History Series / Combat

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Combat_6727.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Left to right: Vic Morrow as Sergeant Chip Saunders and Rick Jason as Second Lieutenant Gil Hanley.]]

''Combat!'' was a TV series that ran on Creator/{{ABC}} from 1962 until 1967 about "King Company" during the invasion of France in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, starting from D-Day [[AbortedArc and never farther than that]] throughout its five-season run. It predominantly featured [[SergeantRock Sergeant Chip Saunders]] ({{Creator/Vic Morrow}}), though his entire squad was just as fleshed out. Creator/RobertAltman was a major creative force on the series, directing every second episode of the first season. The show's original writer, Robert Pirosh, also wrote ''Film/{{Battleground}}'' and ''Film/HellIsForHeroes'', which have a similar grounded style to this series.
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!!Tropes:

* AbsenteeActor: Neither Vic Morrow nor Rick Jason appeared in the episode "The Chateau". This was actually intentional, as the writers and producers were experimenting to see if the secondary cast could carry the show without the leads.
* AintTooProudToBeg: Quite a few of the Germans, noticeably Colonel Hoffen in "Gadjo."
* AllForNothing: In "Hills Are For Heroes", the company gets slaughtered trying to take a strategically important hill. Even the tank they call in for help gets destroyed by the dug-in Germans. At the end, they finally take it, only to be told by Hanley they have to withdraw back to their original positions because the Germans have broken through elsewhere.
* AmbiguousDisorder: At the end of "Hill 256," Kirby is proven innocent when the machine gun he claimed to have seen is provender by Saunders and Caje, but Metcalf, the sergeant played by Robert Culp of ''Trackdown'', ''Series/TheGreatestAmericanHero'' and ''Series/ISpy'' who accused Kirby of cowardice and insubordination just because Metcalf claimed to have not seen the machine gun at all, still carried his belief of not seeing the machine gun, is [[SoreLoser angered]] at thinking Kirby is a KarmaHoudini and [[NeverMyFault content he has done no wrongdoing himself]]. However, Saunders theorized that Metcalf is a ShellShockedVeteran suffering from some sort of mental disorder driven by his [[FearlessFool constant bravery in battle that caused him to see illusions of no danger at all]] that Kirby was able to see.
* BigEater: Braddock, especially in the pilot.
* BigGood: Rick Jason as Lt. Hanley, as he in general is one of the series' regulars and the only one with the highest rank in the chain of command above Sgt. Saunders and the White Rook platoon.
* TheBigGuy: Littlejohn, the most towering soldier in White Rook.
* BottomlessMagazines: The squad members were seldom seen re-loading their M-1s, BAR, and Thompson submachine gun.
* ADayInTheLimelight: Almost all of the characters got to have an episode for themselves.
* ComicbookTime: The first season follows a roughly consistent StoryArc from D-Day (June '44) to the imminent liberation of Paris (August '44). The next four all happen around and after that time... but the squad never leaves France.
* DoomedHurtGuy: Several times the squad will try and rescue a badly wounded G.I., a member of LaResistance, or, sometimes, [[SaveTheVillain even a Nazi]], only to have the individual end up dying despite all their efforts. It was used to great effect to show the futility of war.
* ExcitedShowTitle
* GentleGiant: TheBigGuy of White Rook, Littlejohn.
* HeelFaceDoorSlam: In "Entombed," after declaring a truce following a cave-in and forces both Lt. Hanley's group and the Germans to work together and even causes both groups to bond with one another, the dominoes start to fall when the German Lt. Karl Mauer attempted suicide as Hanley attempts to reason with him out of it, only for Mauer to accidentally injure him, leading Pvt. Tommy Bishop (played by future horror director Tom Holland of ''Film/FrightNight'' and ''Film/ChildsPlay'') to kill Mauer to save Hanley just as Mauer was apologizing to Hanley for accidentally shooting him and nearly got killed by the German soldier Wexler whom he bonded with to avenge Mauer's death until Hanley saves Bishop by killing Wexler. An unfortunate sad end to a bond between two enemy groups. Sadder considering both Bishop and Wexler finally dug a way out when it happens.
* HeroAntagonist: The British soldier and the French Resistance fighter (until he discovers the truth) towards Kirby out of suspicion of being a German infiltrator in disguise in "The Masquers". There is also Sgt. Metcalf and the court who sides with him towards Kirby too in "Hill 256". Don't forget Eddie Albert as Phil the episode title character of "Doughboy" towards Saunders initially.
* InspectorJavert: The British soldier and the French Resistance fighter (until he discovers the truth) towards Kirby out of suspicion of being a German infiltrator in disguise in "The Masquers". There is also Sgt. Metcalf and the court who sides with him towards Kirby too in "Hill 256".
* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: Braddock is on the receiving end in "The Prisoner", when he corrected about pronouncing cognac the way it's spelled, rather than "Con-yak".
* JerkassBall:
