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Assault
Gun Tactics
Transcribed
by Jonathan Bocek
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The
following was taken from the March 1945 issue of The
Intelligence Bulletin. This publication was
issued by the U.S. War Department to military
personnel with the intention of providing helpful
information concerning the enemy.
To teach
German infantrymen some of the tactics used by assault
guns, the Fifteenth German Army outlined the
advantages and disadvantages of these self-propelled
weapons so that the infantry could have a better
understanding of how to cooperate with them in the
field.
In reply
to the question "What must the infantry know
about the assault guns?" the Germans offer these
comments:
The
assault guns are the strongest weapons against hostile
tanks. They engage all your most dangerous
enemies, and destroy them or force them to take cover.
Assault guns are strong when concentrated, but have no
effect when used in small numbers. They are
capable of forward fire only, since they have no
turrets; therefore they are sensitive to attack from
the flanks. This is why the guns must never be
employed by themselves, but always in conjunction with
infantry. These weapons may be considerably
restricted by marshy land, thick woods, and natural or
artificial obstacles; moreover, they constitute large
targets. They can see and hear little.
Even during a battle, the assault guns occasionally
must withdraw to cover, and obtain fresh supplies of
ammunition and fuel.
This
brings us to the question of how the infantry should
assist the assault guns. Infantrymen must draw
the guns attention to hostile tanks and other targets
by means of the signal pistol, prearranged light and
flag signals, and shouting. The infantry must
neutralize hostile antitank guns.
The flanks
of assault guns must be covered and protected by the
infantry against hostile tank-hunting detachments,
which are always ready to operate against our assault
guns. Such protection is especially necessary in
built-up areas and in terrain where visibility is
poor. The infantry must warn the assault guns of
the proximity of antitank obstacles and mines, and
must be prepared to guide the guns through such
obstacles.
The
infantry must take advantage of the guns' fire power
to advance in strength via prearranged lanes not under
fire. The assault guns must be given sufficient
time for reconnaissance. The guns and the
infantry will formulate plans through personal
consultation, and will ensure means of communication
during battle.
Infantry
should not stay too close to the guns, and should not
bunch. Instead, deployment is advised, to lessen
the danger of drawing hostile fire and to avoid injury
by ricochets. Since the driver of an assault gun
has limited vision, infantrymen must keep in mind the
danger of being run down, and must move accordingly.
Assault
guns are "sitting targets" when they have to
wait for the infantry; infantrymen can find cover
almost anywhere, but the assault guns cannot.
Since the guns fire at the halt, the infantry must
gain ground while the guns are firing. Although
the assault guns are of great assistance when ground
is being gained, it is the infantry that must hold
the ground.
Since the
assault guns must keep their ammunition available for
unexpected or especially dangerous targets, the
infantry must engage all the targets that it can
possibly take on with its heavy and light weapons.
Although
the assault guns must withdraw after every engagement,
to prepare for the next engagement where their
assistance will be required, the infantry will not withdraw.
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