Interesting Question #2: Seizing a bridge without indirect fire?

[MarkShot]

Here is another question I have been pondering, and since I am not smart enough to answer this on my own, I thought I would get help.

I faced this situation the other day.

* Given *

(1) A primed bridge
(2) Defenders are dug-in in a small town
(3) Approaches to the bridge are over flat open terrain
(4) You lack arty and mortar support
(5) You lack tanks
(6) Your force is composed of infantry

* Problem *

How to secure the bridge without the use of prep and ongoing bombardment to supress the defenders while you approach and attack?

Thanks.

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: MarkShot

Here is another question I have been pondering, and since I am not smart enough to answer this on my own, I thought I would get help.

I faced this situation the other day.

* Given *

(1) A primed bridge
(2) Defenders are dug-in in a small town
(3) Approaches to the bridge are over flat open terrain
(4) You lack arty and mortar support
(5) You lack tanks
(6) Your force is composed of infantry

* Problem *

How to secure the bridge without the use of prep and ongoing bombardment to supress the defenders while you approach and attack?

Thanks.

That's a truely fubar situation to find yourself in, but here are some ideas :

1) wait until night - make sure the FUP is as close as possible without getting spotted - assault and start praying.

2) heavy MG coys - if you've got them they can be used to put some suppression fire into the town while staying out of range of small arms fire.

3) probing attacks perpendicular to the river while an assault force goes straight in, so the town is attacked from 3 sides giving your assaulting force a better chance.

4) Work around the problem - this is operational level warfare - go find another bridge. Unless this is a Sperkhios river/Corinth canal problem of course

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[MarkShot]

Here is a thought ...

(1) Under the cover of darkness come within a km and deploy into a line and dig-in.

(2) During the ensuing day, small arms exchanges rage, but hopefully the enemy does not blow the bridge as they don't perceive you to be advancing upon it.

(3) Hopefully, in step #2, you had fire power superiority and shot up the defenders pretty good.

(4) The force forming the engagement line is ordered to make an all out assault to commence right at night fall. The intention is to catch the enemy still somewhat rattled and shock them. Some engineers with flame throwers would be nice in this case.

---

Variant ...

(3') If you perceive that you have driven the enemy back, then have your engineers or a lone company dash in and unprime the bridge while receiving fire support from the line.

[wodin]

Hmmmmmmmmm.......

CHARGE!!

[Arjuna]

wodin's suggestions are all good. The fundamental principle of tactics ( and that is what we are talking about here ) is "fire and movement". Ideally the fire should come from arty or AFVs but if you don't have them then detail a portion of your grunts to fire while the others assault. Reducing the time that your moving force is vulnerable to enemy defensive fire is important, hence choose the right approach and time it during a period of poor visibility.

Gen Ridgeway faced the same problem when confronted with having to capture the causeway bridges on DDay. His heavy fire support was scattered or had not arrived. All he had was lightly armed parachute infantry. He detailed one group to engage the enemy across the causeway while another made the treacherous assault across the long bridge. Knowing that the chances of success by the initial assault group were not good, he ordered a follow on group to assault shortly after the first. Enemy fire checked the first group and they broke and started retreating for the friendly side. But then the second group surged forward and carried the day. The stuff of legends.[:)]