** Saunders when he behaves like TheNeidermeyer towards NewMeat Trenton, who Saunders suspects of pulling the WoundedGazelleGambit to skip combat duty, following suffering a HeroicBSOD from his letter in "Mail Call."
** Also, Littlejohn and Caje in the FeudEpisode "Conflict," when the lack of sleep and enduring rain prompts them to lose their patience, made them cranky and mean-spirited than they are usually, also behaving like each TheNeidermeyer, turned them against each other and even lashing out at other members of their platoon, affecting their performances in the front lines that gets to a point of them committing insubordination and acting each as TheMillstone for their NiceJobBreakingItHero moments. Both [[WhatTheHellHero Saunders and Doc calls them out for their inexcusable insubordination]] and they nearly earned getting a dishonorable discharge from their squad as {{Fallen Hero}}es after serving White Rook well and nobly in past countless episodes that spanned over four seasons for their disgracefully petty insolence in this episode. Fortunately, while they were not above in attempting to engage in a fistfight in amidst of their bickering, at least Littlejohn and Caje were humane and held on to whatever moral restraint they had left enough not to turn their M1s or bayonets against each other to ''[[UnfriendlyFire kill]]'' one another out of petty spite, which if attempted may resulted in them not just earning a dishonorable discharge and transfer, but an automatic court martial for both of them also and shamed them afterwards as absolute {{Fallen Hero}}es following prosecution for [[UnfriendlyFire attempting or having committed killing a fellow soldier]]. Doc's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech towards the two troublemakers was able to get through to them for them to have a JerkassRealization about themselves and eventually they reconciled, shift to HeroicSafeMode and worked together with no issues.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Kirby, the HotBlooded member of White Rook who is also equally courageous on the battlefield and caring of his brothers-in-arms.
* LastNameBasis: Justified. Everyone is in the Army.
* LicensedGame: A [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] UsefulNotes/SuperNES TurnBasedStrategy game based on the series was released in 1995.
* MauveShirt: Early on, Pirosh and Altman made an effort to contract actors for a couple of episodes, so you'd just get to know them before they're killed.
* NewMeat: The squad seems to have a completely random new soldier every week, and half of the time, [[CannonFodder they end up dying]].
* OneSteveLimit: King Company had two different medical soldiers nicknamed Doc, one played by Steven Rogers in Season One, and the other played by Conlan Carter for the remainder of the series.
* OohMeAccentsSlipping: Gavin [=MacLeod's=] British in "The Masquers".
* PetTheDog:
** In the episode "The Wounded Don't Cry," AffablyEvil PunchClockVillain Heer Sgt. Bauer helps a bird back into its nest.
** In the episode "The Volunteer," an AffablyEvil PunchClockVillain Wehrmacht Heer soldier played by ''Film/{{Caddyshack}}'''s Ted Knight shows kindness towards defiant LaResistance ChildSoldier wannabe Gilbert by first showing his FatalFamilyPhoto of his [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes daughter]] and gave him chocolate. When Gilbert killed him to save the Americans and liberate the village his platoon occupied to ambush Saunders' and Hanley's squad, the poor French boy has a HeelRealization and MyGodWhatHaveIDone and expressed an AlasPoorVillain towards the dead German as he also gives back the chocolate to him in memorial upon acknowledging there can be an aversion of AllGermansAreNazis and WhatMeasureIsAMook applying to some {{Mook}}s like that friendly German and that WarIsHell, which was the most important lesson he learned of all.
** A defining trait of one guest character in the episode "Cry for Help," as another AffablyEvil PunchClockVillain in the form of a German Wehrmacht Heer medic named Peter Halsman played by Academy Award-winner Robert Duvall before his next WWII German role in ''Film/TheEagleHasLanded'' aided Doc in helping a young son of a LaResistance contact from choking on a bean, then when Doc is wounded, rather than escaping after freeing himself, Halsman chooses to stay behind to tend to Doc's wound.
* ProperlyParanoid: In "The Masquers", the Allied soldiers are extremely paranoid of who is a German in disguise and who isn't. As a result UnfriendlyFire ensues.
* PunchClockVillain: While there are mostly ThoseWackyNazis antagonists on the show, several episodes even show some German soldier characters to be this too.
* PutOnABus: Private Braddock, as Shecky Greene walked off the show after nine episodes, because the physical demands of the series were taking a toll on him, and he wished to return to his nightclub acts in Las Vegas.
** The first Doc after Season One as well.
* RecycledSoundtrack: Leonard Rosenman wrote a music library that provided backing throughout the run of the series, although he did do an original score for the pilot (and some other episodes).
* SergeantRock: Sergeant Chip Saunders.
* SpinOff: ''Series/GarrisonsGorillas'', made [[PoorlyDisguisedPilot as an episode of this show]], but eventually shown as a true PilotEpisode (turning it into a SpinOffSendoff instead.)
* StockFootage: Artillery barrages, massive numbers of tanks, and bombers are mixed with reaction shots of the cast members.
* TranslationConvention: Completely subverted, which helped greatly with the show's authenticity and realism: the Germans spoke German, the French spoke French, and all without subtitles; any translation that may have gone on was if the squad happened to have a translator who could hear the enemy's secrets, and relay the information back to the others.

