Tactics of the WWII U.S. Army Infantry Rifle Platoon - Attack
This video is a deep dive into the tactics, techniques, and procedures of the WWII rifle platoon in the attack. A platoon's-eye view of offensive combat covering everything from recon by fire to withdrawal, including a look at infantry replacements, ammunition load, and the "Four F's" of fighting.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:45 Historical Context
6:14 Platoon in Combat
7:15 Phase 1 - Contact with the Enemy Unlikely
7:47 Phase 2 - Contact Expected, But Enemy Location Unknown
9:59 Phase 3 - Enemy Presence Known
14:02 Phase 4 - Aimed Small-Arms Fire Encountered
23:52 Phase 5 - Enemy Located and Engaged (Platoon Maneuver)
38:19 Phase 6 - Assault, Pursuit by Fire, Reorganization, Pt. 1
41:17 How Much Ammunition did a WWII Soldier Carry?
43:22 Phase 6 - Assault, Pursuit by Fire, Reorganization, Pt. 2
52:33 Phase 7 - Continuation of the Attack
53:06 Phase 8 - Organization and Defense of Ground
54:59 Withdrawal
56:56 Conclusion
*Note: I have included this helmet-tapping arm-and-hand signal for the sake of completeness, though I am aware it may not have been used during WWII. This illustration was originally sourced from the 1 February 1946 edition of FM 22-5 (the first update to that manual since 1 December 1943). As late as February 1945 infantry leaders were being instructed to signal Cover the Advance (Withdrawal) with: "Commence Firing. Following any order for a movement, or maneuver, this signal automatically indicates that the designated squad (team) is to cover the movement of the remaining squads (teams) by fire." Sometime in the intervening year the arm-and-hand signal depicted in this video was adopted. It may have been introduced at the tail-end of WWII, or it may not have actually entered the U.S. Army's visual signals vernacular until 1 February 1946.
Minor Note: That word at 15:47 is obviously meant to be "alliterative"; I couldn't tell you what happened to the "-ive." As always, I only notice these kinds of things while working on the closed captioning AFTER the video has gone public...
Return of the Infantry Tactics Kings! Welcome back to teaching us how to fight like it's '44.
When Company of Heroes 3 comes out, I’ll be so ready to use Infantry. (All jokes aside, these videos are awesome.)
We still use the same basic concepts. Look up Army FM (field manual) 3-21.8
Oh shit, wasn't expecting you to ever upload again. Welcome back
Agreed! This is most unexpected...
And leave you hanging on a formations video? I'm not that cruel.
@@G.I.HistoryHandbook whered ya go!
The return of the king
Excellent job, thanks for doing it.
*checks calendar* well, time to binge this channel again
An hour video! Can't really complain about the wait in that case
Nah, you can complain. Two years is crazy.
@@G.I.HistoryHandbook I'm crossing my fingers for a company organization video
It is so hard to find KZhead channels covering tactics like this. Especially in 20th century combat training. Huge thanks for this video. I really hope you cover German forces in this detail one day.
You can buy ranger handbooks just so you know
@@jolanderphilip you don't even need that just Google Army fm 3-21.8 the pdf is free and available right frim the army itself
I still have the poster from Brothers in Arms Road to Hill 30 that illustrated Find’em Fix’em Flank’em Finish’em. That was a great series of games because it was specifically designed to force you to use those tactics.
YES. I have been waiting for this for two years
I imagine there will be people who found this channel two days ago who will wonder why there isn't a new video next week.
@@G.I.HistoryHandbook guilty
Yup! It’s been so long since I saw another video
I just discovered your channel a few days ago and watched all your videos. Seeing that your last upload was 2 years ago I was super sad and didn't expect you to come back. I am SO happy you've uploaded again!
Thank you. Spare a thought for the people who subbed two years ago. At the time they were thinking, "I guess I can wait six month for another video..."
Total watch time of around 3 hours.
Your alive! Great too see that your back.
Great to see longtime viewers who are still interested!
@46:13 "but even then, had they been able to reorient that machine gun, the record of this engagement probably wouldnt have been written in english". Damn dude, I like your style and love these subtle points you throw in!
I think I subbed to you like last year, and was sad to not see any uploads for two years. You proved me wrong, sir.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video for us G.I. History Handbook.
Thank you for taking the time to watch and to leave a comment.
I'm very glad I wasn't unsubscribed from this channel, matsimus has a great video on trench digging
Man a company break down would be amazing....
This is a very pleasant surprise. Thank you for uploading once again after all this time
Great quality, well written and researched. Can’t wait for the next video!
Excellent research and presentation. Thankyou.
Thank you and thank you.
I've really enjoyed your previous videos and their level of detail, glad to see you're back
Absolutely delighted to see you back!
Awesome content man. Thank you for the work you put into this and your other now ancient videos.
That's good stuff, reduced speed to a custom setting of 0.8 in order to follow it comfortably.
This upload was a surprise, but a very pleasant surprise. Excellent!
All your videos are incredibly well done. Love the research and historical support for everything, absolute incredible work!
Been a while! Really nice to see you back, your videos are really a thing I missed ^^ good luck and hope you continue uploading
That was a great video. Very informative. Thank you for making and posting.
Thanks for keeping the channel alive!
Thank you for uploading this
Fantastic work! I've been working on a science fantasy setting for my writing with a strong focus on the military and combat. Your in depth explanation of platoon tactics and the writin accounts of those tactics in action do wonders for figuring out my world building. Thank you!
Brilliant stuff. Thanks for your top quality videos
After two years you finally put up the vid we have all been waiting for and I miss it. Good to see your back, love the vids
All of your videos are so well researched and well done. The visuals are awesome and I like the way u describe everything.
Can't wait for your next video. Keep up the good work.
Great to see a new video! Added to my watch later list and looking forward to having the time to watch it. Thanks!
No need to rush it. Judging by my recent output, I don't think there's too much danger in you falling behind.
Thanks for posting again.
Did not expect to see Thomas the GI ammunition train. It was a pleasant surprise. Glad to see you're back and I'm looking forward to future content!
Glad too see ya putting out new videos, hope you continue (:
Great to see you! I always had faith you'd come back, I noticed the pattern of increasing length and production values and knew that it'd start taking you a while between uploads. Your videos are extremely informative! Thanks for all your hard work!
Thank you very much for the kind words, the understanding, and most importantly - the patience! I certainly don't anticipate the wait being quite so long for the next video. (Well, that's what I say now...)
@@G.I.HistoryHandbook I fucking love these videos. Hope the next is out soon!
Glad to see you again!
Excellent job, thanks for doing it.
Fantastic work
Dude welcome back! Are there more coming. Love and loved youre vids. Again astonishing work
man Glad to see you back.
A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
So glad this is back!
Over half a year has passed already?? It's about time to binge watch these vids again... Any word on the next video?
Excellent new video. Keep them coming!
I believe by 1944 US Marine squads had two BAR teams as standard TO&E. But I can't say for sure.
A second BAR was added to the U.S. Marine rifle squad in the E-Series T/O (15 April 1943). A third was added in the F-Series T/O (27 March 1944) which created a 13-man squad organized into a squad leader and three 4-man fire teams. Each fire team had an automatic rifleman, meaning the 1944 U.S. Marine rifle company had 27 BARs. (By comparison, the U.S. Army rifle company was only authorized 15 BARs at the end of June 1944.)
@@G.I.HistoryHandbook Today the US Army uses 3 SAW's per squad, so they are following the Marines!!
You're back!
I've been waiting for two years for this video, glad you are back.
Thank you for your patience. I'll try not to make you wait another two for the next one.
@@G.I.HistoryHandbook thank you for the time you put into this, the quality and content is excellent.
Excellent educational historical information thank you for the very well spoken and explained video
I love this channel! I always look forward to watching ur videos
I am just discovering this channel and it is very interesting. I am a recently retired infantryman and it is amazing to see the differences from WWII until now. It also is kind of cool to see the things that have not changed. Some tactics are still used today and some have changed as we have learned from our past. This is good stuff.
oh wow, its been a while
OH MY GOD! The channel is alive!!! It has great content.
Awesome video. I learn a ton from your videos. Thanks.
i have been subbed for two years hoping for another video lol
Three people unsubbed the day before I uploaded. They JUST missed out on a notification. (Four others unsubbed on the day of release; I guess they didn't like the new content.)
Welcome back!
Excellent content
Great video; so much information
Wonderful channel. I'd love to see an episode about the US Weapon's Platoon, and how it aids the Rifle Platoons.
never clicked on video so fast in my life
He's back!
Was worried you wouldn’t be uploading again. Welcome back to the tube
Welcome back!!!
Yesss! Love these videos!
Awesome content man keep it coming
Thanks!
Welcome back! Thank you for another great video, it was well worth the long wait.
I appreciate it.
A new video!!! I'm so happy I could cry!!! :DDD
I’d like to suggest for future videos, making an eagles eye view, “play by play” of the entire Iraq campaign war and how it was won, and showing the tactics and commanders execution of plans from the start of the war to the end …… 🤷♂️ just a suggestion
dude your channel is gold
HEEEEEEYYYYYYY! YOUR BACK! YEEEAAAAHHHH!!!
This one’s been a long time coming! Welcome back my good man! (I’ve been busy all week, so I didn’t notice your return until now).
Well, you told me last month to get going...
@G.I. History Handbook I’m glad you’re back bud, can’t wait to see what the future holds. By the way, I was wondering, how dare up on the unit organization tree do you intend to go? Company? Battalion?
