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

To: Pride in the USA; Stillwaters
Be sure to read post #1 on this thread


Normandy hedgerows

20 posted on 05/25/2015 10:00:32 AM PDT by lonevoice (Life is short. Make fun of it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies ]


To: lonevoice

I’ve read that the hedgerows were a nasty surprise- in aerial photographs, they showed up simply as boundaries between fields. They turned out to be tall hard packed berms, built up over generations by farmers clearing and improving their fields. This gave enemy defenders excellent cover and concealment, as well as making attacking troops visible and vulnerable when attacking over them.
As usual, when turned loose and allowed to innovate, the US Army adapted and overcame. One solution was the “Rhino” tank- a standard Sherman tank, with a long pipe “spike” welded to the nose-this allowed the tank to pierce, then knock down hedgerows for a more direct attack (or to destroy an enemy position).
I’m a bit of a WWII buff- not too serious about it, but it’s always interesting- and there’s always more to learn about it.


21 posted on 05/25/2015 10:13:47 AM PDT by TexasBarak (I aim to misbehave!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | 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