- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Something that has always bugged me about Saving Private Ryan
Posted on 9/29/18 at 1:33 am
Posted on 9/29/18 at 1:33 am
I absolutely love the final battle between the Rangers, 101st Airborne, and Wehrmacht in the fictional Battle of Ramelle. But something has always bothered me about that battle. The whole purpose of the fighting was to keep the Germans from getting their armor across the river, right? Well...why not just blow the bridge and set up your defense behind the river?
That way you can spread your men out along the opposite side of the river, force the German infantry to attack across the river, and limit the capabilities of their superior armor/fire power. By the time they have a temporary bridge set up over the river, the 29th Infantry Division has arrived and counterattacked. Game over.
That way you can spread your men out along the opposite side of the river, force the German infantry to attack across the river, and limit the capabilities of their superior armor/fire power. By the time they have a temporary bridge set up over the river, the 29th Infantry Division has arrived and counterattacked. Game over.
12
Posted on 9/29/18 at 1:56 am to RollTide1987
Because you’re shooting a movie, not trying to win WW2
Posted on 9/29/18 at 1:59 am to RollTide1987
They're trying to hold the town and keep the bridge intact until reinforcements arrive. They don't want to retreat and let the Germans establish a fortified position in the town if they can help it. Remember this is supposed to be a week after D-Day. The Allies are trying to gain ground and force the Germans backwards and out of France.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 2:09 am to RollTide1987
The allies wanted to use the bridge as well.
They were willing to blow the bridge as a last line of defense, but blowing the bridge would have added days or weeks to a costly campaign as the allies would have had to divert forces to other locations to cross the river
They were willing to blow the bridge as a last line of defense, but blowing the bridge would have added days or weeks to a costly campaign as the allies would have had to divert forces to other locations to cross the river
Posted on 9/29/18 at 2:14 am to Huey Lewis
quote:
They're trying to hold the town and keep the bridge intact until reinforcements arrive.
Their orders say nothing about holding the town and everything about keeping the Germans from taking the bridge. The Germans were going to use the bridge to drive on the flank of the Allied invasion force. Blowing the bridge prevents their armor from getting across.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 2:15 am to athenslife101
quote:
The allies wanted to use the bridge as well.
The engineers would have had a new bridge across the river within a few hours.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 2:35 am to RollTide1987
Nope. The Bailey Bridge was the main source of bridge building in the allies army. While many were built, there was limited supply and they took at least 24 hours to build.... 24 hours the Germans would have had to build defenses more
Posted on 9/29/18 at 2:53 am to athenslife101
quote:
hile many were built, there was limited supply and they took at least 24 hours to build
British engineers built a Bailey bridge, under fire, over the Rapido River in under 12 hours during the Battle of Monte Cassino.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 3:12 am to RollTide1987
I don't know the circumstance of that example but that was a major battle m. Point being, it's always best to use existing infrastructure where possible
Posted on 9/29/18 at 3:23 am to RollTide1987
quote:
quote: The allies wanted to use the bridge as well.
The engineers would have had a new bridge across the river within a few hours.
The first objectives on D-Day were bridges over the Caen Canal and the nearby Orne River. They were seized intact just after midnight. The Germans had demolition charges rigged to the bridges, but the British glider borne troops achieved complete surprise and overwhelmed the Germans before they were able to blow the bridges.
The allies wanted the bridges intact to allow them to advance more rapidly.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 7:32 am to RollTide1987
quote:
Well...why not just blow the bridge and set up your defense behind the river?
Because the overall operation was an offensive. You want to preserve those bridges if at all possible.
Yeah, when you are in a purely defensive operation, you can blow the bridges.
Also, bridges are tough. You need engineering assets and specialized explosives to do it correctly. Not something you can do lightly.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 8:51 am to RollTide1987
quote:
By the time they have a temporary bridge set up over the river, the 29th Infantry Division has arrived and counterattacked. Game over.
Been a while since I've seen the movie but is this division named in the movie?
My grandpa was in the 29th so it would interest me to go back and check the reference.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 10:48 am to Teddy Ruxpin
Capt Miller was 2nd Ranger Battalion, I think. But the 29th Infantry landed at Omaha Beach and took terrible casualties.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 10:53 am to RollTide1987
quote:
Their orders say nothing about holding the town and everything about keeping the Germans from taking the bridge. The Germans were going to use the bridge to drive on the flank of the Allied invasion force. Blowing the bridge prevents their armor from getting across.
They literally discuss this in the fricking movie.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 11:06 am to athenslife101
quote:
Nope. The Bailey Bridge was
Got some WW2 nerds in here now.
I’m gonna have to google. Lol
Posted on 9/29/18 at 12:03 pm to RollTide1987
Because then they wouldn’t be able to use the bridge and the Germans could have barricaded themselves in the town.
Duh
Duh
Posted on 9/29/18 at 12:29 pm to RollTide1987
quote:
The whole purpose of the fighting was to keep the Germans from getting their armor across the river, right? Well...why not just blow the bridge and set up your defense behind the river?
they explained that part
they needed the bridge so they can cross the river, thats why they couldnt just blow it up. it was something something about so few bridges left anywhere that they needed the few that were left to remain intact so they couldnt destroy them or allow the germans to destroy them either
Posted on 9/29/18 at 12:39 pm to keakar
quote:
they needed the bridge so they can cross the river, thats why they couldnt just blow it up.
Yet their plan was to blow the bridge if the Germans got to it. There was still one other bridge intact across the river if they ended up blowing the one in Ramelle. And, as noted earlier, we did have artificial bridge-building capabilities.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 2:02 pm to RollTide1987
“Our objective is to win the war”-Captain John Miller
It’s the same logic he used when advancing on the radar station, you win the war by killing Germans.
It’s the same logic he used when advancing on the radar station, you win the war by killing Germans.
Posted on 9/29/18 at 2:05 pm to RollTide1987
1) It was the last ditch plan. If they weren't able to repulse the Germans. Blowing the bridge kept them from gaining momentum into the Allied flank.
2) Artificial bridges fricking suck arse for logistics. They are bandages.
2) Artificial bridges fricking suck arse for logistics. They are bandages.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News