During WWII, the North African Desert was the home of The Rat Patrol, an Allied Forces mobile division (111th Armor Recon) assigned to terrorize and destroy the Nazi desert forces (Afrika Korps) led by German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. US Army Sergeant Sam Troy commanded this elite group which included US Army Private Mark Hitchcock ["The Kid"], a young recruit with a lot to learn about fighting; US Army Private Tully Pettigrew, a charming con artist with a Southern accent, and Sgt. Jack Moffitt, the British demolitions expert and archeologist ("Don't call me Sarge!").

Hans Dietrich

Outfitted with two machine gun mounted Jeeps, The Rat Patrol did their best to thwart the advances of the German Army in Africa. Their main nemesis was Hauptman (Captain) Hans Dietrich.

TRIVIA NOTE: THE RAT PATROL was based on the real-life exploits of the WWII British armored car outfit called "The Long Range Desert Group." The series was filmed on the deserts of Spain.