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Here's my 2 cents on two of the issues discussed in this post. All of the discussion of crew-mobile artillery reminded me of my last trip to Aberdeen Proving Grounds. For all you Military Historians out there, I strongly recommend a vistit to the Ordnance Museum at APG (in Aberdeen Maryland). They have the finest collection of tanks I've seen, also a rather large assortment of Anti-tank guns. Which brings me to my first point, most of the WW2 anti tank guns were quite small. It would be pretty simple for a full crew to maneuver anything smaller than an 88.

My second point concerns the 'customization' of American Units. I have questioned a lot of WW2 veterans about their experience in the war and they agree that it was very common for veteran units to have weapons well in excess of the TOE. I recently spoke with a guy who was in a heavy maintenance battalion throughout the entire European Campaign. Among other interesting things, he told me that in July or August of '44 they spent a week converting THOUSANDS of M1 Carbines to full automatic (not selective fire). I suspect that this sort of thing happened a lot more than we think.

Found this interesting when I read it today.

Various Small Infantry unit Commanders in the US Army:

81mm mortar: A perfect weapon. I like to use the alternate traversing method.

6Omm mortar: We kept them right up in front and used them often.

Bazooka: We have had no trouble with our bazookas. Have gotten several tanks with them.

37mm AT gun: Very mobile. It’s artillery; good against anything-vehicles, pillboxes, personnel, houses. Gets in faster than the mortar. If I had to throw away any heavy weapons, the 37mm would be the last to go.

75mm self-propelled cannon : Excellent for co-ordinated attack-perfect. Too vulnerable to get very close initially.

Among other interesting things, he told me that in July or August of '44 they spent a week converting THOUSANDS of M1 Carbines to full automatic (not selective fire). I suspect that this sort of thing happened a lot more than we think. [/B]

Still does, to some extent. Plumb amazing the toys some of us had in the field. Just as an example, I carried an M203 (M-16 w/attached grenade launcher) - and I was a crew chief on an M109 SP howitzer. It DEFINITELY wasn't on our TO&E! If the Bad Guys ever got close enough that I'd need the 40mm, we were in deep kimchee....but I liked having that edge - just in case.

THe bottom line is, if you have an interest in seeing this stuff changed, drop me a line and join the OOB mailing list. They will be experimenting with things like this and see what is feasible and what just doesn't work!

We will try to make some code tweaks if required. to have things like AT guns with movement still abandon their guns intead of haul them everywhere:-)

My father was in North Africa and Italy in WW2. He said it was common for Commonwealth lorries to carry Bren guns, even if they weren't supposed to. Also, tank and AC crews usually had Sten guns in specially made holsters, clipped near their stations. He advised me, when I told him that I was assigned to drive lorries, "to have the regimental saddler make you a holster for your Sten>" I laughed, told him we didn't use Stens any more. Then I thought about it and "organised" an R-1 for myself and had the saddler make me a holster. It came in very handy.

It was common policy, whenever the SM or the CO went back for replacements, to take along a couple of 'light fingered' lads to pick up anything that might be useful.

troopie