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Development of the American Tank-Infantry Team During World War II in Africa and Europe

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Development of the American Tank-Infantry Team During World War II in Africa and Europe Art by Jody Harmon Development of the American Tank-Infantry Team During World War II in Africa and Europe by Captain J. L. Mudd The American tank-infantry team was to destroy antitank weapons, bunkers, and tions, and its weight ranged from 33 to the key maneuver element that led to the unarmored or lightly-armored vehicles.5 almost 36 tons. Typically, the tank car- overwhelming number of tactical suc- When the United States Army entered ried a 75-mm gun, but many were later cesses enjoyed by the United States in the World War II, the two main tanks in its fitted with a 76-mm higher velocity can- Second World War.1 However, this win- arsenal were the M3 light tank and the non. It bristled with bow and coaxial .30- ning combination of men and machines M3 medium tank.6 The Light Tank, M3 caliber machine guns and a flexible tur- had developed throughout the course of Series weighed approximately 14-16 ret-mounted Browning .50 caliber ma- the war, and included a number of varia- tons, depending on the model, and was chine gun for antiaircraft use. Armor on tions based on the theater and areas armed with a 37-mm cannon and up to the turret front was 3.75 inches in effec- within each theater. Original develop- five .30-caliber machine guns. Its thickest tive thickness, while the hull front was ment came from training and lessons effective armor was 1.75 inches on the effectively up to four inches thick.10 learned in the decades between the two turret front and 3 inches on the hull front. Both medium tanks employed five-man world wars by infantry tank and cavalry However, most units armed with M3s crews. The tank commander’s job was to combat car units.2 When General Mar- replaced them with the M5 light tank select targets, defensive positions and shall was made Army Chief of Staff on 1 prior to combat overseas. The M5 was routes of advance, and supervise and lead September 1939 (the day of Germany’s very similar to the M3, but had some attack on Poland), he began a major reor- engine and other design improvements. the tank crew at all times. In the five-tank platoon, the platoon leader (usually a first ganization of the service in order to put it (Later models of the M3 incorporated or second lieutenant) and the platoon on a wartime footing more like that of its some of these improvements.)7 sergeant, a staff sergeant, each com- European counterparts.3 One of the The Army’s first wartime medium tank manded a tank. Sergeants commanded changes was the creation of the Armored was the M3 series, nicknamed variably the remaining three. The gunner, a corpo- Force, a combination of the armored ele- 8 ments of the infantry and cavalry “Lee” or “Grant” by the British. The ral or technician 5th grade, was to iden- Medium Tank, M3 mounted a 75-mm tify and engage targets with either the branches, as well as sufficiently mobile cannon in a starboard hull sponson, a 37- main gun or the coaxial machine gun. components of artillery, communications, mm gun in the turret, and three .30- The remaining three crewmen were jun- and other services.4 caliber machine guns — one each in the ior enlisted soldiers — technicians, pri- Tanks bow, coaxial in the turret and in the vates first class or “buck” privates. The commander’s cupola. Its heaviest effec- driver controlled the speed and direction Tank combat doctrine developed in the tive armor was 6.5 inches on the turret of the vehicle in accordance with the 1920s and ’30s called for two types of front and 4.3 inches on the front slope of commander’s orders. The assistant driver/ tanks: a light tank armed with machine the hull.9 During the fighting in North radio operator ensured that vehicular guns and a small-caliber cannon to en- Africa, the M3 began to be replaced by communications (both internal and exter- gage “soft” targets and a medium tank the Medium Tank, M4 — the Sherman. nal) were functional, and engaged targets with machine guns and a heavier cannon The M4 appeared in a number of varia- with the bow-mounted machine gun. The ARMOR — September-October 1999 15 loader was typically the most junior tank awesome firepower against almost fire tactics as used in the final phase of crewmember. His job was to load the any target. However, the tank was highly World War I,19 referred to as “fire and main gun during engagements and to vulnerable to both antitank guns and in- maneuver.”20 Two riflemen, often ac- assist the commander in looking for tar- fantry antitank teams, as well as antitank companied by the squad leader scouted gets when not in actual combat. Only mines