Band of Brothers Vietnam style

This is a new version of the Big Picture featuring the 101st Screaming Eagles in Vietnam.  Pretty cool beginning to the video talking about WWII.  The more I see the work that Steve from WWPD is doing on his choppers the more I get excited about the idea of doing the same thing.  Some very interesting parallels in the counter-insurgency that is described in the video and the current ones that are going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It seems from the video that the small units, constantly operating in an area is what ends up being effective.  Around 13:02 you can see how quickly a mortar can fire, I think they fired 5 rounds in less than as many seconds.  Around 15:55 there is a really cool segment on how the 101st guns were helping to relieve a Special Forces fire base that leads to a massive fire fight around 17:20 which is no doubt where a lot of Vietnam moves got their ideas for combat scenes.

Beachead at Anzio

With the anniversary of the capture of Rome only a few days away I figured it would be appropriate to share a video that talked about the beachhead at Anzio and the Sitskrieg that took place there.  This video does a great job of showing how importance of digging in.  I liked how the naval guns were used to support the troops on the ground after all the naval landings had taken place.  There is some more good footage of StuGs, Marders on the move and a bunch of German guns.  Likewise, there is a bunch of Allied guns with some Shermans and at one point Churchills.  The iron sled is an interesting idea but I can understand why it didn't catch on.

Operation Cobra!

Operation Cobra the breakout of Normandy as seen through the eyes of the US Army.  Some awesome footage of the bocage that the Allies had to fight through and the Germans defended.  There is some great points of Strategic weapons being used at the Tactical level, such as the V1 and V2 rockets and heavy bombers.  Some amazing footage of Tigers, 88's and Panzersherks in action.  Lots of Shermans, Tank destroyers and guns of all type firing.  This video would make a great sound track to a game with all the combat noise.  Take a look at 21:42 I'm almost positive that's a Grant, but I didn't think there were any in Europe.  I think however made the video like the M8 Scott because you see a fair amount of them.  There is a great shot at 22:30ish of a Stuart smashing through some small trees.  Near the end of the video check out the land mattress and the Crocodile firing, truly something to be scared of!

ANZACs!

With the release of Tour of Duty for FoW Vietnam I found this film that talks about the 173rd and The Royal Australian Regiment.  There is some sweet images of the tanks getting bogged down to say the least.  All in all a great film about the US in Vietnam.

Tour of Duty!

With the latest release from Battlefront for Flames of War Vietnam I thought it was only right to share this video.  Steve at WWPD is doing a great job getting all these models painted up and I'm sure that he would like to see them all in action.  The video does a great job explaining how they improved the vehicles for the fight.  The Shearaton's with their 152mm guns look fearsome same with the M109s.  I figure that RKelly from the Dice Devil's is going to be pick up with M109s for his Canadians.

Nuts!

Ever wonder why the FoW book about Bastagone is called Nuts?  Take a look at this video talking about the 101st Airborne and the 10th Armoured division and you'll find out.  Matt Varnish from Dice Devil's I'm sure will be happy to see just how important the Air Force was in supporting the defenders and resupplying them.  I also really like how it is a bunch of interviews of the actual soldiers mixed with the combat footage.    There are some great scenes with Shermans of all type, Stuarts, guns, tank destroyers and Priests.  There is even some footage of StuGs, Grilles and Panzer III Ns. 

The American 1st Army

Another great post from Nuclearvault.  This one is all about the American 1st Army from Aachen to the Roer river.  I love the footage that the Army signals corp was able to get of all set up for the long campaign.  Often we forget just how much logistics goes into running a war at that scale and this video does a great job of showcasing the hard work that some many men and women did to support the troops at the immediate front.

Invasion of Southern France!

I always thought that the First Special Service Force (FSSF) was used in Italy and was then stood down and its troops returned to other units.  Turns out that wasn't true.  The Allies launched an invasion into the South of France to stop the Germans from being able reinforce Normandy and the FSSF was used in the landing preparations.

US in Vietnam

I found this and it made me think of Steve from WWPD and his current enjoyment of Flames of War: Vietnam.  I also really liked the part about how the Marines used a combined arm team with Air Assault and amphibious landings supported by fast air.  Both this video and the one about the invasion of  Sicily talked about the need to have administrative support that immediately followed the fighting forces to make sure the civilian population know their future is going to be better than their past.

Allies taking Sicily

Another great video from Nuclearvault.  This one is about the Allies invasion of Sicily.  Very cool to see the footage and of interesting note they were using Piper Cubes as AOPs this early in the war.  Battlefront, in the unlikely chance you ever see this post or video, what do you think?  I'm hoping to have some WIP shortly for the AI.