Books

[Mobius]

While waiting for PCO some might want to catch up on their reading. One book that I used for the source of two scenarios is: "Panzer Gunner : A Canadian in the German 7th Panzer Division, 1944-45" by Bruno Freisen

It gives some insights in detail of panzer operating that I haven't found in other books.

Six months before World War II erupted in 1939, Bruno Friesen was sent to Germany by his father in hopes of a better life. Friesen was drafted into the Wehrmacht three years later and ended up in the 7th Panzer Division. Serving as a gunner in a Panzer IV tank and then a Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, Friesen experienced intense combat against the Soviets in Romania, Lithuania, and West Prussia.

With Google Earth I was able to find the exact spot for one battle and the approximate location of another.

[Ratzki]

Yes, it is a good read. I just read it about a month ago.

[Yoozername]

He specifically mentions the tactic of turning the hull at an angle to threats.  Supposedly, the hull crewmen did not like it since that meant the gun tube was over one of thier hatches.  If the Panzer IV was fully loaded with ammo, they could not get out.
 
 

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: Yoozername
He specifically mentions the tactic of turning the hull at an angle to threats. 

When stationary and forced to line up front to front against the enemy.

[Yoozername]

This tactic is well known and also stated in the Tiger Fiebel, etc.  I found it odd that it was questioned at BF.  But much of what is going on there is questionable.
 
It also allows a withdrawing AFV to change both its direction AND get out of the cross hairs of an enemy.  By that I mean that just reversing directly away from an enemy gunner will not help that much since you would be traveling in line with his sights.  By having the withdrawl done at an angle, this would force an enemy gunner to adjust his sights and also contend with motion (adjust lead).
 
The author also mentions targeting specific areas of enemy AFV.  This was another hullabaloo at BF.  Cherry-picking specific areas to hit would be a function of range, weapon velocity/accuracy and sights and even bore-sighting.  So a 37mm PAK is not going to target the hatch on a T34 frontal armor at 900 meters.  He would just go for 'center-of-mass'.  A 75mmL70, with its better velocity and larger AP round and better sights might be able to target a hull or turret out to 700 meters.  Most any tank gun could cherry-pick a track at 200 meters, etc. 
 
I also want to mention that if one is firing for the greatest possible hit chance, one is firing at 'center-of-height'.  A good example of this is firing at a T34 from broad-side.  Its turret is somewhat forward on the hull.  So a gunner would disect that height from the top and center of the turret to the ground.
 
I believe the Germans tried to bore-sight at 1000 meters.  I am not so sure other nations did so.

[Mobius]

That book answers a lot of questions or put an exclamation mark on it. Like did panzers fire their coax mg at the same time as the main gun? No. Where did gunners fire? At weak points, turret ring, near hatches or openings or edges of plates. Against cast armor parts of tanks rather than rolled or forged armor. That hits on a tank's acid filled batteries were feared more than on ammo.

I also found that there are a number of good Polish books (with English text) out nowdays. They seem to have access to both German and Russian sources. Or at least old Soviet controlled Polish sources. Pretty good at comparing battle reports from both side.

[Yoozername]

Actually, it can be said that Panzer IV did not use co-ax MGs while firing AP.  This is because firing AP took concentration and it is very distracting to have the MG firing.  The MG shares the range scale with the AP on the 75mmL48 weapon's sight.
 
On a Panther, the co-ax MG and HE share the same range scale.  One could even use the MG as a range finder of sorts to walk in bullets and then send a HE round after them.  This could be done out to a range of 800 meters or so.

[Mobius]

The ballistics seem to be pretty close.
From an angle of .15° fired from 7' the MG34 will hit center of a 6' targer at 451 m. At the same angle and height the 75mm/L70 HE will hit at 485 m.

[Yoozername]

The author certainly stresses the use of the range finding technique of using the 'strich' or mil method whereby the use of known widths, lengths and height of enemy targets allows accurate estimates.
 
Some AFV encounters are at very close to close ranges (100-200m).  The author suggests that under these scenarios, range estimation and even lead estimates might not matter.  Just point and shoot.  The one long range encounter at 1500 meters battling T34 at a refueling depot implys that the Panzer IV would shut off the engine to reduce vibration.  The T34s are destroyed with a minimal amount of AP at this range, 3 rounds or so.  This suggests the T34 were side-on. 
 
The ambush they setup with the jagdpanzerIV shows they had determined the range at 750 meters by using an abandoned truck in the kill-zone as a source of known length-size that allowed the sights picture to determine range.  This ambush also demonstrates that the 75mmL70 could obtain hits on either the turret or hull as a 'cherry-pick'.  T34/85 and JS2 are destroyed in quick order.  T34/85 could be destroyed quickly with turret hits since they stored ammunition in them, for example.
 
The reading is not always easy and I find that the author is trying to hard to impress the reader with quotes and odd humor.  I skipped over most personal passages and the ones I read made me think this guy is an asshole.

[Mobius]

I made a scenario from the battle across the lake at Lessen and another on the road near Suceava. Thanks to Google Earth you can get a pretty good idea of what the terrain was.

[Hellmann]

ORIGINAL: Mobius

While waiting for PCO some might want to catch up on their reading. One book that I used for the source of two scenarios is: "Panzer Gunner : A Canadian in the German 7th Panzer Division, 1944-45" by Bruno Freisen

Thank you my dear fellow, I hadn't heard of that one before! The only tanker biography I have in my possession so far is 'Panzer Commander 'by Hans von Luck. Thanks again, I can't wait to see your scenarios too, I appreciate your work and attention to detail.

PS: Not a "book" as such, but speaking of comics (Mobius!) here's an old one I used to read many years ago: Hellman of Hammer Force

[Mad Russian]

Forthe past 2+ years, all I've done is read books on the Eastern Front. Time for me to switch directions and start reading books concerning the Western Front now.

There is one book I'm waiting to be published; "Demolishing the Myth: The Tank Battle at Prokhorovka, Kursk, July 1943: An Operational Narrative".

I'm an avid student of the tank battles around Prokhorovka and this book should fit well with those coming out about the truth of the battles.

Another book that sheds light on the real fighting that took place in the area is, "Decision In the Ukraine, Summer 1943, II. SS and III. Panzerkorps" by George M. Nipe Jr.

Good Hunting.

MR

[heinrich55]

Hellmann,
Thanks for the link. I've been enjoying Hellman of Hammer Force. I used to buy up all the Sgt. Rock books, Enemy Ace, etc., and enjoyed the heck out of them. I didn't know about Hellman though.

Heinrich55

[Hellmann]

You're very welcome Heinrich, glad you like it! You know, there's much more than Hellman on that site, have a good look around and enjoy. Old forgotten classics like Major Easy, Darkie's Mob etc. Some amazing artwork in there at times, especially when you think it only cost 7p! (hence the "Seven Penny Nightmare" name that came from a "news" headline in The Sun that caused the "banning" of Action comic - the history of it can be read on the site). It was quite the nostalgia trip when I found it. The bottom line for me is it can't do anything but put a smile on my face whenever I see the word "AIIIEEEE!" printed in a speech bubble! [:D]