IG18 - seeking hints and tips

[womble]

Here's a fun Polish site with all things LeIG 18.

http://odkrywca.pl/7-5cm-infantriegeschutz-18,413627.html

Apparently max elevation was only 35 degrees so your dreams of mortar-like high angle shoots may be a bit off the mark.

Then that site is incorrect. There's YouTube video of the thing being cranked up to much closer to 70 degrees than 35, and other Internet sources support this.

[YankeeDog]

Here's a fun Polish site with all things LeIG 18.

http://odkrywca.pl/7-5cm-infantriegeschutz-18,413627.html

Apparently max elevation was only 35 degrees so your dreams of mortar-like high angle shoots may be a bit off the mark.

Yeah; that's definitely wrong. Max elevation of the most common ground mount was 73 degrees. It's possible that site is talking about an alternate mount, such as on a vehicle, which had a more restricted elevation.

[RockinHarry]

Yet some nice quota from the US Company Officers Handbook on German Forces from 1943:

a. Infantry Howitzers

The German 75-mm and 150-mm infantry howitzers are regi-

mental weapons, and their function is to accompany the infantry

and fire on those targets which are too close to German troops to

be engaged by field artillery. They also fire on targets of oppor-

tunity. In the attack, they are placed at the disposal of the assault

battalion commander, and move with his battalion. They engage

personnel, emplacements, and, using hollow-charge projectiles, ar-

mored vehicles. Both light and heavy infantry howitzers normally

deliver indirect fire from covered positions, but in Tunisia they

usually were used for direct fire, and their positions were changed

frequently. In the hilly terrain of Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy, however,

the Germans preferred the mortar as an accompanying weapon for

infantry.

In defense, infantry howitzers are also allocated to front-line

battalions. Usually they are placed back of the main line of re-

sistance. Their high-trajectory fire is utilized to deny likely covered

approaches to the German main position.

The 75,-mm howitzer can easily be manhandled by an individual

soldier over fairly level ground. It has a very low silhouette. The

150-mm howitzer is much larger and heavier, and is intended

primarily to engage strong centers of resistance. Because a small

supply of ammunition is allowed for offensive purposes, it usually

reserves its fire until moments of maximum effort. Infantry how-

itzers (especially the 75-mm) are well-adapted for inclusion in

rear guards or advanced guards for the destruction of road blocks

and the dispersal of covering forces and unarmored or light ar-

mored vehicles.