Siege of Jadotville (Film)

A recent Netflix production, that I finished watching last evening.

http://www.galwayfilmfleadh.com/wp-c...Jadotville.jpg

The film is based on Declan Power's non-fiction book, The Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army's Forgotten Battle (2005), and covers the story of the Siege of Jadotville, a conflict involving Irish Army UN Peacekeepers and Katangese forces during the Congo Crisis in September 1961.

Overall it's well done, a fair balance between a measure of historical storytelling and theatrical action sequences.

Certain liberties have been taken with the action sequences, however it was well done, and displays a fine variety of arms of the period. And re-enforces my professional distrust of UN based peacekeeping operations, glad I never deployed on a bullet counting tour.

I wrote a bit on it earlier Sentry just a couple of farcical bits 1. Sniping the man in the suit at @ 300yds with a single load of the Bren by the section Sniper from the roof using the normal sights 2. The single post only No.32 scope on the sniper rifle in an earlier scene you glimpse part of the horizontal line remnants through the scope later in the film it is completely gone.
I like the lateral thinking by constructing a poor mans Claymore out of the spent cases and explosives.......

Thing that struck me most was again a cover up (Radio Station fiasco) and the 40 year gap that it took to recognize those troops for what they achieved very much the shades of VN Vets and Korean War Vets the first rather despised by our public on their return the last what war was that! almost forgotten they were only recentl years moves to elaborate on Australia's contribution to that conflict

Me and the wife get to take turns picking shows. We each suffer through the others choices. I have Declan Powers book and anxiously awaited the movies release. It was my turn so you know I picked this movie the day it was released. When the Sgt. First took a section to the rear and they were stacked next to the building you could see one soldier about 5 back holding a No 1 rifle. ( rest were FALs and No 4s.) I said out loud hey that was a number 1. She said What's a number 1.....never mind:)

That could have lead to a very funny situation P246

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Originally Posted by Sentryduty

glad I never deployed on a bullet counting tour.

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To quote the Prophet, "You didn't miss nothin'"...at least you guys were allowed to do what you needed to do, most of the time.

Shows how bad a shot the congo's and leigonair's are. They said No Irish were killed. Amazing.
Shows what following orders and a good leader can do.

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

I wrote a bit on it earlier Sentry just a couple of farcical bits 1. Sniping the man in the suit at @ 300yds with a single load of the Bren by the section Sniper from the roof using the normal sights 2. The single post only No.32 scope on the sniper rifle in an earlier scene you glimpse part of the horizontal line remnants through the scope later in the film it is completely gone.

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You know, I had thought I had seen discussion of it somewhere here, I did a few keyword searches for the discussion and came up empty handed, I concluded I must have read it on the other gun forum, and started a new topic.

There a lot of little things that weren't quite right, like Full Auto fire from the FAL/SLR, did the Irish have the full auto FAL or did they issue the Semi-auto version like UK/Canada?

But really I found it told a story rather well.

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Originally Posted by martins8589

Shows how bad a shot the congo's and leigonair's are. They said No Irish were killed. Amazing.
Shows what following orders and a good leader can do.

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Historically doesn't this always seem to be the case in most conflicts in Africa, a well trained professional contingent is attacked by vastly superior numbers of irregulars and locals, to fight then to either stalemate or a very costly loss. A good defensive plan, with proper tactics and discipline have been shown to cost attackers dearly for a piece of ground.

Think it was an outline in another thread by Gil I think same comments roughly still a damn good movie to watch.

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Originally Posted by Sentryduty

You know, I had thought I had seen discussion of it somewhere here, I did a few keyword searches for the discussion and came up empty handed, I concluded I must have read it on the other gun forum, and started a new topic.

There a lot of little things that weren't quite right, like Full Auto fire from the FAL/SLR, did the Irish have the full auto FAL or did they issue the Semi-auto version like UK/Canada?

But really I found it told a story rather well.



Historically doesn't this always seem to be the case in most conflicts in Africa, a well trained professional contingent is attacked by vastly superior numbers of irregulars and locals, to fight then to either stalemate or a very costly loss. A good defensive plan, with proper tactics and discipline have been shown to cost attackers dearly for a piece of ground.

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I think the Irish used the Fn Fal after the No4..

I enjoyed it. It was a story that I had not heard of before. Shameful that governments treat their soldiers with such disdain.

In 1970 I flew back from Europe to Canada. In the row behind me were three Canadian Forces guys. The guy in the
middle was going back for court. The escort guys were civil and let me talk to him. Where was he going to go on an
Air Canaada jet. He told me he ordered the use of M2 50 cal browning guns in Cyprus and killed people who shot at them
for weeks. They started it, he ended it. His career was over

Perhaps some of those that have the experience can explain why if the military persons are constantly being fired upon with the view of possibly either getting killed or maimed that regardless of the firers not belonging to a recognized military force they are not subjected to the same rules as an enemy. That being you shoot at us and we will return fire with stuff that will end the fight.

yes good film, but carl gustav to shoot down a helicopter....come on

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Originally Posted by philb

carl gustav to shoot down a helicopter

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Well...if you could make the shot, it would get it done...

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

Perhaps some of those that have the experience can explain why if the military persons are constantly being fired upon with the view of possibly either getting killed or maimed that regardless of the firers not belonging to a recognized military force they are not subjected to the same rules as an enemy. That being you shoot at us and we will return fire with stuff that will end the fight.

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Essentially it is entirely based upon the rules of engagement which vary from mission to mission and sometimes evolve daily. ROE's generally boil down to the political climate of the operation and the misdion intent.

Soldiers are often very small cogs in very large machines, that can have positive or negative effect on a global scale through their actions.

And sometimes, the dogs of war are let slip and we do our jobs as designed, ref: Iraq and Afghanistan.

Everything is mission specific.

Thanks for the reply Darren and clarification on my question.