The assault artillery never serves as antitank artillery in an attack; only in self-defense does it open fire at short range, shooting armor-piercing shells against tanks. Its shell has almost no effect against heavy tanks.
The battery is part of the combat echelon, and marches ahead of the trains. All seven guns and three armored supply vehicles are in this echelon. In deploying for battle the guns come first, moving abreast toward the front and ready for instant action. The guns of the platoon commanders are on the flanks. The battery commander is stationed to the rear, in a position which is dictated by the type of firing and the terrain. Behind him, the supply vehicles move by bounds from one protected position to another.
If a position lacks cover, these vehicles follow at a considerable distance, maintaining radio communication with the rest of the battery.
In carrying out its special task of facilitating an infantry breakthrough into the rear of the opposition's defenses, the assault battery may follow one of two methods of maneuver: the battery may take part in the initial assault, or it may be held in reserve and not committed until the hostile dispositions have been discovered. In all instances the battery cooperates closely with the supported infantry battalion or company.
Assault guns use direct fire. To achieve surprise, they move forward stealthily. In supporting an infantry attack under heavy enemy fire, assault guns halt briefly to fire on target, which offer the greatest danger to the infantry. The assault guns fire a few times, and then disappear to take part in the battle from other positions. When an assault artillery battalion is attached to an infantry division cooperating with Panzer units in an attack, the battalion's primary mission is to destroy the hostile antitank defenses. If the battalion is supporting tanks in a breakthrough, its batteries seek positions permitting good observation. In other cases each battery moves into the attack after the first wave of tanks, and as soon as the latter encounters opposition, the assault guns cover them with protecting fire. It is believed that the Germans regard close cooperation between the assault battery and the first echelon of tanks as essential in effecting a quick destruction of antitank defenses.
If hostile tanks counterattack, the German antitank guns engage them, and the assault artillery unit seeks to destroy the hostile guns which are supporting the attacking tanks. When the German antitank artillery is unable to stop the hostile tanks, as a last resort, the self-propelled assault guns engage the tanks, opening fire on them with armor-piercing shells at a distance of 650 yards or less.
In the pursuit, the assault guns give the infantry close support to strengthen the latter's fire power.
The most important role of the assault battery in defense appears to be in support of counterattacks. However, in special instances, they have been used as artillery to reinforce the division artillery. When an assault battery is to support a counterattack, it is freed from all other tasks. The battery, knowing the limits within which the counterattack will operate, acts just as it would in supporting an infantry attack. Assault-battery officers and infantry commanders jointly make a careful reconnaissance of the area in which the counterattack is to take place.
The most vulnerable points of a German self-propelled assault gun, according to the Russians, are the moving parts, the rear half of the fighting compartment, the observation apparatus, and the aiming devices.
The Russians contend that their antitank rifles and all their artillery guns, beginning with their 45-mm cannon, are able to fight successfully against the German assault guns. Heavy losses of self-propelled guns, the Russians say, have greatly weakened the German Army's aggressiveness in the attack and tenacity in the defense.
Artillery in the Desert
Military Intelligence Service, Special Series No. 6, November 1942
In the Libyan Desert, where fighting has been continuous, since 1940, fire power has been a decisive factor, and artillery has played an important role in its development. Guns have halted tanks and infantry; guns of all calibers—motor-drawn, self-propelled, portee, and mounted in tanks—have enabled large advances to be made by both sides. Although the primary purpose here is to describe the employment of the artillery's fire power, the broader picture of desert operations, especially insofar as they relate to German tactics, is included as having an important bearing on the whole subject.
