The Rat Patrol is an American action and adventure television series that aired on ABC between 1966 and 1968. It follows the exploits of four Allied soldiers – three Americans and one British – who are part of a long-range desert patrol group in the North African campaign during World War II. The show was inspired by and loosely modeled on David Stirling's British Special Air Service. The title of the program refers to the nicknames given to some of the British Commonwealth forces.