and obstacles. Against these foes, ahead of the squad.21 When they encoun- four crewmen manned light tanks; the the tank had a partner in a man and his tered an enemy force, the leader called tank commander assumed the duties of rifle — the infantryman. for his four-man fire team (Baker) to loader as well.11 All members partici- place suppressive BAR and rifle fire on Infantry pated in crew-level maintenance of their the enemy position. With the enemy tank, and usually assisted mechanics as- The American infantry squad in World pinned, the leader ordered his remaining signed to the company.12 War II consisted of 12 men armed mainly five-man maneuver and assault team Normally, all tankers underwent initial with M1 semiautomatic .30-caliber ri- (Able) into a position where they could fles.17 The linchpin of the squad was the assault by fire, then overrun the enemy. If training at Fort Knox, Kentucky’s Ar- Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), a light enemy fire was such that assaulting ri- mored Replacement Training Center automatic weapon with a cyclic rate of flemen were unable to maneuver, tank (ARTC).13 In theory, men inducted under fire of either 300-350 or 500-600 rounds support was necessary. Infantry units the Selective Service Act were to be per minute. The rifle squad of the ar- from squad to corps used a variation of trained in accordance with their civilian occupations, prior training, even hobbies, mored division’s armored infantry battal- this tactic under most circumstances in all ions was similar, but one squad member theaters of the war, typically sending whenever possible. Under this theory, if a was assigned as the M3 half-track per- specialized reconnaissance units to scout man were a professional wilderness guide, he went to the infantry; if a ham sonnel carrier driver who normally re- the front and flanks; providing supporting mained with the vehicle, and had no fires with artillery, machine-gun and anti- radio buff, to the Signal Corps; a heavy BAR.18 The mechanized rifle platoon was tank fires; and finally assaulting with equipment operator, to the engineers or the Armored Force. Although this conse- mounted on five M3 halftracks and infantry and tanks. boasted a vast array of weapons. There quently benefited some of the more tech- were three rifle squads, as in a dis- Another style of assault tactic developed nical services of the Army, the combat during the war — the marching fire of- mounted infantry platoon, but the ar- arms received mainly “any arm or ser- fensive.22 General Patton’s 3rd Army 14 mored infantry platoon leader also had a vice” inductees. Training was length- 60-mm mortar squad (an eight-man mor- used it to good advantage in northwestern ened from 12 to 13 weeks in 1941, and Europe, and though it was sometimes was later increased to 17. Conducted in tar crew) and a light machine gun squad effective in Italy, the terrain generally did (12 soldiers manning one .50-caliber two phases, the first was devoted to basic machine gun and two .30-caliber machine not favor it. The method placed tanks and soldier skills such as infantry drill, physi- halftracks at intervals within dense skir- cal fitness training, and small arms guns). The dismounted infantry company mish lines of dismounted infantry. The centralized these special squads in a sepa- marksmanship. The second phase intro- rate weapons platoon. There, the platoon entire line moved abreast, firing at possi- duced the trainees to tank skills: driving, ble strongpoints and other targets as they maintenance, tactical movement, and fielded a section of three 60-mm mortars advanced. Although it maximized mutual and a section of two .30-caliber machine gunnery. Much of this was conducted guns. Additionally, the mechanized com- support, it reduced shock effect and under “combat conditions,” including tended to increase casualties. Its use was flares, explosions, gunfire sound effects, pany had a platoon of towed 57-mm anti- often the result of a lack of mental flexi- tank guns, each operated by a ten-man 23 and even a special aggressor unit dressed squad. bility on the part of commanders. as German soldiers.15 Upon completion of training, the majority of new tankers Both mechanized and traditional infan- Officers reported to the armored divisions or sepa- try battalions possessed three rifle com- The main roles of the Army officer in rate tank battalions. panies plus an additional complement of World War II were to plan operations and organic combat forces. The armored in- training, administer military justice under The combat elements of a tank battalion included the reconnaissance and assault fantry battalion had a reconnaissance the Articles of War, and lead soldiers in platoon of half-track mounted scouts, an combat.
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