The Rat Patrol

Set in the heat and dust of the North African campaign, The Rat Patrol tracks a small Allied long-range desert unit made up of three Americans and one Englishman. They specialize in quick, high-risk raids behind Axis lines, using jeeps and speed to disrupt supply routes, ambush convoys and gather intelligence. Each episode centers on a single operation, the tension of travel across open desert, and the daily push to outwit the Afrika Korps without leaning on large-scale battles or revealing any future plot turns. The show keeps the focus tight on teamwork, tactics and the harsh environment rather than political debate or sweeping historical verdicts.

The series premiered in 1966, created by Tom Gries and led by Christopher George, Gary Raymond, Eric Braeden, Lawrence P. Casey and Justin Tarr, airing during the mid 1960s television cycle of action and war dramas.

On arrival it resonated with viewers who enjoyed practical action scenes, vehicle stunts and concise mission formats, helping raise the profiles of its lead actors, especially Christopher George and Eric Braeden, who went on to steady television and film careers. It helped popularize the desert-raid subgenre on TV during that era.

Critical and fan reaction was mixed to positive, with a current user vote average of 7.2/10 from a small sample. Reviewers at the time praised the brisk pacing and stunt work while noting the show's straightforward moral lines and episodic structure. Recurring themes include unit loyalty, improvisation under pressure, the strain of constant movement, and the tactical edge of small-unit warfare.

The Rat Patrol didn't rack up major industry awards, and it wasn't positioned as an awards contender, but it found a durable place in 1960s pop culture. Its consistent viewership and action-driven format earned it reruns and a lasting reputation among fans of vintage war television.