Favourite War Movies

[mariomike]

Just noticed on , "To Hell and back", Audie fired his Thompson holding by the sling. Presumably to control barrel rise.

He was certainly an artist with it.

 

[mariomike]

When The Battle of the Bulge movie came out, my father took me to the beautiful old Runnymede Theatre to watch it.

When they sang Panzerlied, the older men in the audience - they would have been late 30s or early 40s - not only knew the words, they sang along and stomped their feet!

​

 

[mariomike]

This is a wartime documentary showing the World War II US (Army General Classification Test - AGCT).

Readers may wish to take the test themselves see how they would have scored ( just for fun ).

Army General Classification Test (AGCT) - Official Military IQ Test Online

The Army General Classification Test (AGCT) is a restored U.S. Army intelligence test with strong g-loading and modern norms. Take the 40-minute AGCT online and receive your full IQ score profile.

cognitivemetrics.com

The AGCT and Interview determined your job classification.

WWII Military Occupational Specialist Code Database | Strictly GI

Search our World War II Military Occupational Specialist (MOS) code database. Browse military occupation descriptions within the US Army during WWII.

www.strictly-gi.com

Saw a scene where a Draftee is asked if he wants to join the Army or Navy.

He replies, Navy.

The Recruiter takes a look at him, and stamps his file Army.

Also, test yourself for a civilian war job ( 1943 ).

Unfit for Service: Physical Fitness and Civic Obligation in World War II​

Unfit for Service: Physical Fitness and Civic Obligation in World War II (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

 

[Retired AF Guy]

When The Battle of the Bulge movie came out, my father took me to the beautiful old Runnymede Theatre to watch it.

When they sang Panzerlied, the older men in the audience - they would have been late 30s or early 40s - not only knew the words, they sang along and stomped their feet!

​

So lots of German veterans in the theatre?

 

[mariomike]

So lots of German veterans in the theatre?

The audience seemed high spirited.

After all, it was Germany's last major offensive.

They had lost France.

General Heinrich Hans Eberbach, CO of Panzer Group West, put it this way on 26 Sept., 1944:

The skilful and scientific use of your bombers was the cause of our defeat in France. Reinforcement in the Normandy area was almost impossible. France, in which all means of transportation were interrupted, was the cause of our defeat.

 

[ueo]

The audience seemed high spirited.

After all, it was Germany's last major offensive.

They had lost France.

General Heinrich Hans Eberbach, CO of Panzer Group West, put it this way on 26 Sept., 1944:

I' ve heard many young Armor officers sing this, especially Fri nis! Also some not so young.

 

[The Bread Guy]

So lots of German veterans in the theatre?

I hear it's likely even more ... lively in showings in places like Argentina

 

[mariomike]

I' ve heard many young Armor officers sing this, especially Fri nis! Also some not so young.

A great tune. I did not understand the words, because the men in the audience were singing it in German.

 

[daftandbarmy]

A great tune. I did not understand the words, because the men in the audience were singing it in German.

Ironically this was a popular tune in the British Parachute Regiment after a few beers, probably still is, but I don't recall these being the words we used.

On joint exercises with the German Falschirmjager I recall that they were forbidden to sing it... until after a few beers were deployed of course

 

[FJAG]

Ironically this was a popular tune in the British Parachute Regiment after a few beers, probably still is, but I don't recall these being the words we used.

On joint exercises with the German Falschirmjager I recall that they were forbidden to sing it... until after a few beers were deployed of course

I was at a GATES party after a BLACK BEAR when late at night - and after many a Whiskey-Cola (them not me - I'm a beer guy) - a group of junior tankers broke into the "Horst Wessel" song which resulted in a whole lot of embarrassed glances from the folks I was talking to at the time.

 

[FSTO]

Just finished watching “Sink the Bismarck”. How all those officers kept those jackets so pristine at sea and in the office is a testament to the tailors of London!

