Combat tv series question

[growr]

Any experts on this great old series? I grew up with it and Rat Patrol....

I have a few questions....one of which is why in the opening credits are the bayonets shown with the tips backwards?

Second, why is it that when on patrol they all most always have a bayonet on their M1?

Where were they able to get the tanks for their footage?

I think that most all in the series really did serve....the uniform and gear seems correct for the most part....a few things seem out of place like Sgt. Saunders camo cover on his helmet...

Also, like the fact that Germans seem to be speaking german, French seem to be speaking French etc....

I also like the interspercing of real footage with the broadcast footage.

How was Sgt. Saunders able to carry thousands of rounds and never seems to reload.....I know, it's Hollywood. Seldom see anyone of the squad actually reload their M1's either

Thanks to all!

Randy

 

[Old&Retired]

Short answer...it was Hollywood!
Never missed an episode when it was on (Rat Patrol too).

 

[rockquarry]

I liked COMBAT, too, the first time around. There would have been no enjoyment if I picked it apart for historical accuracy (as if I actually knew what was right for that era). See COMBAT and other shows for what they were (and remain): entertainment only, not films with historical correctness almost beyond belief.

 

[ordnanceguy]

As a kid I liked COMBAT! a lot. Great theme song, too.

Some of your questions and observations are answered on this fan website: Combat TV Series

 

[Onomea]

If you really want to enjoy watching it, you need to have your Mattell tommy gun handy.

I don’t know how many times I saved the squad’s bacon with that ol’ Thompson ...

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Best answer, as already provided, is that this was a Hollywood production.

Specifics:

The bayonets illustrated were early cut-down versions of the M1905 bayonet, reduced in length from 16" blade to 10" blade. The earlier versions were cut-down with a single radiused cut of the cutting edge, later recognized as the M1905-E, more commonly known as the Bowie-point. Later cut-downs featured a spear point, commonly known as the M1905-E1. Late-WW2 production bayonets with spear point 10" blades were designated as the M1 bayonet. For those not familiar with the M1 Garand rifle development, one of the design features was to allow the use of the earlier M1905 bayonets in inventory for the M1903 Springfield rifles.

The actor playing Staff Sergeant Saunders (Vic Morris?) complained about the weight of his equipment load enough that the producers provided a M1 Thompson SMG dummy made of carved wood. Having some experience with the Thompson guns in Vietnam, I understand his complaints about carrying a 12-lb.-plus gun with a dozen 20-round magazines loaded with .45ACP ammo; it was quite a load. As for the rate of fire and reloading, the M1/M1-A1 Thompson gun had a cyclic rate of around 500-600 rounds per minute, so a 20-round magazine could be emptied in a single burst of about 3 to 4 seconds (probably not satisfactory for the directors or film editors wanting some "real action" in certain scenes).

The camo helmet covers were pretty much standard issue for the USMC, mostly in the Pacific Theater. US Army troops in Europe generally used no helmet cover, or the netting-style cover that allowed for leaves, branches, twigs, etc, to be inserted to provide camouflage. There was a great deal of variation among individual Army units, with earlier formed divisions and brigades largely armed with pre-war surplus gear (much of it WW1 era) and later (1944-45) units equipped with current production gear. Example: field gear such as cartridge belts, mag pouches, etc, prior to mid-1943 was khaki color, but late-war production was olive drab color; rifle belts of pre-war type featured 10 cartridge pouches equipped to take two 5-round stripper clips each (1903 Springfield style), but late-WW2 production belts had 10 pouches for the 8-round Garand en-bloc clips. The USMC was notoriously under-provided with all sorts of equipment, frequently relying on WW1-surplus Army equipment sold as surplus on the open market, and picked up by Marine Corps supply officers.

Great entertainment. Not the most historically accurate production.

Edited to ad: Note that the US Army was not integrated until the early 1950's, so African-American troops portrayed as part of US Army infantry units is not at all accurate. For the most part, black troops were assigned to support duties (some especially hazardous, such as driving gasoline trucks to keep tanks and armored vehicles supplied in combat). Please note that I am making a historical commentary, not an endorsement of 1940's military policies.

 

[fordson]

As to Sgt. Saunders camo helmet cover, I remember reading that the character Saunders alleged he had a brother in the Marines fighting in the Pacific. The camo cover was a tribute to him.
Can’t remember where or when I read this but it’s in the back recesses of my minds hard drive.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Sgt. Saunders(Thompson)/Little John(Garand)/Cage(Garand)/Kirby(BAR)/Lt. Hanley(M1 Carbine)...........Yes. I was fan....Every Tuesday night at 730pm.

 

[Rudi]

I watched it every week. Hollywood for sure, but hey.

 

[rags]

I'll do it!

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EEEHL9G/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1[/ame]

 

[Onomea]

I think a lot, maybe all, of the series is on YouTube. Used to be, anyway.

 

[ACORN]

Dad and I watched Combat and Gunsmoke together when I was a pup. He'd lay on his side on the couch with his knees bent and I'd nestle into the hollow behind his knees, nice and snug. A warm memory of days gone by. I miss you Dad.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Watching it with my dad, every so often he would chuckle and say: "nope!"

 

[Double-O-Dave]

The actor playing Staff Sergeant Saunders (Vic Morris?)

Close, it's actually Vic Morrow:Vic Morrow - Wikipedia

I grew up watching the same shows: Twelve O'Clock High, Combat, the Rat Patrol, etc. I also watched Hogan's Heroes and could never understand why it took America (and our allies) so long to win World War II since the Germans were so stupid? Yeah, I was the the kid in class that always asked the weird questions.

Regards,

Dave

 

[ACORN]

I remember he my Dad would not watch MASH when it first came on TV, being he served in Korea during the war and thought it mocked our efforts. Later he grew to like it.

 

[Farmer17]

It seems like I remember Vic Morrow being killed by a helicopter while filming a Vietnam army combat scene in the Twilight Zone movie.

 

[wbraswell]

I too, loved Combat, 12 o'clock High, and Rat Patrol. But hey, where's the love for The Gallant Men. I always remember "erryjas in the ucktras."

 

[ACORN]

It seem like I remember Vic Morrow being killed by a helicopter while filming a Vietnam army combat scene in the Twilight Zone movie.

That is correct.

 

[ACORN]

Anybody remember a copycat series around the same time? I seem to recall one but I could be wrong. Just ask my wife.

 

[dave1918a2]

Watching it with my dad, every so often he would chuckle and say: "nope!"

Ditto !!!!!