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American Defences in Italy?


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Have played a few missions in the German campaign now. I have to say its really frustrating the way Americans are scattered all over the map in trenches covering arcs like a complex web in depth.

Were isolated pockets of infantry really ww2 tactics?

Not sure what you are asking since I haven't played the campaign in question. Were you expecting WW I-style trench lines with soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder along it?

As for "scattered", well yes...sort of. Due to the increased lethality of artillery and other weaponry, troops had become far more dispersed than in the previous century, or even the previous war. As long as the fields of fire overlapped enough to discourage entering them, they were concentrated enough. There was also the question of defenders' morale, but as long as they were within sight and sound of their buddies in the platoon, that was generally enough if they were well trained.

Are the pockets in the battle truly isolated? I.e., squads or teams out of communication range of the rest of their platoon and their leader? No C2?

Michael

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I think its probably historically correct. Its def defence in depth though.

Lines are in c2 and sections are together. It just seems like the battalion is spread with 300m or more between platoons. Which I guess is about right for mutual support.

I think I am just being frustrated as the whole map is peppered with dug in infantry and AT guns. Just like a good defence should be I guess.

It will be a nice challenge.

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In defence, battalions and companies were assigned permanent sectors, depending on the tactical situation, terrain and weather conditions:

  1. Bataillonsabschnitt: up to 2000 m frontage and 1000–1500 m depth in defence.
  2. Kompanieabschnitt: up to 700 m frontage and 400–600 m depth in defence.

LMG, HMG, and riflemen formed defensive nests inside the designated sector, making sure that all avenues of approach were covered with interlocking fire. Alternate anti-tank gun, and infantry gun positions were dug on the HKL, ready to be manned if the situation required it.

http://www.miniatures.de/tactics-1932-german-infantry.html

http://www.balagan.org.uk/war/ww2/snippet/infantry-unit-frontages.htm

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