Channel Title: G.I. History Handbook Channel Description: The G.I. History Handbook is intended to be a primer on the WWII U.S. Army at the smallest levels. The aim is to dive a little deeper into this one corner of military history for those interested in the practical nuts and bolts. <video> Tactics of the WWII U.S. Army Infantry Rifle Platoon – Attack Description: 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... </video> <video> Organization of the WWII U.S. Army Infantry Rifle Platoon Description: This video introduces the platoon's basic composition and weapons. It concentrates primarily on platoon headquarters but also takes a look at snipers, medics, and hand-held radios. Timestamps 00:00 Squad Organization 3:55 Platoon Headquarters 4:14 Platoon Leader 11:53 Platoon Sergeant 13:55 Platoon Guide 16:36 Messengers 17:26 SCR-536 Radio 21:11 M1903A4 Sniper Rifle 24:03 Platoon Sniper 29:01 Additional BARs 31:12 Attachments 34:08 Aid Man Note: In this video I mention that the M1C is present in the final wartime "June T/O&E" (1 June 1945 T/O&E 7-17). While that is true, I want to make clear that it first replaced the M1903A4 (at least on paper) in the 30 January 1945 Change 2 to the 26 February 1944 T/O&E 7-17. </video> <video> Formations of the WWII U.S. Army Infantry Rifle Squad Description: This video illustrates the squad’s basic approach march formations and movement techniques. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 1:40 Squad Column 2:36 Skirmishers 3:18 Squad Wedge 3:54 Diamond Formation 5:31 Formation Transitions 6:48 1945 Changes 7:50 Squad Movement Techniques </video> <video> Organization of the WWII U.S. Army Infantry Rifle Squad Description: This video breaks down the infantry's "smallest tactical unit," introducing its basic composition and weapons, plus an examination of squad teams and the Buddy System. It all starts here. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:28 Squad Organization, Ranks, and Weapons 7:02 Additional BARs and SMGs 9:50 Squad Teams 17:38 The Buddy System Notes: 1. After further research I was able to pinpoint the implementation of the Able/Baker/Charley squad organization to 29 January 1945. That would be the earliest possible date a G.I. would have trained with those team designations, assuming the training circular went into immediate effect. (Remember, due to a quirk in American periodical publishing that cover-dates magazines one month in advance, the March 1945 issue of The Infantry Journal was actually in readers hands in February of 1945 at about the same time this change to the drill regulations was adopted.) 2. Many of the quotations used in this video were originally compiled during the pursuit of private study and well before I had ever entertained the thought of starting a YouTube channel. As such, I was lax with the citations; they are not up to the standard of my subsequent videos. The final quote in this video was only vaguely credited in my notes to the "Infantry Journal, 1947." Recently, while researching another topic, a fortuitous page-turn led me to the original quote. The updated citation follows. Edwin R. Shackleton, Jr. (A/71). "Rifle Squad," The Infantry Journal, Vol. 60, No. 4, April 1947, p. 76. </video> <video> Tactics of the WWII U.S. Army Infantry Rifle Squad – Attack Description: This video covers some of the fundamental tactics, techniques, and procedures of the rifle squad in offensive combat. It presents the conduct of a squad attack, including the approach march, fire fight, fire and movement, assault, consolidation and reorganization. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:50 The Approach March 3:01 Actions on Contact 5:04 The Fire Fight 10:46 Advancing the Attack (Fire and Movement) 17:45 Assault 26:53 Withdrawal 27:13 Consolidation and Reorganization </video> <video> Formations of the WWII U.S. Army Infantry Rifle Platoon Description: This video lays out the platoon's standard combat formations and movement techniques, as well as fundamental aspects of the approach march including measures of control, the maintenance of contact, and security. It also features an examination of the character and conduct of scouts. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Platoon Column 2:21 Line of Squads 3:43 Platoon Wedge and Platoon V 5:53 Echelon 6:39 Formations in Approach 10:05 Security 16:24 Platoon Movement Techniques 19:38 Scouts </video>

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The G.I. History Handbook is intended to be a primer on the WWII U.S. Army at the smallest levels. The aim is to dive a little deeper into this one corner of military history for those interested in the practical nuts and bolts.

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