Command & Control: Tank Platoon Tactics

[Mobius]

As the saying goes: In theory there's no difference between theory and practice, in practice there is. So we’ve seen what some handbooks say on the operation at the platoon level should be but how did they really operate? A few quotes from US tankers in Tunisa in 1943.

LIEUTENANT HILLENMEYER of company "H", 1st Armored Regiment
"As a platoon leader, I learned that you've just got to lead your men. When you get out in front, they'll follow you easily. If you're moving in sections, the platoon leader must go in the forward section.

1ST LIEUTENANT HARRY T. HOLTZMAN, Company "D", 1st Armored Regiment,
I put one platoon in front and two in reserve to meet 88-mm guns or counter attack. This is best, to put platoons in the formation which can best be controlled. This is dependent on terrain. Give the platoon leader his objective, sector, and the position of the company commander and of other platoons, and let him work to the objective as best he sees fit. Keep in contact by radio.
When an 88-mm gun is located, leave one tank to engage it and send the rest of the platoon to the flanks to locate other guns.

SERGEANT BECKER, Company "G", 1st Armored Regiment.
When our platoon leader told us to withdraw, we withdrew by backing up. He became confused, perhaps because his gun was pointed to the side. Instead of backing up he turned at right angles and ran up on a ridge. He didn't come back.

SERGEANT SIPES, Company "G", 1st Armored Regiment.
I am a tank driver and was in action in Faid Pass. I didn't get my tank out. I button up my tank when not in bad terrain. I fire as a part of the platoon if possible; if not, I fire individually. I fire in hull defilade and fire both while moving and still.
I have learned not to rush into anything you can't see. We fight too fast, should go slower and be sure of ourselves. The best way is to fight as a platoon. Cover each other as they move forward. I haven't been able to use the blitz tactics they taught us. Our tactics is for some in hull defilade as the others move forward.

STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAM HAGLER of Company "E", 1st Armored Regiment,
One platoon of tanks was supposed to follow the right flank, and it was supposed to he protected by another platoon.
I saw a German Mark IV tank and an American M4 tank fire at the same time once, and both caught fire.

SERGEANT LASLEY of the 1st Armored Regiment,
Of course, it is best to get under cover as soon as you can. You should go from one firing position to another as a platoon. But at times, we must go on our own. Some times you must act on your own because you can see the ground that you are going on better than the platoon leader.

Tactics as practiced by SERGEANT BUTLER'S platoon, of Company "I" of the 1st Armored Regiment, was to have one section of the platoon advance while the other section covered it. He said, "One must act on his own a great deal of the time. You can't wait to be told when to fire or where to fire. When you see something which you think worth firing upon, take the chance.

[Yoozername]

http://www.lonesentry.com/manuals/tankers/tankers_pp_preface.html
 
I assume this is the source?
 
Its good stuff.  An excellent primary source for this type of wargame.  Since the terrain they fought over is somewhat similar to the Soviet Union (as far as ranges/openess), its very applicable.

[Yoozername]

SERGEANT BUTLER, Company "I", 1st Armored Regiment, Maknassy, 4 April 1943.
I was the tank commander of a medium tank. We did reconnaissance work. I was in action at Faid Pass.
At Faid everything was vague. We didn't have enough information concerning where the enemy was. If we could get correct information in this respect, we could do a better job.
For example: (pointing to a map) When we first moved up here (southeast of Sidi bou Zid) we were told that there would be one 105-mm gun and several 88-mm guns, and that is all. Then we went on a reconnaissance (north of Sidi bou Zid) and found many heavy mortars and ground guns, probably 47-mm guns. This was in the Pass. When we left and tried to get out we were attacked by Messerschmitts and Stukas. This shows that the German air and ground forces are well coordinated. Finally we got out and withdrew to the vicinity of Sidi bou Zid. We were told that we'd have an alert the next day. They seemed to know something was going to happen, but they didn't know what. Then after the fireworks started we went towards the oasis along the North road. My tank was the point, in support of the colonel. We were told to pull off the road because we had been fired upon. Here is where we lost most of our tanks, because we pulled off the road and stopped. I believe that tanks should keep on moving, even if slowly. Thus, for example, the other day we were in a scrap near the bridge. We tried moving around and didn't get hit at all.
The tactic we use is to have one section of the platoon advance while the other section covers it.
I'd say one must act on his own a great deal of the time. You can't wait to be told when to fire or where to fire. When you see something which you think worth firing upon, take the chance. The function of the officer is to keep the men together and tell them what is going on. The soldier has to use his individual judgment.

[Yoozername]

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/articles/tigertam.htm

An interesting use of a soviet 'section' of armor (commanded by a captain) used in an ambush.

If you read closely, the number of AFV on the Soviet side, compared to the number of formations, show that these units may have been fought down to a low strength.  For all I know, that Soviet 'section' is the reamins of a tank company.

But as the war wore on, and Soviet radios became more common, they approached the Germans in tactical use of armor.  I would expect 3 tank platoons to operate very effectively late in the war.

