Brian Posted January 12, 2002 Share Posted January 12, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Andreas: Hmm, maybe because fortifications were a lot more important in Italy then they were in NWE (outside the Siegfried line) - also, the lower number of tanks and the particular lay-out of the Italian countryside may increase survivability of Sextons. Finally, a hang-over from the desert times. I believe 8th Army did things differently in some respects. But to be honest, I am just guessing.<hr></blockquote> Most of the Sexton/Priest Regiments in Italy were original converted from towed Field Regiments originally, in the Desert. As Artillery tended to have a much greater chance of aquiring experience and surviving, they'd have been composed of quite a lot of "old timers" who had been taught how to fight tanks and had the chance to practice it for real, against the Afrika Korps. All that combined would I have thought, tended to make 8th Army RA extremely experienced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted January 12, 2002 Share Posted January 12, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Brian: Most of the Sexton/Priest Regiments in Italy were original converted from towed Field Regiments originally, in the Desert. As Artillery tended to have a much greater chance of aquiring experience and surviving, they'd have been composed of quite a lot of "old timers" who had been taught how to fight tanks and had the chance to practice it for real, against the Afrika Korps. All that combined would I have thought, tended to make 8th Army RA extremely experienced.<hr></blockquote> That sounds sensible, and organisational/behavioural explanations appeal to me, so it must be right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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