Using Tanks as Howezters

[Jeff Duquette]

Just an addendum to my previous post regarding forward artillery observation within US ARMY tank units during WWII:

From FM 6-135 "Forward Observation", August 1944 (pg 27)

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Conduct of fire in support of a tank attack will be almost entirely by forward observers in tanks furnished by the supported tank unit. The forward observers should accompany the leading elements and must have communication with the tank commanders and the artillery fire-direction center. The tank is equipped with a 500-Series radio set. Communication with the tank battalion and company commander will be on the unit's normal channel for command or fire control, and presents no problem. Communication with the artillery fire-direction center may be obtained in one of several ways.

(a) The tank unit may provide a 500-Series set to remain at the artillery fire-direction center. Communication is then direct between the artillery observer's tank set and the tank unit's set at the fire-direction center. Fire commands to the batteries are sent over the artillery battalion's normal fire-direction channels.

( If the tank provided for the forward observer is provided with an SCR-508 radio set and a spare channel is available, the spare channel can be used for the adjustment of fire.

This requires that the forward observer's radio set and the SCR-508 or SCR-510 at the fire-direction center be tuned to the spare channel. The second receiver of the observer's set would betuned to the tank unit's command frequency. Fire commands to the batteries are handled as in (a) above.<hr></blockquote>

And from FM 17-32 "Tank Company Tactics", November 1944 (pg 48)

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>52. Use of Supporting Arms and Weapons

a. It is normal for the fires of the tank company to be coordinated with the fires of the tank battalion mortars and assault guns, supporting artillery, infantry, chemical mortars, other tank units and with available air bombardment. The tank company commander must have full knowledge of the supporting fire plan so that his company may take full advantage of this support in accomplishing its mission. (See fig. 33.) Nearly all such fires are prearranged by battalion or higher headquarters. FM 17-33 and 17-36 explain more fully the coordination and employment of supporting fires.

b. The following are fires over which the company may have some control:

(1) Artillery. Fires of supporting artillery are requested for large area targets and to screen distant points. (See FM 6-105.) Artillery time fire in front of or over tanks neutralizes gun crews and tank hunters. (See fig. 33.) During combat the company commander, platoon leaders, or even tank commanders may request artillery fires. They normally make the request through the battalion commander and the artillery forward observer and may observe and adjust the fire themselves if necessary (See FM 17-12). It is possible for radios to be netted with the artillery fire direction center for direct requests. The following are normal artillery missions:

(a) Support fire during movement to the attack position by counter battery fire, neutralization of antitank guns and supporting or screening of mine removal parties.

( Support during attack. The primary targets are antitank weapons, observation posts, and any hostile troops, weapons or areas of resistance holding up the advance. Tanks may operate directly under time fire (air bursts) on the objective. (See fig. 34.) After the objective is occupied, supporting weapons are prepared to fire on the target beyond it.

© Support against counterattack. Massed fires are used to break up enemy formations, especially armored threats. These normally are previously prepared defensive fires for the protection of the objective when taken.<hr></blockquote>

Regarding the US Army's use of Tanks and Tank Destroyers as pseudo-indirect firing elements this seems to have been fairly standard practice from as early as 1942 and the battles in Tunisia. At CM's level I would agree with whomever indicated earlier that handling such a thing within the present game engine is best modeled via use of a few 75mm Artillery spotters.

[ 01-18-2002: Message edited by: Jeff Duquette ]</p>