A Measure of the Real-World Value of Mixed Mine Systems

A MEASURE OF THE REAL-WORLD VALUE OF MIXED MINE SYSTEMS 20 June 2001 By: The Dupuy Institute 1497 Chainbridge Road Suite 100 McLean, VA 22101 TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY.............................................................................................................................................................. 4 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................... 6 BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 The Second Battle of El Alamein ......................................................................................................................... 7 The Battle of Kursk............................................................................................................................................. 10 Comparing Second El Alamein with Kursk........................................................................................................ 15 PLANNING TIME ................................................................................................................................................. 16 Second El Alamein: The British Mine Clearing Preparations ............................................................................ 16 Kursk .................................................................................................................................................................. 19 BREACHING TIME .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Second El Alamein ............................................................................................................................................. 22 Kursk .................................................................................................................................................................. 22 LOSSES.................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Second El Alamein ............................................................................................................................................. 25 Kursk .................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Personnel Losses................................................................................................................................................. 28 THE FOLLOW-ON BATTLE................................................................................................................................ 33 Second El Alamein ............................................................................................................................................. 33 Kursk .................................................................................................................................................................. 33 FINDINGS.............................................................................................................................................................. 35 Second El Alamein ............................................................................................................................................. 35 Kursk .................................................................................................................................................................. 35 Comparing Second El Alamein to Kursk............................................................................................................ 36 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................................... 39 APPENDIX I: Course of Operations, Second El Alamein ..................................................................................... 41 Night, 23-24 October 1942 ................................................................................................................................. 41 Day, 24 October 1942......................................................................................................................................... 44 25 October 1942 ................................................................................................................................................. 45 26 October 1942 ................................................................................................................................................. 46 27 October 1942 ................................................................................................................................................. 46 28 October 1942 ................................................................................................................................................. 47 29-31 October, Preparing for Operation SUPERCHARGE................................................................................ 47 Night of 30-31 October 1942, Attacks by 9th Australian Division...................................................................... 48 Night of 1-2 November 1942, SUPERCHARGE ............................................................................................... 48 2 November 1942 ............................................................................................................................................... 48 3 November 1942 ............................................................................................................................................... 49 Aftermath............................................................................................................................................................ 49 APPENDIX II: Daily Personnel Casualties for Selected Eighth Army Units......................................................... 50 APPENDIX III: Daily Tanks Reported Fit and Lost for Selected Eighth Army Units........................................... 52 APPENDIX IV: 13 Corps Operations at Second El Alamein................................................................................. 54 Plan of Operations .............................................................................................................................................. 54 Night of 23-24 October....................................................................................................................................... 54 Night of 24-25 October....................................................................................................................................... 55 Conclusions......................................................................................................................................................... 56 Personnel Casualties ........................................................................................................................................... 57 Tank Losses ........................................................................................................................................................ 57 APPENDIX V: Narrative and Estimate of Losses Due to Mines at Kursk............................................................. 58 4 July................................................................................................................................................................... 58 5 July................................................................................................................................................................... 58 6 July................................................................................................................................................................... 61 7 July................................................................................................................................................................... 63 Subsequent Days................................................................................................................................................. 64 German Tanks Lost to Mines at Kursk ............................................................................................................... 64 APPENDIX VI: An Analysis of German Losses in the First Seven Days of the Offensive................................... 66 2 APPENDIX VII: Mine Density by Defender ......................................................................................................... 68 APPENDIX VIII: An Analysis of German Losses in the First Seven Days of the Offensive, by Corps................ 71 APPENDIX IX: Analysis of Tank Losses in the First Seven Days of Combat ...................................................... 75 APPENDIX X: Comparison of Personnel to Tank Losses ..................................................................................... 79 APPENDIX XI: Comparison of Tanks Lost Due to Mines to Personnel Losses.................................................... 80 APPENDIX XII: Comparative Advance Rates....................................................................................................... 81 3 SUMMARY Two battles in World War II, Second Alamein and Kursk,

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