
Spearhead
Spearhead is a British television drama produced by Southern Television for the ITV network. With a total of three series and 19 episodes from 1978 to 1981, the series follows the daily lives of a group of soldiers in 'B' Company, 1st Battalion Royal Wessex Rangers, a fictional British Army infantry regiment, during The Troubles.
Seasons
1. Suspect
Air Date: 1978-07-18
The Royal Wessex Rangers are on tour in Northern Ireland and are determined to catch a bomber working in the area.
2. Leave
Air Date: 1978-07-25
Given a fortnight furlough, the men of the Royal Wessex brag to one another what a great time they're going to have. But the reality is very different.
3. Loyalties
Air Date: 1978-08-01
The platoon return home under the temporary command of an NCO. One of his men has gone AWOL after beating up a soldier from another platoon during exercises and he has to show his superiors he can handle it in true military fashion.
4. Jackal
Air Date: 1978-08-08
Back on duty in Northern Ireland, the Royals frustrated at having to treat the hostile local youth with kid gloves, especially since one among them may be helping a sniper.
5. Both Ends Against the Middle
Air Date: 1974-08-15
For assaulting a fellow soldier and going AWOL, Adams must now face a court-martial. If he pleads not guilty, as he intends, he will drag some comrades down with him. Can he be persuaded to change his mind?
6. Thieves in the Night
Air Date: 1978-08-22
A soldier with a rebellious streak and a drinking problem is posted to the Royals for one last chance to prove himself. Shortly after his arrival, the barracks are hit by a spate of thefts.
7. Truth Games
Air Date: 1978-08-29
With Adams back from military prison and belligerent newcomer Stephens now apparently an accepted part of the squad, Platoon 6 heads off to the Welsh mountains on exercises. But an unreformed Stephens stirs up antagonisms and threatens the team's unity.
1. New Brooms
Air Date: 1979-06-18
The Royals are posted to West Germany and 6 Platoon have been given a new CO. Meanwhile, Colby schemes to get rid of the troublesome Stevens, who reveals one of the (many) reasons for his rage.
2. Matrimony
Air Date: 1979-06-25
The strains in Box's marriage lead him to a blunder during tank exercises. His wife is lonely, homesick and harbouring a secret. And Gadd's stag party (he's getting married in the morning) turns rancourous.
3. Pressures
Air Date: 1979-07-02
Twiss and Gilbey are both thinking about promotion. Bilinski wants to marry Helga, but she's an escapee from communist East Germany, and Army Intelligence thinks she may be a spy.
4. Leave Takers
Air Date: 1979-07-09
Adams's father visits from England. Tensions are still high between them, but a visit to the museum of Belsen concentration camp has a surprising effect. Stevens, permanently angry and deeply unpopular, receives some devastating news.
5. Repercussions
Air Date: 1979-07-16
Pickering causes a serious incident on the heavily defended border between East and West Germany, forcing 6 Platoon to weigh up the conflicting demands of humanity, group loyalty, and military discipline.
6. Waiting Games
Air Date: 1979-07-23
6 Platoon are back on active duty in Northern Ireland. During a nighttime surveillance operation, they're ambushed and Twiss goes missing, presumed captured. Enquiries among locals are met with bitter and mutual hostility.
1. Night Games
Air Date: 1981-07-30
B Company has been sent to Hong Kong, still for the time being part of the British empire. Gilbey trains new recruits while 6 Platoon has the inglourious task of hunting down and handing back refugees from China.
2. Have a Happy Day
Air Date: 1981-08-06
3. Another Happy Day
Air Date: 1981-08-13
The platoon is still on furlough. Some of the squaddies have been brawling in the local bars and brothels. Mayhoe encounters racism in the army. Adams's father visits the refugee camps for the Vietnamese boat people. Pickering's love life takes a possibly murky step forward. And Bilinski is having an affair with a Chinese woman, unaware that some shady characters are watching him.
4. The Macau Connection
Air Date: 1981-08-20
Bilinski's love affair with the lady from Macau has left him open to blackmail by the snakeheads, who want him to join their trafficking racket. When a search party is sent, his interpreter is found murdered but the man himself has disappeared.
5. Loyalties
Air Date: 1981-08-27
Bilinski is under investigation for possible complicity in people smuggling for the snakeheads in return for dubious favours received. Box is furious: he should have been going home to England, but he has to replace Bilinski in charge of 6 Platoon, itself festering with resentment.
6. Futures
Air Date: 1981-09-03
It's time to go home. There are debts to be paid, treasured possessions to be left behind, goodbyes to be said. And futures to think about. Can a Black man like Mayhoe get promotion in spite of racism in the British army? Will Box's wife let him re-enlist? What of Bilinski, demoted to store duty? Gilbey's retirement plans? For Pickering, there's a final surprise.
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Rating
6.0/10
Release Date
1978-07-18
Episodes
19 (3 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Videos
Production Companies

Southern Television