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** In the episode "The Wounded Don't Cry," AffablyEvil PunchClockVillain Heer Sgt. Carl Bauer helps a bird back into its nest.

''Combat!'' was a TV series that ran on Creator/{{ABC}} from 1962 until 1967 about "King Company" during the invasion of France in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, starting from D-Day [[AbortedArc and never farther than that]] throughout its five-season run. It predominantly featured [[SergeantRock Sergeant Chip Saunders]] (Vic Morrow), though his entire squad was just as fleshed out. Creator/RobertAltman was a major creative force on the series, directing every second episode of the first season. The show's original writer, Robert Pirosh, also wrote ''Film/{{Battleground}}'' and ''Film/HellIsForHeroes'', which have a similar grounded style to this series.

** Also, Littlejohn and Caje in the FeudEpisode "Conflict," when the lack of sleep and enduring rain prompts them to lose their patience, made them cranky and mean-spirited than they are usually, also behaving like each TheNeidermeyer, turned them against each other and even lashing out at other members of their platoon, affecting their performances in the front lines that gets to a point of them committing insubordination and acting each as TheMillstone for their NiceJobBreakingItHero moments. Both [[WhatTheHellHero Saunders and Doc calls them out for their inexcusable insubordination]] and they nearly earned getting a dishonorable discharge from their squad as {{Fallen Hero}}es after serving White Rook well and nobly in past countless episodes that spanned over four seasons for their disgracefully petty insolence in this episode. Fortunately, while they were not above in attempting to engage in a fistfight in amidst of their bickering, at least Littlejohn and Caje were humane and held on to whatever moral restraint they had left enough not to turn their M1s or bayonets against each other to ''[[UnfriendlyFire kill]]'' one another out of petty spite, which if attempted may resulted in them not just earning a dishonorable discharge and transfer, but an automatic court martial for both of them also and shamed them afterwards as absolute {{Fallen Hero}}es following prosecution for [[UnfriendlyFire attempting or having committed killing a fellow soldier]]. Doc's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech towards the two troublemakers was able to get through to them for them to have a JerkassRealization about themselves and eventually they reconciled and worked together with no issues.

