The Patriot, revisisted

Jeff, I also noted the friendly fire problem in that scene, your fix would work untill the Brits pressed into the middle, then less Brits but same firing problem. Parallel line ambush only good for movies unless you have high ground on both sides. Kinda hard to get the bad guys to wander into a gully without havin scouts on the flanks tho.

Even tho I saw several discrepiencies of tactics, materials etc......I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and the message. The rhumy old eyes were a wee damp by the end.


------------------
Sam I am, grn egs n packin

Nikita Khrushchev predicted confidently in a speech in Bucharest, Rumania on June 19, 1962 that: " The United States will eventually fly the Communist Red Flag...the American people will hoist it themselves."
 
LOL!!

Guess Mel never saw the "coffee cup" ambush scene in Ronin.

The scene in the creek where Mel jellies the guy with his hatchet MORE THAN makes up for this little faux pas hehe.
 
I'm not speaking from first hand experience here, so please correct me if I'm wrong.

But Jeff's idea of two lines roughly perpendicular to each other seems to make sense - at least it did to the Vietnamese.

I was told (<--- note: second-hand info!) that the enemy would form an "X" and let the southern forces (U.S. & RVN) come as close to the apex as possible. The X form was used so if one line collapsed, another "wing" could rotate toward the enemy (namely "us"), who would still face a full line of fire.

While I remember the description of the tactic, I don't remember how the scouts or point men were neutralized or whether this was a tactic employed by the VC or the regulars.

(I'll just bet we have some vets who can clear up this info!!! ;) )
 
You know, I thought it was a great movie. It's not history, it's HISTORICAL FICTION. If you want history, get yourself a damn time machine. What the hell is wrong with the movie?
 
There's nothing wrong with the movie..I went to see it this evening, with a very open mind. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Now..I was in the British Army for 10 years in the '60s and '70s...but don't assume that I watched it from a different perspective than would an American...not at all. I enjoyed the film for what it was...a damn good action flick.
I even let out a whoop when Mel galloped out with his dead son's flag to join the Continental column, for crying out loud.<g>
This film may not enjoy the same popular appeal outside the US, but it will be watched and enjoyed as a very well-made movie nonetheless. Not historically accurate? Who cares...what is 'historically accurate' anyway? It depends who writes the book, doesn't it?<g>
Mike/BC
 
Hey...why dont the damn Whining Brits make some of their own movies....

Instead they complain about ours....sigh. Mel has made the Brits look like a-holes a lot though:
Gallipoli
Braveheart
Patriot

Its like the whiners who are all upset that an American might be casted in the Happry Potter movie.... big friggin' deal. If they had any talent there it wouldn't be an issue!
 
4v50, excellent post. I had always thought that the purpose of the line of fire was because they didn't have rifled barrels, and that was the best way to hit their enemy was by firing en-mass. But I'm familiar with the Prussians military reputation, so your explanation makes more sense.

------------------
Ordering deadline for TFL shirts & hats is July 29, don't miss out. www.thefiringline.com:8080/forums/showthread.php?threadid=37865
 
lowepg:
Legend has it that the British actor Stanley Baker produced and starred in the movie "Zulu", because he was tired of hearing about "The Alamo"... :)....honest.
 
I forgive Mel for the Lethal Weapon flicks.

If you haven't seen this movie, pls do so. I think this is Mel's best acting ever, and one fight scene in the movie is worth the entire flick (though there is more about the movie to recommend it). Spartacus and I saw it Thurs, and were happy to have gone.
 
A discourse on The Patriot and the defination of patriotism.

There is an amazing amount of name dropping here and some interesting debate, though the author states the obvious (the main characters of movies like The Patriot and Gladiator had to be drawn into war for their respective homelands by atrocities against their families, not overt patriotism - though each warrior's reluctance to embrace bloodshed once again arose from having tasted too much war - and to be sure, Mad Mel's guerilla fighter became a full fledge flag waver by the conclusion of The Patriot). Jeff

Unpatriotic   - Gibson's patriot is Sonny Corleone, not Sgt. York.  by Michael Lind
http://slate.msn.com/Features/patriot/patriot.asp
 
Jeff Thomas

RE Parallel Line Ambush.

At Ft Benning we were taught never use a Parallel line ambush as you will end up shooting your own people. Instead we were taught to use an L shaped or "fishook" ambush.

To do this you set a base of fire to engage the enemy formation from the front, usually we used crew served weapons (M60) to fire down the column. This is the base of the L or the curve of the fishook. The remainder of the unit (Squad, platoon or whatever) would set up in a parallel line to the enemy column on one side only. This insured no friendly fire would hit your own troops.

E <R
E <R
E <R
E <R
E <R

^
M

E = enemy troops advancing in column towards the bottom of the screen
R = Friendly rifleman
M = Crew Served weapon in my day an M60

^ < = direction of fire.

Of course this is very simplistic and actul field situations may require creativity. but it gives the general idea.

If some of you current grunts have been taught newer techniques feel free to comment. I've gotta go clean my Krag. ;)


Geoff Ross


------------------
One reason to vote in the next Presidential election.

It's the Supreme Court, Stupid!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top