SECTION I. ORGANISATION
General
Both the Axis and the United Nations have been gradually altering their regular organizations to conform to the conditions of the desert. Armored units can carry the fight to the enemy; infantry units, if well balanced, have been able to defend themselves against tank attacks from any direction or against simultaneous attacks from various directions. The traditional infantry-artillery team is able to assume only a defensive role. Independence from the regular supply echelons means greater mobility. Armored units carry more supplies than was contemplated by peacetime training; 7 days' supply is advocated by many officers, and the Germans are said to carry 14. Each unit sent into the desert needs to be as self-sustaining as possible. These are merely some of the factors which must be considered in forming any organization for desert warfare. Well-balanced, closely coordinated teams of armored forces, infantry, field artillery, engineers, antiaircraft, and air forces have been the organizations which have achieved the best results in desert fighting.
Figure 1.—Map of the Libyan theater
GERMAN
a. General
It would be an error to attempt to portray any set German organization for tactical purposes. The German varies his organization and the relative strengths of different arms in any force to suit the particular terrain, the nature of the hostile defense, and the missions.
b. Armored Division
The following scheme of organization, subject to many modifications, appears to approximate the normal German armored division as used in the desert:
(1) Headquarters with immediate radio communication to subordinate units and to air reconnaissance and combat support.
(2) Reconnaissance unit.
(a) Armored car company7 of about 25 armored cars, usually in the proportion of one 8-wheeled car to two 4-wheeled cars.
(b) Support group of motorized infantry including infantry-gun platoon, one antitank platoon, one engineer platoon, and one platoon of heavy machine guns.
(3) One tank regiment of two battalions, each of two Mark III and one Mark IV companies. Each battalion has from 65 to 80 tanks.
(4) One motorized artillery regiment of three battalions, each of three batteries of four guns each; two of these battalions are armed with 105-mm gun-howitzers, and one with 150-mm howitzers.
(5) One motorized infantry brigade, of one motorcycle battalion8 and of two regiments of two battalions each.
(6) One antitank battalion of three companies of at least 10 guns each. The battalion usually includes some antitank guns on self-propelled mounts.
(7) One light antiaircraft battalion of three companies of twelve 20-mm AA/AT guns each.
(8) One signal battalion; containing a most efficient radio intelligence interception detachment whose interception of enemy messages has been of great value to the German forces.
(9) One engineer battalion, containing a tank engineer company whose task is the support of the tank regiment. This company has two platoons mounted on Mark I tanks, one on armored engineer vehicles, and one on trucks.
(10) Service units. The number and strength of the various services in Libya is not accurately known. The Germans have an excellent tank recovery and maintenance system. Gasoline and ammunition supply vehicles accompany tanks units, and the replenishment system is well organized.
c. German 90th Light Division (Afrika Korps)
Throughout the Libyan campaigns the 90th Light Division has operated in the closest conjunction with the 15th and 21st Armored Divisions and has furnished the larger portion of the infantry component of the German "Afrika Korps." In its recently reorganized form, the strength of the divisi
on has been estimated at around 12,000 officers and men. The division has a tank battalion and probably between 2,000 and 3,000 motor vehicles.
A large number of auxiliary infantry weapons are included in this division. It would appear, indeed, that the rifle had been relegated to a role of subsidiary importance—a weapon solely for close combat. The backbone of the divisional artillery appears to be the 150-mm assault guns on partially armored self-propelled mounts. The mobility and armor of these weapons permit unusually heavy fire support for the infantry at every stage of battle.
The antitank armament of this division has been strengthened beyond that of any other known German division.
SECTION II. EQUIPMENT
USE OF ENEMY EQUIPMENT
No attempt is made here to discuss exhaustively the details of all the artillery equipment used in Libya; the more important items are described so that the exposition on tactics which follows can be readily understood.