* HeroAntagonist: The British soldier and the French Resistance fighter towards Kirby out of suspicion of being a German infiltrator in disguise in "The Masquers". There is also Sgt. Metcalf and the court who sides with him towards Kirby too in "Hill 256". Don't forget Eddie Albert as Phil the episode title character of "Doughboy" towards Saunders initially.
* InspectorJavert: The British soldier and the French Resistance fighter towards Kirby out of suspicion of being a German infiltrator in disguise in "The Masquers". There is also Sgt. Metcalf and the court who sides with him towards Kirby too in "Hill 256".

* HeroAntagonist: The British soldier and the French Resistance fighter towards Kirby out of suspicion of being a German infiltrator in disguise in "The Masquers". There is also Sgt. Metcalf and the court who sides with him towards Kirby too in "Hill 256".

* ProperlyParanoid: In "The Masquers", the Allied soldiers are extremely paranoid of who is a German in disguise and who isn't.

* HeroAntagonist: The British soldier and the French Resistance fighter towards Kirby out of suspicion of being a German infiltrator in disguise in "The Masquers".
* InspectorJavert: The British soldier and the French Resistance fighter towards Kirby out of suspicion of being a German infiltrator in disguise in "The Masquers".

* ProperlyParanoid: In "The Masquers", the Allied soldiers are extremely paranoid of who is a German in disguise and who's isn't.

* InspectorJavart: The British soldier and the French Resistance fighter towards Kirby out of suspicion of being a German infiltrator in disguise in "The Masquers".

* HeelFaceDoorSlam: In "Entombed," after declaring a truce following a cave-in and forces both Lt. Hanley's group and the Germans to work together and even causes both groups to bond with one another, the dominoes start to fall when the German Lt. Karl Mauer attempted suicide as Hanley attempts to reason with him out of it, only for Mauer to accidentally injure him, leading Pvt. Tommy Bishop (played by future horror director Tom Holland of ''Film/FrightNight'' and ''Film/ChildsPlay'') to kill Mauer to avenge Hanley just as Mauer was apologizing to Hanley for accidentally shooting him and nearly got killed by the German soldier Wexler whom he bonded with to avenge Mauer's death until Hanley saves Bishop by killing Wexler. An unfortunate sad end to a bond between two enemy groups. Sadder considering both Bishop and Wexler finally dug a way out when it happens.

* HeelFaceDoorSlam: In "Entombed," after declaring a truce following a cave-in and forces both Lt. Hanley's group and the Germans to work together and even causes both groups to bond with one another, the dominoes start to fall when the German Lt. Karl Mauer attempted suicide as Hanley attempts to reason with him out of it, only for Mauer to accidentally injure him, leading Pvt. Tommy Bishop (played by future horror director Tom Holland of ''Film/FrightNight'' and ''Film/ChildsPlay'') to kill Mauer to avenge Hanley and nearly got killed by the German soldier Wexler whom he bonded with to avenge Mauer's death until Hanley saves Bishop by killing Wexler. An unfortunate end to a bond between two enemy groups.

* HeelFaceDoorSlam: After declaring a truce following a cave-in and forces both Lt. Hanley's group and the Germans to work together and even causes both groups to bond with one another, the dominoes start to fall when the German Lt. Karl Mauer attempted suicide as Hanley attempts to reason with him out of it, only for Mauer to accidentally injure him, leading Pvt. Tommy Bishop (played by future horror director Tom Holland of ''Film/FrightNight'' and ''Film/ChildsPlay'') to kill Mauer to avenge Hanley and nearly got killed by the German soldier Wexler whom he bonded with to avenge Mauer's death until Hanley saves Bishop by killing Wexler. An unfortunate end to a bond between two enemy groups.