This means not as much as a soldier that made it through the Hedge row country. My dad did and made it to Bastogne. Dad before he died was visited by an Army officer. He came in and said " We have to talk about you going through the Hedge row country when you get out . " Dad said I'm not getting out " The officer said " Thank you for your service and saluted and walked out. Dad was picked by Patton to be promoted to a Sargent in charge of a gun squad. Dad made it to Bastogne. Dad was an extreme marksman but used many tactics to take even SS squads. He shot a German soldier two days before Bastogne and sat with him to take care of him . Out of cover a German soldier got a gun to the back of his head. The dying soldier pleaded for dads life. He spent 6 Months in a German prison camp . On the way they put him in a box car for six days and nights with no food or water . He was one out of two that survived. He also ate lice to stay alive in prison camp. He had no compassion for the SS , but did for the common soldier. He felt his weakness was compassion and thought he should've let the German soldier die . Dad felt he left his men behind and wasn't a good soldier. Before he died an Officer said " A good soldier doesn't always make a good person. Your dad was both " . I heard some tactics through the Hedge row but apparently there was more the Army wanted out of him .
And now we wait for the video on Company tactics.
Yup.
Just a few years
Nah, we get to see the Weapons Platoon organisation/formations and tactics next ;p
i dont know why but i would also like too see the camp organization
Awesome video bro
The king has returned
Holy shit you’re alive! You should maybe do a collab with Battle Order, your content complements each other really well.
Agreed.
Is this guy OK? It’s been a long time since he posted anything. I really like his videos they’re well-made.
comment he made from 2 weeks ago (replying to someone): "Thanks, man. Very grateful. I don't beg for subs in the video, but I really appreciate them all. I'll occasionally remind people in the comments that it's a good idea to enable notifications because, historically, new content tends to only gets uploaded after everyone has given up hope of getting more... Organization of the weapons platoon is the video I've promised next. Then I have another platoon-level tactics video in mind. All of your suggestions are possibilities after that." Yes, he is okay and he's working on another video
I hope you will continue to make these videos for higher units. I hope you will go into detail for hq units because it's hard to find information on the composition of hq, supply and other support units for company level and higher.
More please!
1st vid in TWO YEARS! I'm assuming this channel will posting vids more regularly from now on?
Superb.
No way, best day ever.
Great video as always! Damn , How I miss these series Never miss a second nor a frame on this video Say , any video plans on Other companies like the Armor division's and the Paratrooper?
I would love to see that!
HES BACK !!!!!!
Awesome videos, keep up the great content. Could you please list and reference the materials you use to make videos. If possible, list where to obtain the info or publications. Thanks
This series absolutely slaps. I know it's been a while, but I'm subbed in hopes you come back! Would love to see more detail on patrol and defense, and dare I hope for company-level TOE and tactics?
Thanks, man. Very grateful. I don't beg for subs in the video, but I really appreciate them all. I'll occasionally remind people in the comments that it's a good idea to enable notifications because, historically, new content tends to only gets uploaded after everyone has given up hope of getting more... Organization of the weapons platoon is the video I've promised next. Then I have another platoon-level tactics video in mind. All of your suggestions are possibilities after that.
Yes PLEASE more vids. Dying for company-level organization, formation and attack tactics. Also, what’s the difference between weapons platoon and rifle platoon?
@@alexandermcclintick9225 Each rifle company had three rifle platoons and one weapons platoon, where the machine guns and mortars (and sometimes bazookas) were found. The weapons platoon constituted the company's heaviest organic firepower. It's squads supported the advance of the rifle squads.
@@G.I.HistoryHandbook Oh, I see. Thanks!
@@G.I.HistoryHandbookFound this gem of a channel when i was searching for information about 60 mm M2 mortar units tactics for companies and platoons. I want to know how it worked out. If they used handie talkies. if they had forward observers. How they communicated with the rifle platoons up front etc. Bonus question: how many shells did they carry per mortar team? Did they use boxes or vests or both? Those kind of questions had led me to your channel! Information like these are hard to find from Google or AI. Well deserved subs!
Holy shit, he returned
Oh nice, youre here again! 👍
MOAR PLZ!
This is some incredible just info about WW2. Never knew about 400% casualty rate.
So when are we getting to the Company Level Organization, Formation, & Tactics?
I've been anticipating this one! Fantastic work, as always. Would you be interested in a bit of consulting work? I don't see an email here. Thanks!
You should do videos on mechanized infantry and armored (tank) units (platoons, companies, etc.)
This was great! Just as a remark: I would not have minded if these had been split into 8 separate smaller videos. Just saying, in case it helps you :) (one 5-10min video every month or so is awesome too; it doesn't have to be an hour-long video every 2 years - although I obviously have no idea which factors contributed to that)
Thanks. I had actually finished through Phase 4 in 2019. I toyed with releasing it as "part one," but I didn't know when a part two would ever be finished and didn't want to leave viewers hanging in the middle of what had been conceived as one video.
THANK U!!!!!!!!!!!!!
after all the time, you made my day. Thank :v
Honestly, watching these vids of how things used to be makes me wonder why certain procedures (in doctrine at least) are much different nowadays. These tactics won the U.S. and the allied forces a World War. But afterwards we could barely get anything done in Vietnam and Afghanistan in the long run. Likely the top brass making stupid decisions for a couple of OER bullet points, if nothing else.
Do you know what the structure/organization of a cavalry reconnaissance troop (mechanized) either was or is?