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{{no footnotes|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[Dad's Army]]
| image =
| caption =
| series_no = 3
| episode = 7
| director = [[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]]
| story = [[Jimmy Perry]] and David Croft
| producer = David Croft
| airdate = Thursday 23 October 1969 7.30pm<br />(recorded Sunday 6 July 1969)
| length = 30 minutes
| guests =
| prev = [[Room at the Bottom (Dad's Army)|Room at the Bottom]]
| next = [[The Day the Balloon Went Up]]
}}

"'''Big Guns'''" is the seventh episode of the third series of the British comedy series ''[[Dad's Army]]''. It was originally transmitted on Thursday 23 October 1969.

==Synopsis==
The [[platoon]] is given heavy artillery and, directly in the line of fire of their naval gun, the town's bandstand is at grave risk.

==Plot==
Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson are discussing a church parade in the Vicar's office when they are interrupted by the Verger, accompanied by an official from [[Pickfords]], complaining that a large gun has been left in the yard. It is revealed to be a [[Ordnance QF 13 pounder|13 pounder naval gun]]. The platoon call in Frazer, who was in the navy, to tell them how it works, but Frazer reveals that he was only a cook. The man from Pickfords returns with the manual however, and Mainwaring begins to read it.

The platoon are each assigned different positions, with amusing consequences. However, when they attempt to rehearse the drill, they cannot open the [[breech-loading weapon|breech]] until the verger reveals that they had the safety catch on, to the indignation of the platoon.

The next day, the platoon organise a [[Military exercise|TEWT]] (Tactical Exercise Without Troops) and make a miniature version of [[Walmington-on-Sea|Walmington]] to test their new battle strategy, using, among other things, a powder puff, a scrubbing brush and a bottle of whisky. Mainwaring orders the destruction of the cricket score-board (much to Wilson's annoyance), the allotments (to Frazer's disapproval) and the bandstand (to the dismay of Lance Corporal Jones, who reveals that he was present when it was erected and dedicated to [[Queen Victoria]]) within 48 hours. He tells Wilson he is meeting with Mr Rees, the Town Clerk to confirm it. However, Mr Rees is less than pleased, and asks for a demonstration.

On the day of the demonstration, Mainwaring gives the command "enemy tank right! Action!", and the platoon jump to it. However, the gun is covered by camouflage netting, which proves to be the downfall of the platoon as they all become entangled in the netting whilst attempting to remove it. Mr Rees has had enough at this point, and promises to tell his committee that "they can sleep sound in their beds, provided they make them inside that enemy tank".

==Cast==
{{div col}}
*[[Arthur Lowe]] as [[Captain Mainwaring]]
*[[John Le Mesurier]] as [[Sergeant Wilson]]
*[[Clive Dunn]] as [[Lance Corporal Jones]]
*[[John Laurie]] as [[Private Frazer]]
*[[James Beck]] as [[Private Walker]]
*[[Arnold Ridley]] as [[Private Godfrey]]
*[[Ian Lavender]] as [[Private Pike]]
*[[Edward Sinclair]] as [[Maurice Yeatman|The Verger]]
*[[Edward Evans (actor)|Edward Evans]] as Mr Rees, the Town Clerk
*[[Don Estelle]] as The Pickfords Man
*Roy Denton as Mr Bennett
{{div col end}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=The Complete A-Z of Dad’s Army|author1=Croft, David |author2=Perry, Jimmy |author3=Webber, Richard |year=2000|publisher=Orion|isbn= 0-7528-4637-X}}

==External links==
*{{BBC episode|b007bl55}}
*{{IMDb episode|0552279}}

{{Dad's Army}}

[[Category:Dad's Army (series 3) episodes]]
[[Category:1969 British television episodes]]

Big Guns (Dad's Army) - Revision history

Kurt at 01:25, 10 January 2023

Kurt: 1 revision imported

en>Dawnseeker2000: date formats per MOS:DATEFORMAT by script