GERMAN
a. Antitank Weapons
All German forces in the desert have a large number of antitank weapons. Antitank guns have accounted for most of the tanks which the Germans have destroyed. (The details of German antitank guns have been included in Appendix B, which may be consulted for available information on the more important German artillery pieces.)
b. 50-mm Antitank Gun (fig. 2)
Originally issued to the main units of the German Army in the spring of 1941, this 50-mm. antitank gun is steadily replacing the 37-mm antitank gun, which was formerly the standard German antitank weapon. Both high-explosive and armor-piercing projectiles are fired. The solid projectile fired by this gun weighs 4 pounds 9 ounces, and has pierced the armor of British infantry tanks and cruiser tanks, and of light and medium U.S. tanks. The carriage is provided with an armor-plated shield and has a tubular split trail. This gun is towed on its own wheels and has a detachable third wheel, which attaches to the lunette when the gun crew moves the gun by hand.
•Nature of weapon: high velocity antitank cannon.
•Weight: 2,016 pounds.9
•Length of barrel: 62 calibers.
•Traverse: 60°
•Elevation: -13° to +22.5°
•Initial muzzle velocity: 2,953 to 3,280 feet per second (900 to 1,000 meters per second).
•Rate of fire: 16 rounds per minute.
•Weight of armor-piercing shell: 4 pounds 9 ounces.
•Weight of high explosive shell: 3 pounds 15 ounces.
Figure 2.—German 50-mm antitank gun
c. 50-mm Tank Gun (high velocity)
This gun is mounted in the new Mark III German tank. It has been very effective at ranges under 800 yards.
•Weight: 421.5 pounds.
•Length, over-all: 210 cm (12 feet 11 inches).
•Length of chamber: 30.5 cm (12 inches).
•Length of rifling: 162.2 cm (5 feet 4 inches).
•Muzzle velocity: 3,444 feet per second.
•Weight of armor-piercing shell: 3.9 pounds.
•Rifling: polygroove plane section; uniform twist of 1 in 35 calibers; 16 lands, 3.5 mm wide; grooves, 6 mm wide, .75 mm deep.
d. 28/20-mm Antitank Gun M41 (fig. 3)
The barrel of this semiautomatic gun is constructed on the Guerlich principle; that is, it tapers from 28 mm at the breech to 20 mm at the muzzle. The gun uses the so-called arrowhead type of ammunition. The life of the barrel is thought to be not over 400 rounds. This gun, which has a welded carriage with a split trail, is served by a 5-man crew. It is normally towed portee on a trailer equipped with ramps and may also be mounted on a truck split into a 5-man load for transport, or carried by air.
•Weight: 501 pounds.
•Muzzle velocity: 4,555 feet per second.
•Caliber at breech: 28 mm.
•Caliber at muzzle: 20 mm.
Figure 3.—German 28/20-mm antitank gun M41
e. Dual-Purpose Weapons
More and more reports from the desert indicate the use of antiaircraft weapons for antitank purposes wherever such use has become necessary. The Germans have various dual-purpose weapons, the most famous in the desert and elsewhere being the 88-mm.
The German 20-mm AA/AT gun as used in the desert may be towed by a light tractor. There is a four-barrel type, called "Flakvierling" by the Germans.
In addition to the 88-mm, the Germans have two other types of dual-purpose guns which are used extensively. There is the 37-mm AA/AT gun, which is motor-drawn or self-propelled on a half-track vehicle, and the 47-mm AA/AT gun, which originated in Czechoslovakia.
f. 88-mm Dual-Purpose Gun (fig. 4)
(1) Development.—The German 88-mm dual-purpose gun was designed in 1934 as the standard semimobile antiaircraft gun. It is known that the plan of its designers was to construct a dual-purpose antiaircraft and antitank weapon. It was first used in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, with considerable effect, on the lightly armored vehicles of the Loyalist forces. The antitank purpose of the weapon was, however, veiled in some secrecy, and the German intentions in this regard did not become well known until the Polish campaign of 1939. The Germans produced large quantities of armor-piercing ammunition and designed a more mobile carriage. With these added improvements the gun was used successfully in the Battle of France, where it proved capable of dealing with the heavier French tanks against which the standard German 37-mm (1.45 inch) antitank gun was comparatively ineffective.
