Watch Combat Trains

TV-PG
2016
1 Season
6.0 (25)

Combat Trains is a fascinating documentary series that explores the critical role played by trains in wars throughout history. Produced by Smithsonian Channel, each episode takes viewers on a thrilling journey through some of the most significant frontline battles of the last century, highlighting the strategic use of trains in transporting troops, supplies, and weapons. Starring military historian Mark Felton, who is joined by a team of experts, including retired Major Gerard Fletcher and Dr. Edgar Jones, the show offers a unique and informative insight into the evolution of military transportation.

The first season of Combat Trains comprises six episodes, each focusing on a different conflict starting with World War I and spanning to the present day. The series features stunning archival footage, insightful interviews, and detailed animations that bring to life the history and technology of these military trains.

In the opening episode, the show explores the use of railroads during WWI. It highlights the story of the French armored train, whose critical role in the Battle of the Marne was instrumental in stalling the German advance. The episode goes on to show how the German forces utilized trains for their easy mobility, enabling them to move troops and equipment at a significantly faster rate than their opposing forces.

Another episode takes viewers on a journey through WWII, highlighting some of the most iconic battles of the conflict, such as the German invasion of France and Russia. The show highlights the use of armored trains by both the Germans and the Soviets, as well as the strategic bombing of trains by the Allied forces. The episode goes in depth into how the Allies improved their tactics for disrupting rail supply chains for both the German and Japanese forces.

In later episodes, the show discusses the Vietnam War, where the US army used trains to haul equipment, essential supplies, chemicals for Agent Orange defoliant spraying and bomb-making materials, particularly in the Mekong Delta. The episode also takes a look at the strategic use of trains by the North Vietnamese forces, highlighting their successful transport of men and supplies on the Ho Chin Minh trail.

The show's final episode explores the use of trains in modern warfare. It highlights how advancements in technology have allowed for the increased efficiency and speed of military trains, featuring the US Army’s M-88 Recovery Vehicle built on a railway flatcar to rescue damaged tanks and their Electronic Warfare Trains that jam spy satellites and incoming missiles.

Overall, Combat Trains is an informative and engaging series that appeals to history enthusiasts and war buffs. The show offers a unique perspective on significant military events, showcasing the role trains have played in shaping wars and impacting the outcome of battles. Along with impressive CGI animations, the series features informative and accessible explanations that communicate the technical innovation behind these trains. The narrators bring the subject to life with their passion for military tactics and strategic armoured train units. It’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn more about military trains and their role in warfare history.

In conclusion, Combat Trains is an excellent documentary that offers insight into how trains have played a critical role in warfare history. The series not only shows how they enabled armies to move troops and resources on an unprecedented scale, but also how they were targeted as a vital component for victory. Produced with historical accuracy, the show educates and informs viewers on how lessons learned from the past are still applicable in modern warfare today. A must-watch for history enthusiasts who are fascinated with trains and their role in shaping wars throughout history.

Combat Trains is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between June 18, 2016 and on Smithsonian Channel

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Seasons

8. Secrets and Lies

August 7, 2017

In times of war, whoever controlled the rails had a distinct advantage, but sometimes, disrupting the railways would prove just as vital. We revisit stories of locomotive espionage and sabotage that helped shape modern history. See how Thomas Lawrence became a war hero, and Hollywood celebrity, using his pioneering guerrilla warfare against the railways of the Ottoman Empire. We also examine hidden trainspotters in Belgium, as well as a secret buried under Grand Central Station in New York City.

7. First Railroad War

July 31, 2017

Locomotives transformed the American Civil War into a conflict of unprecedented scale and changed the fundamental nature of warfare for nearly a century. Discover how the combat strategies and techniques involving the railways, used by both Union and Confederate generals, helped dictate the outcome of battles, from Bull Run to the Petersburg Campaign. Then, see how trains both hastened and lengthened the war, and served as the foundation for the Transcontinental Railroad, which ultimately unified the nation after the fighting ended.

6. Critical Cargo

July 24, 2017

One train ride launched the career of a global leader. Another brought home a revolutionary hero. One was used to smuggle treasures stolen by Nazis while another was used to sneak out an even more precious cargo. Join us as we tell the stories of four rail journeys that changed modern history, involving Churchill, Lenin, Hungarian gold, and the Kindertransport, which saved about 10,000 Jewish children from certain death.

5. WWII - The Homefront

July 17, 2017

In the 1940s, Britain's railways were repeatedly relied upon to serve the war effort, and time and again, they delivered. They moved millions of children from the bombs of London to the relative safety of the countryside and rescued thousands of retreating soldiers at Dunkirk. We detail how Britain's trains functioned so well while under severe attack, and show tales of heroism involving the railway staff. We then feature a small Hampshire station that played a large role in the biggest amphibious invasion the world has ever known.

4. World War I

July 10, 2017

World War I railways proved that they could rapidly mobilize troops and deliver supplies to the front lines, but there would be a price to pay for all that efficiency. Discover the crucial role that the locomotive industry played on both sides of the conflict. See how Germany swept through Western Europe by hijacking their railway networks, and how Belgium resisted that invasion by sabotaging their own trains. By speeding up the pace of war, trains ultimately increased the body count and lengthened the war.

3. Nazi Railway

July 3, 2017

Throughout the 1930s, Germany touted the technological superiority of its high-speed trains, and during World War II, the German railway would leave a lasting mark on history. See how the German locomotive industry was used to create a fully functioning führer headquarters on wheels and a deadly mobile cannon. We also reveal the Nazi railway's most shameful role in the Holocaust, and how an entire railway network, involving thousands of people, was used to carry out mass murder.

2. Ambulance Trains

June 26, 2017

The dawn of the locomotive meant better-equipped armies during wartime, longer battles, and more casualties. Trains were part of the problem, but also part of the solution. During the Crimean and American Civil War, locomotives not only transported soldiers to the front lines, but also picked up and cared for the wounded on the return trip. See how these ambulance trains were used in the 19th century and during World War I, and learn how doctors and nurses worked around the clock to provide care while rolling in and out of war zones.

1. The Death Railway

June 18, 2016

Discover the shocking story of the construction of WWII's Death Railway from some of the Allied POWs forced to build it.

Description

Where to Watch Combat Trains

Combat Trains is available for streaming on the Smithsonian Channel website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Combat Trains on demand at Paramount+, Amazon Prime, Google Play and Apple TV.