Читаем Tank Warfare on the Eastern Front 1943-1945: Red Steamroller полностью

Tank Warfare on the Eastern Front 1943-1945: Red Steamroller

Robert A. Forczyk

^{A German grenadier with a Panzerfaust observes a burning T-34 in a village. The introduction of the cheap, easy-to-produce Panzerfaust anti-tank weapon in the autumn of 1943 was a potential game-changer since it finally provided the German infantryman with a reliable weapon to stop enemy tanks. However, by the time that it was introduced, the Heer was running out of trained infantrymen.}

^{A late-model Pz IV alongside a knocked-out late-model T-34/76 in the Ukraine, early 1944. The size comparison of these two medium tanks is interesting, as well as the effect of thick mud upon operations.}

^{A Panther from SS-Wiking in a wood line in Poland, September 1944. Note that trees have been cleared to create a clear field of fire in front of the Panther.}

^{A Lend-Lease Sherman in Red Army service. By mid-1944, the Red Army had a considerable number of Shermans and particularly liked the models with the 76-mm gun. Like the T-34, the Sherman was automotively reliable and was excellent in the exploitation role.}

^{A JS-2 lies disabled in the streets of an East Prussian town. The 122-mm gun on the JS-2 was a powerful weapon with the potential to destroy Tigers and Panthers at long-range, but like most heavy tanks, it was ill-suited for urban combat.}

^{Another JS-2 has come to grief in a German city street, which was far too narrow for armoured operations. In this type of urban environment, the Panzerfaust could knock out even heavy tanks with point-blank shots.}

Notes

Chapter 1

1. Christopher W. Wilbeck, Sledgehammers: Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II (Bedford, PA: the Aberjona Press, 2004), pp. 18–23.

2. Thomas L. Jentz, Panzertruppen: The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany’s Tank Force, 1943–1945, Volume II (Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 1996), pp. 43.

3. Manfred Kehrig, Stalingrad: Analyse und Dokumentation einer Schlacht (Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlag-Anstalt, 1974), pp. 670.

4. Jentz, pp. 49.

5. Heinz Guderian, Panzer Leader (New York: Ballantine Books, Inc., 1968), pp. 234.

6. Samuel W. Mitcham Jr., Hitler’s Legions: The German Army Order of Battle, World War II (New York: Stein & Day Publishers, 1985), pp. 387.

7. Guderian, pp. 237.

8. Guderian, pp. 239.

9. Meldung der Sonderkommission des OKH, 27 June 1941, NAM (National Archives Microfilm), series T-315, Roll 744, frame 729.

10. IIa, lib, Tatigkeitsbericht Verlustliste, Apr 1 - Oct 31, 1942, PzAOK 1, NAM (National archives Microfilm), series T-313, Roll 36.

11. Ernst Rebentisch, The Combat History of the 23^rd Panzer Division in World War II (Mechanischsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2012), pp. 496–500.

12. Hans Schäufler, Knights Cross Panzers: The German 35^th Panzer Regiment in WWII (Mechanichsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2010), pp. 203.

13. Armin Bottger, To the Gates of Hell: The Memoir of a Panzer Crewman (Barnsley, UK: Frontline Books, 2013).

14. Bottger.

15. Jentz, pp. 34.

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Читаем Tank Warfare on the Eastern Front 1943-1945: Red Steamroller полностью

Tank Warfare on the Eastern Front 1943-1945: Red Steamroller

A late-model Pz IV alongside a knocked-out late-model T-34/76 in the Ukraine, early 1944. The size comparison of these two medium tanks is interesting, as well as the effect of thick mud upon operations.

A Panther from SS-Wiking in a wood line in Poland, September 1944. Note that trees have been cleared to create a clear field of fire in front of the Panther.

A Lend-Lease Sherman in Red Army service. By mid-1944, the Red Army had a considerable number of Shermans and particularly liked the models with the 76-mm gun. Like the T-34, the Sherman was automotively reliable and was excellent in the exploitation role.

A JS-2 lies disabled in the streets of an East Prussian town. The 122-mm gun on the JS-2 was a powerful weapon with the potential to destroy Tigers and Panthers at long-range, but like most heavy tanks, it was ill-suited for urban combat.

Another JS-2 has come to grief in a German city street, which was far too narrow for armoured operations. In this type of urban environment, the Panzerfaust could knock out even heavy tanks with point-blank shots.