Figure 4.—German 88-mm dual-purpose gun on special trailer
Commencing in 1940, the Germans began to provide these guns with an armored shield in order to protect the personnel against small arms bullets and shell fragments, as well as smaller antitank gun projectiles. The Germans next provided the gun with a new mounting (designated Trailer 201) from which the gun could engage tanks without being taken off its wheels. Finally a self-propelled mounting has been produced from which the gun can be fired against ground targets but cannot be used in its original antiaircraft role.
It appears that this weapon has played an important role throughout the Russian campaign. However, far more exact information is available as to its use in Libya.
(2) Tactics.—In November 1941, when General Auchinleck launched his major offensive, Marshall Rommel formed three tank-proof localities along his front line: at Bardia, at Salum, and in the vicinity of Halfaya Pass. Wherever these areas included 88-mm guns, the guns were used to provide the core of the all-around protection so necessary in the desert against tank attacks. These guns were supported by a large number of smaller antitank weapons. So well organized were these strong points that they were never seriously attacked, and only fell when the British pushed on to Bengasi and when the water and food stocks of the strong points became exhausted. The British ascribe the long resistance by these strong points to the difficulty they found in coping with these dual-purpose weapons.
Rommel's offensive use of these weapons is of considerable interest. The antiaircraft guns appear to follow closely his armored vehicles. As soon as the front begins to stabilize, the 88-mm dual-purpose guns go into position and around them is then organized a "tank proof" locality.
The effectiveness of these weapons is clearly brought out by the following reports of observers formerly at the front in the desert battle around Tobruk:
One observer reports as follows:
At a point in the Knightsbridge area, the 4th British armored brigade faced some 35 German tanks of the Mark III and IV type drawn up in line and obviously inviting attack. These tanks were supported by a battalion of 12 antiaircraft guns. The commander of the 4th Brigade refused to attack at all because of the presence of these guns on the battlefield.
Slight firing occurred throughout the day. Towards evening the superior British tank force withdrew, and the German tanks attacked after nightfall in a new direction. Their 88-mm dual-purpose guns had checked the British all day and permitted Rommel to seize the initiative as soon as the British threat had vanished.
Another report reads
as follows:
The greatest single tank destroyer is the German 88-mm dual-purpose gun. For example, on May 27th at 0800, Axis forces having enveloped Bir Hacheimn, a German tank force of 60 tanks attacked the British 22nd Brigade some distance to the northeast. The British moved to attack this force with 50 light and medium American tanks. It soon became apparent that this British force was inadequate and the Brigadier commanding ordered a second regiment of 50 tanks into action. In 10 minutes the 88-mm German dual-purpose guns destroyed 8 American medium tanks of this reinforcing regiment. All day thereafter, the British engaged the enemy half-heartedly and finally withdrew. Sixteen American medium tanks were lost in all. These 16 fell victims, without a single exception, to the 88-mm dual-purpose gun.
(3) Fire-control methods.—For field artillery tasks, and for use against armored vehicles, the following four methods of fire control are used: direct fire using a telescopic sight; predictor control; fire directed from an observation post (OP); and air burst HE.
(a) Direct fire.—This has been the most successful method against armored vehicles. Apart from the extreme mobility of the gun, the efficient telescopic sight has contributed largely to the success of the 88-mm gun in the antitank role.
The latest mark of telescopic sight used is the ZF. 20 E., which is a monocular type with a magnification of 4 and a field of view of 17.5°. The graticule of the sight is formed with two cross lines, interrupted at the center.
On the sight are a range drum graduated in 100-meter (109-yard) steps from 0 to 9,400 meters (10,340 yards), a target elevation drum in 1/16° from 0° to 12°, and vertical and lateral deflection drums. The layer lays on the target through the sight, and the range is set on the range drum, which automatically applies the necessary target elevation to the sight. Corrections from observation of fire or laying off for a moving target are set on the appropriate deflection drums.
German Artillery in Combat Page 11
