Tactics of the WWII U.S. Army Infantry Rifle Squad – Attack

As an airborne infantry combat veteran, I appreciate your research, attention to detail, and thoroughness. Lacking Bradleys or vehicles like mechanized soldiers, we had to be professionals at small unit tactics, especially at the squad and fire team level. Violence of action, situational awareness, and noise and light discipline all become second nature.

I am going to use this for my next paintball maneuver especially the bayonet charge.

Huge nut for amateur historians on youtube, and this is one of the best produced video's I've ever seen. Fantastic work brother.

I've been interested in this kind of thing ever since I was a kid (i.e. books, games, play) but have never seen small group tactics explained so well. This is a top notch video. Great job all around. Wouldn't change a thing.

We always joked that distance was the only cover without concealment.

Hey. Let me echo the other commenters. This is a throughly good video. I’m sure these take forever to research and produce. And, with a limited audience because of a niche topic, you’re not going to support yourself on these. So it’s important that you know they are worth your passion and time. You tell a story no one else is. Please keep at it. Bravo.

We’re slowly moving back to the old “big war” form of doctrine and it’s interesting how it all pieced together.

My grandfather was a Staff Sgt with the 29inf first wave Omaha Beach DDay. I grew up reading his collection of training documents and maps... He had a nice collection of Nazi officer sabers, helmets and Lugers.

I have waited so long for a channel like this. Thank you for posting.

These are awesome, by far the most descriptive I've ever seen, and very easy to follow. user-friendly at it's upmost

Thank you for this video.

This is an excellent video. I've been looking for this sort of treatment of squad tactics for a long time. Thanks for your work.

That'a fantastic visualization of rifle squad tactics, dude. You must have done quite a bit of research to be able to find this amount of information. I really appreciate the efforts. Hope to see more videos like this in the future.

Brilliant video, really informative and well put together, love the extracts from the actual manuals alongside the pictures. Great work, keep it up.

Great vid mate! In the Australian Army we have four stages. Preparation- Section Commander considers such things as the Enemy's- Size, activities, locations, uniforms, timings , equipment, habits, intentions and moral. Also, the section commander is fighting for information from his soldiers. For instance, things like- What's the terrain look like to my left and right flanks?, eg: high ground, creek lines, dead ground, good fields of fire, withdrawal routes? What types of weapon systems are the enemy employing? What is the size of the enemy team/squad /platoon?The Section Commander will then issue a warning order and then snap orders: Situation, Mission, Execution, Admin and logistics, command and signals. Assault- Bounding by fire teams and pairs. C2 by Section Commander up until the "BREAK IN" C2 then is then generally then taken up by group commanders as the boys are on their guts and communication is limited. In a flanker, I prefer to have my 2IC armed with M203 in order to mark targets and to initiate HE pre H-hour fire, Both MG's and the marksman in the Support by fire (SPF) position, with the remainder of the section with myself in the assault. Exploitation- Once break in has been achieved and the last pit of the enemy position has been taken. The section will dry fire and move if no effective fire is being received to a distance designated by the section commander. This will depend on ground and fields of fire. After all, you may of only just hit a standing patrol. Reorganization- The section will go into all round defence. Usually in the 10, 2, and 6 positions. With the MG's positioned in the enemy's most likely approach. As you covered. Tasks such as Ammo distribution, consolidation and care for casualties, PW searching/handling, reports and returns etc are conducted.

I've just finished watching the three videos, they were all really good

Nice vid. Simple, straight forward and easy enough for the infantry to understand! :)

You might think that this is just a simple video but it isnt. Its a piece of history that deserve to be played in museum, you are honoring the soldier that fought ww2 by showing how they train and fought. Its incredible and amazing to see.

Very well done. I’m hoping to see Platoon, Company level organization and tactics. I’d like be to see both attacks, as well as defense. Also, to your hand signal point, yes, hand signals existed, but the army had roughly 26-28 hand signals, whereas during Vietnam it had expanded to over 200 signals. Saving Private Ryan, and to a smaller degree, Band of Brothers, utilized hand signal, not yet in existence in WWII.

Cover but not concealment? A pillbox.