well out of British Army procedures by the start of the 1950’s.

[@mcsmash4905]

love how they say hiya instead of here (i know i know but i always found it slightly amusing)

[@euskryhtbnfvse4i7ehs4hnvf]

and "orf" instead of "off"

[@bryanbufton]

Thanks enjoyed it very much

[@pbeccas]

Excellent film.

[@alanfaulkner6329]

Brilliant.

[@32shumble]

My dad learnt all this in wW2 - tried to teach it to me and my brother in the 60's

[@yugster78]

Giving the platoon commander the map and compass not a good idea. "sergeant were do you think we are?"

[@Hew.Jarsol]

17:40 still using the old daysacks!

[@marcdavis4509]

Look at that old MG08

[@stephenwhited1833]

Thats a job for me Platoon Leader servant

[@bryanbufton]

Harry Enfield`s commentary, was top ho

[@shumyinghon]

they were still walking straight over to the enemy? :o

[@sgtg4600]

The issued British "stiff upper lip" 1 set per man (available from the QM's stores) will repel all known small arms ammunition of the time. 🇬🇧

[@VaucluseVanguard]

They are certainly Taffies....

[@mickm234]

And from 13 minutes on it all gets a bit saucy...

[@rockywr]

I'll just take a look over, then the next one looks over from the same spot, then the next one ... hmmmmmm..... I remember that one of the cadet things I did back in the 60's on a section attack was the section commander shouted "Bullets" ...where we took one aimed shot and then charged through before re-org the other side of the position, I wonder when that came in ?

[@SwedishWookie]

Equipmentwise around when in the was would this be? 42-43?

[@paddy864]

Earlier I'd say, judging by the presence of the Boye's A/tk. Rifle and the Runner's bike and the lack of a radio in Pl. HQ. It could even be pre-war, very late '30s in fact (though I'm not sure when the Thompson was introduced) . Sounds like a Welsh regiment, possibly the Welsh Guards.

[@andysykes5604]

Thompsons where added to Establishment in NOV 1940. The three man LMG Group is first referenced in FEB 1941. The Section was increased to 10 men in June 41. However the 1942 LMG Manual still shows an 8 man section but has a L/CPL in charge of the Gun Group. So this film is between NOV 40 and AUG 42. But I suspect its early 41.

[@paddy864]

@@andysykes5604 Very informative, thanks for that!

[@ronti2492]

@@paddy864 I note they are armed with SMLE Mk III's which I guess reinforces the early war period being the most likely time. this film was made. The march at the beginning is the fast regimental march of the Welsh Guards.

[@nicholasgoulding7110]

@@ronti2492 Section Commanders were Lance Sergeants, so must have been Welsh Guards

[@edwardgilmour9013]

in late ww2; neither the brits or the Australians used Sgt as section commanders ?

[@legbreaker2762]

No, That's a Corporal's position with Lance Corporal as section 2IC. NCOs are given greater responsibility and trust than in the US organisation.

[@MySkyranger]

After searching the German prisoner he turns his back presenting the German with his bayonet. Amateurs the lot.

[@maco8799]

21.57 thats got to be spike milligan

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

It's not mentioned in his war memoirs, any way he was upon 56th (Heavy) RA.

[@indigohammer5732]

How did these men fare in Aikshoun, or unda faih?

[@exn207]

I fail to understand the role of the platoon seargant. Here in germany the hole platoon is lead by a sergeant the sections are lead by a corporal. Each company has only 2 officers. Captain/First-Lieutenant and a Second-Lieutenant leading the 1st platoon.

[@alfred9895]

The platoon sergeant is a very experienced soldier who can assist the young and commonly inexperienced officer, in commanding the platoon. He can also deal with lots of the admin tasks of the platoon.

[@vaclavjebavy5118]

The platoon sergeant assists the platoon leader; a lieutenant. Does the German army have no designated second-in command/assistant for the platoon leaders?

[@exn207]

@@vaclavjebavy5118 Each platoon has one or two private (first class) for the paperwork and organisation stuff. These guys are not part of a squad,/ troop their role is clerk/ assistant. And the rest....The old prussian "Auftragstaktik"! Every soldier should be able understand and to do the job of the superior rank. In cold war times while exercising together american, british or french troops were always shocked, when a german seargent was able to lead the whole company (in a scenario in which all officers were taken out).

[@vaclavjebavy5118]

@@exn207 So nearly anyone can take charge a level above them if need be? Impressive. I feel like that's the way it should be. In other ranking systems, it feels like ranks are sometimes used more to boost ego than establish an effective chain of command.

[@mikkoleinonen9846]

In FDF I was a platoon sergeant (while also being a second in command to a corporal, it was weird). My duty was to keep track of the equipment, ammo, vehicles and food supplies (we had a fuckload off special equipment because we were a CBRN platoon). In FDF this usually meant that I was in contact directly with the company quartermaster. Basicly I was in charge of day to day life of my soldiers, so the platoon commander could focus on the actual leading. For example many times my CO would order me to set up our platoon into defencive positons when setting up a base of operations, while he was off to get new orders from the company CO. If he personally set up the defences, I worked with the drivers in order to position the vehicles, again taking some load off from my CO. During manouvering I was usually making sure that the proper formations were held and that the squad leaders were doing their tasks properly. So in short, I helped the platoon commander. Of course I lead the platoon when my officer was away. Like Reitze Hennes said, we too had to always be able to perform the tasks of our superiors. Here's a very rough translation of a saying that our trainers always kept telling us: "Always know how to do your superiors work, and always know what their superiors are doing." It meant that a private had to know how to lead a squad and he also had to know what the platoon's orders were. A squad leader had to know how to lead a platoon and know what the company's plan was etc.

[@randenpederson4784]

Where was the support for that machine gun? The Germans wouldn't just stick it out there by itself under an easily recognized terrain feature. Also why not take out the gun with mortar? It had a clear view of the target and HE to fire at it.

[@reallyoldfatgit]

Randen Pederson the film is a training film to introduce trainees to the basic procedures involved. Subsequent training and practice would be more realistic.

[@samswann3727]

This is only supposed to display the basic techniques of fire and moment etc, actual training was made more realistic.

[@JohnyG29]

It's a basic training film bud.

[@randenpederson4784]

@@JohnyG29 Train like you fight. Fight like you train. Been there done that.

[@JohnyG29]

@@randenpederson4784 No point me replying seeing as you know all the answers already, however I'll say it again. You need to teach and implant basic techniques before you complicate things. If you think this was the only training exercise the British Army used in WW2 you must be nuts.

[@JackKrei]

They were so dumb back then. lol.