** Also, Littlejohn and Caje in the FeudEpisode "Conflict," when the lack of sleep and enduring rain prompts them to lose their patience, made them cranky and mean-spirited than they are usually, also behaving like each TheNeidermeyer, turned them against each other and even lashing out at other members of their platoon, affecting their performances in the front lines that gets to a point of them committing insubordination and acting each as TheMillstone for their NiceJobBreakingItHero moments. Both [[WhatTheHellHero Saunders and Doc calls them out for their inexcusable insubordination]] and they nearly earned getting a dishonorable discharge from their squad as {{Fallen Hero}}es after serving White Rook well and nobly in past countless episodes that spanned over four seasons for their disgracefully petty insolence in this episode. Fortunately, while they were not above in attempting to engage in a fistfight in amidst of their bickering, at least Littlejohn and Caje were humane and held on to whatever moral restraint they had left enough not to turn their M1s or bayonets against each other to ''[[UnfriendlyFire kill]]'' one another out of petty spite, which if attempted may resulted in them not just earning a dishonorable discharge and transfer, but an automatic court martial for both of them also and shamed them afterwards as absolute {{Fallen Hero}}es following prosecution for [[UnfriendlyFire attempting or having committed killing a fellow soldier]].

* JerkassBall: Saunders when he behaves like TheNeidermeyer towards NewMeat Trenton, who Saunders suspects of pulling the WoundedGazelleGambit to skip combat duty, following suffering a HeroicBSOD from his letter in "Mail Call." Also, Littlejohn and Caje in the FeudEpisode "Conflict," when the lack of sleep and enduring rain prompts them to lose their patience, made them cranky and mean-spirited than they are usually, also behaving like each TheNeidermeyer, turned them against each other and even lashing out at other members of their platoon, affecting their performances in the front lines that gets to a point of them committing insubordination and acting each as TheMillstone for their NiceJobBreakingItHero moments. Both [[WhatTheHellHero Saunders and Doc calls them out for their inexcusable insubordination]] and they nearly earned getting a dishonorable discharge from their squad as {{Fallen Hero}}es after serving White Rook well and nobly in past countless episodes that spanned over four seasons for their disgracefully petty insolence in this episode. Fortunately, while they were not above in attempting to engage in a fistfight in amidst of their bickering, at least Littlejohn and Caje were humane enough not to turn their M1s or bayonets against each other to ''[[UnfriendlyFire kill]]'' one another out of petty spite, which if attempted may resulted in them not just earning a dishonorable discharge and transfer, but an automatic court martial for both of them also and shamed them afterwards as absolute {{Fallen Hero}}es following prosecution for [[UnfriendlyFire attempting or having committed killing a fellow soldier]].

* JerkassBall: Saunders when he behaves like TheNeidermeyer towards NewMeat Trenton, who Saunders suspects of pulling the WoundedGazelleGambit to skip combat duty, following suffering a HeroicBSOD from his letter in "Mail Call." Also, Littlejohn and Caje in the FeudEpisode "Conflict," when the lack of sleep and enduring rain prompts them to lose their patience, made them cranky and mean-spirited than they are usually, also behaving like each TheNeidermeyer, turned them against each other and even lashing out at other members of their platoon, affecting their performances in the front lines that gets to a point of them committing insubordination and acting each as TheMillstone for their NiceJobBreakingItHero moments. Both [[WhatTheHellHero Saunders and Doc calls them out for their inexcusable insubordination]] and they nearly earned getting a dishonorable discharge from their squad as {{Fallen Hero}}es after serving White Rook well and nobly in past countless episodes that spanned over four seasons for their disgracefully petty insolence in this episode. Fortunately, while they were not above in attempting to engage in a fistfight in amidst of their bickering, at least Littlejohn and Caje were humane enough not to turn their M1s or bayonets against each other to ''kill'' one another out of petty spite, which if attempted may resulted in them not just earning a dishonorable discharge and transfer, but an automatic court martial for both of them also and shamed them afterwards as absolute {{Fallen Hero}}es following prosecution.