Also, when that Lieutenant Commander went to the fleet admiral to complain that the captain wouldn’t let him leave early to see his girlfriend. I just laughed that the Fleet admiral didn’t throw him out of his office and that the captain didn’t chew him a new asshole for screwing up the divisional system!

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

"Watch out for SHEFFIELD!"

They forgot to say that in the Falkland.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Just finished watching “Sink the Bismarck”. How all those officers kept those jackets so pristine at sea and in the office is a testament to the tailors of London!

Also, when that Lieutenant Commander went to the fleet admiral to complain that the captain wouldn’t let him leave early to see his girlfriend. I just laughed that the Fleet admiral didn’t throw him out of his office and that the captain didn’t chew him a new asshole for screwing up the divisional system!

Well done the Stringbags...

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

For those who do not know naval lore, I am linking stories of two different HMS Sheffield here;

WWII HMS Sheffield was a heavy cruiser who was shadowing the Bismark and reporting position and course for most of the fight. When the first flight of naval Air Arm Swordfish's from HMS Ark Royal were sent to attack the Bismark, they were not told of the presence of Sheffield. Someone then spotted the error and that the potential for confusion of the two ships from the air was real and a plain text message was sent by Ark Royal to "Watch out for Sheffield". It didn't work, The Swordfish's first attack was on Sheffield, but luckily for the RN, they were equipped with magnetic trigger torpedoes that all exploded upon entering the water, showing they were defective. The Swordfish's reloaded with contact ones and managed a successful attack on Bismark.

Go forward 41 years. The new HMS Sheffield is a Type 42 destroyer now participating in the Falkland wars. She was sunk as a result of hit by an Argentinian Exocet missile. It was later determined that at a critical moment, another British frigate (can't recall if it was a Type 21 or Type 22) cut across her side and front, shading her fire control radar just so that she couldn't lock, train and shoot her Sea Dart at the incoming missile in time, which probably would have splashed it otherwise.

 

[daftandbarmy]

For those who do not know naval lore, I am linking stories of two different HMS Sheffield here;

WWII HMS Sheffield was a heavy cruiser who was shadowing the Bismark and reporting position and course for most of the fight. When the first flight of naval Air Arm Swordfish's from HMS Ark Royal were sent to attack the Bismark, they were not told of the presence of Sheffield. Someone then spotted the error and that the potential for confusion of the two ships from the air was real and a plain text message was sent by Ark Royal to "Watch out for Sheffield". It didn't work, The Swordfish's first attack was on Sheffield, but luckily for the RN, they were equipped with magnetic trigger torpedoes that all exploded upon entering the water, showing they were defective. The Swordfish's reloaded with contact ones and managed a successful attack on Bismark.

Go forward 41 years. The new HMS Sheffield is a Type 42 destroyer now participating in the Falkland wars. She was sunk as a result of hit by an Argentinian Exocet missile. It was later determined that at a critical moment, another British frigate (can't recall if it was a Type 21 or Type 22) cut across her side and front, shading her fire control radar just so that she couldn't lock, train and shoot her Sea Dart at the incoming missile in time, which probably would have splashed it otherwise.

The BoI doesn't seem to mention that, but has some other interesitng tid bits - like the ship's guns and missile batteries were not ready or manned ...

https://www.admiraltytrilogy.com/read/BOI_Rpt_HMS_Sheffield_May82.pdf

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

That's the unclass version (redacted). But it did not address the tactical overall situation (i.e. full ship's disposition and who was in charge of what in the battle group). I don't know if the group action report is available or not. I believe that's where the masking/unmasking of radar issue is to be found. My mistake on the Sea Dart, however, it was defensive firing of chaff that should have ensued.

In the Falklands, the destroyers were all paired with a frigate in what they called combo: County class destroyers with Type 21 frigates and the Type 42 destroyers with either a Type 21 or Type 22 frigate. Bristol, the sole type 82 destroyer worked as air defense ship for the flagship carrier. These pairs were considered as if a single element and sent together wherever they went in the EZ.