MovieChat Forums > Battleground (1950) Discussion > A few questions regarding combat

A few questions regarding combat

posted 9 years ago by LesterFester
5 replies | jump to latest

There they are in the middle of a wooded area yelling and playing in the snow. Personally I wouldn't want to be within 25 yards of someone making that much noise. Am I right?

It seemed the men were close to exploding incoming (too close for comfort). Anyone know the safte distance one would have to be so as not to get hit? I know it would depend on what was incoming.

A question on geometry... If a soldier is in a foxhole and a hand granade goes off outside the hole. Is he safe from being hit as long as he is below the exploding granade?

Every third person who complains will be shot. Two people have complained already!

[–] moonpuppy_ver1-1 9 years ago

There they are in the middle of a wooded area yelling and playing in the snow. Personally I wouldn't want to be within 25 yards of someone making that much noise. Am I right?

They were just on patrol so they likely knew the area was clear. But yeah, you're right.

It seemed the men were close to exploding incoming (too close for comfort). Anyone know the safte distance one would have to be so as not to get hit? I know it would depend on what was incoming.

So many variables here I don't know where to start so I won't.

A question on geometry... If a soldier is in a foxhole and a hand granade goes off outside the hole. Is he safe from being hit as long as he is below the exploding granade?

Think of "Line of Sight", grenade is going to go off and it's fragments, if it's a fragmentation grenade, would travel the paths of least resistance. The other factor would be the concision of the explosion. But yes, he's far better off inside the foxhole than not.

[–] whiskeyTango-06 9 years ago

almost all the shrapnel from a grenade, if it explodes while exactly on the ground, goes into the air -- so yes, not only is being in a foxhole *preferred* (assuming the grenade lands outside of the dugout!!), also dropping flatly to the ground ("hitting the deck") *somewhat* near a grenade can be beneficial -- since a minor percentage of the fragments are sent out level and a few inches above the earth.

[–] Reedmalloy 8 years ago

Not so fast, my friend.

Mythbusters demonstrated pretty conclusively that within the 5-meter lethal radius being prone isn't any safer. You mention "minor percentage" but it only takes one fragment in a vital spot to kill or seriously injure.

Obviously the natural inclination, however, is to throw yourself prone with your feet together toward the detonation.

[–] whiskeyTango-06 8 years ago

i never said "5 meters or closer", nor did i say one wouldn't be hurt or killed. i said the majority of the shrapnel goes away from the ground -- which the mythbusters also proved.

regardless, my point was that being in a foxhole was indeed safer than not being in one.

[–] movies789 8 years ago

As is common in Hollywood productions, there was no recognition of the concept of noise discipline. (Quiet dialogue doesn't sell well.) In real life, the conversations would be more subdued, or a senior NCO or an officer would be telling his men to pipe down.