[henius]

Excellent thread!

Now, all we need is a game capable of modelling stuff like that!



We all know that is a mighty task. Not only should the IA be capable of modelling sane, rational, order - abiding troops, but also confused, misled and downright stupid troops... And by stupid I mean humanly stupid, not "randomly AI - stupid".

But IMHO, the team should of cause try, I wish them good luck (and hope for the best).

- henius

[Yoozername]

The one thing I would take with a grain of salt is the C&C from these snippets might not translate over to Soviet WWII platoons. 
 
Lets look at a 3 tank Soviet platoon of T34 in 41-43.  For the sake of argument, they are all T34 2 man turrets.  Lets say one tank, the platoon commander has a radio with 2 way communications.  He can recieve orders from the company commander and also send replys back as far as reports.  His communication to his wingmen is only using hand signals and SOP.  Since the commander not only must be part of a 2 man turret, command his own vehicles movements, recieve and transmit to a higher commander, spot targets, fire his weapon...he is the C&C bottleneck and weak link.
 
At best, I would expect his other 2 tanks to stay on either side or just behind him in file.  Just getting them into a formation, and trying to fight a battle, would have been hectic to say the least.  SOP may have been to target whatever they thought the commander was firing at or a clearly percieved threat.
 
The German platoon was more than a match for a soviet platoon.  Even a company depending on conditions.

[Yoozername]

Tigers were sometimes used in less than platoon strength.  See Panzertruppen2 pg. 39.  Described is a two tank Tiger scouting patrol that runs into 20 tanks to its front and more to its rear (probably a soviet tank battalion ambush).  The two tanks manage to KO 10 tanks in 15 minutes and survive (with damage).

The same pg. in Panzertruppen2 describes how 2 tigers are sent to follow 5 tanks and can't close the distance.  Again demonstrating section use of the Tiger.

An interesting chart at the top of pg. 52 shows that Panzer-Regiment 11 on April 17, 1943 (basically the time period being modeled by PC) shows mixed platoons that consist of Panzer III long, Panzer III 75 short and Panzer IV long.  The basic tank platoon contains 3 different models!  More than likely to keep the 75MML48 represented in each platoon as well as the 75MML24 support weapon.  The most common tank in the battalion is the PanzerIIIL60 at 40 vehicles, followed by the PanzerIVL48 at 23 vehicles, and then 12-14 each: PanzerII, PanzerIII75mmL24 and Flammpanzers.  They have 5 PzBEF command radio tanks also. Company HQ has a PanzerIVlong and a PanzerIIIlong. So each tank company has 4 PanzerIVlong but it is actually in 4 seperate sub-units of the company!

Even the company headquarter sections are mixed units of panzers. 

[Yoozername]

Example of a German tank platoon operating in sections...

Back at Allan's position, some of the wounded were being gathered together to make a break for the Canadian lines along with a few German prisoners that the Seaforths had picked up. Lieutenant Woolley, himself badly wounded, led this party back to safety. Duddle, meanwhile, learned at about 1600 hours that two Seaforth sections were pinned down by fire 200 yards to the right of the main group. He crawled over and found that some of the dozen men were too badly wounded to move on their own. Duddle cobbled together several stretchers from bits and pieces of wood, gas capes, and webbing belts. They were preparing to pull out at 1700 hours when three German tanks materialized northeast of them. Duddle and some of the other men quickly dragged the wounded on stretchers into a hollow where they were hidden from the tankers. He then watched in despair as the tanks charged the main Seaforth position.

The three tanks rolled in from the right at the same time that two others struck from the left. They proceeded to hammer the helpless Seaforths with .-millimetre main gun and machine-gun fire. There was nowhere to run. After a few minutes, the tanks ceased fire and German infantry swept through the position, rounding up wounded and a few survivors who had no choice but to surrender. Among these was Lieutenant Artindale. Allan, who had been hit in the leg and buttocks by machine-gun bullets, was covered in blood and playing dead. The Germans missed him.

http://zuehlke.ca/military_liri_valley.php

[general_solomon]

Hello
I would like to ask those of you who know this game to please create a tread with tactics and include pictures.  I am new to the WW2 type of games and would love see a tactics thread done by our senior players.

thanks.

[Stridor]

general_solomon,

I think you will see more along these lines once Kharkov has been released.

[SlowHand]

ORIGINAL: general_solomon
Hello
I would like to ask those of you who know this game to please create a tread with tactics and include pictures.  I am new to the WW2 type of games and would love see a tactics thread done by our senior players.

Hi Solomon:

Very late answer, but there was an extensive discussion of tank platoon tactics, armored doctrine, C&C, and morale back in the thread labeled "Wish List." It included lots of diagrams from WW II Field Manuals. Here's the link:

tm.asp?m=1531948

EDIT: Doh! Ignore the following .... it's this very thread. :::sheesh::::

Another thread (snip) was "Command & Control: Tank Platoon Tactics," here:

tm.asp?m=1547790

[general_solomon]

thanks slowhand,

this should keep me busy until the release.