Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: rdcbn
Americans did not go for grand tank on tank operations like the Germans and Russians.

For Americans and Brits, the weapon of choice against German tanks was an airplane and we had total air superiority by the time D-Day had arrived.

American battle doctrine in WWII also leaned more towards the Gun Motor Carriages or "Tank Destroyers" for hunting enemy armor.

38 posted on 10/23/2014 9:22:59 AM PDT by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies ]


To: Charles Martel
American battle doctrine in WWII also leaned more towards the Gun Motor Carriages or “Tank Destroyers” for hunting enemy armor.


Exactly.

American military doctrine of the time was that tanks were essentially a new form of Calvary that was faster and more heavily armed and armored and were used as such.

The destruction of enemy tanks was primarily the job of the tank destroyers at the infantry level.

The real tools against German tanks was American airpower and artillery. American Artillery was the by far the best of WWII and our artillery was really what won WWII war for the US. Or more accurately, since we would have won regardless, why we won sooner and with far lower casualties than we would have otherwise and also why our troop casualties were lower than any of the other armies of either side.

44 posted on 10/23/2014 9:50:30 AM PDT by rdcbn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson