The Art Of Tank Warfare - Chris Keeling
The Art Of Tank Warfare - Chris Keeling
The Art Of Tank Warfare - Chris Keeling
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Using supporting units against infantry. When fighting enemy infantry in difficult terrain, it is best to let<br />
friendly infantry attack. In order to make this as easy as possible for the advancing friendly units, it is a good<br />
idea to soften up the target with artillery fire if it is available and there is sufficient time available to wait for<br />
the artillery strike. If friendly forces are already engaged, the use of artillery may be too dangerous to friendly<br />
troops. In this case, tanks may provide supporting fires by firing high explosive shells into the area where the<br />
enemy infantry is taking cover. This may cause the enemy infantry to flee, leaving them exposed to further<br />
attacks. It may also deny them their cover and keep them from firing, allowing friendly forces to approach<br />
unmolested until they can effectively assault the enemy positions. Smoke screens, placed between the<br />
advancing troops and the waiting enemy forces, can also be used to protect units forced to move across<br />
open terrain.<br />
ANTITANK WARFARE<br />
31<br />
Everyone, it seems, wants to destroy tanks. <strong>The</strong> infantry have their rocket launchers, flamethrowers, antitank<br />
rifles, antitank grenades, mines, and even Molotov cocktails, which they employ against tanks whenever they<br />
get a chance. <strong>The</strong> artillery has developed large and small-bore cannon for use against tanks, and sometimes<br />
even presses field guns, howitzers, and antiaircraft guns into that role. Finally, even tankers themselves have<br />
come up with specially built self-propelled antitank guns called tank destroyers. All of these forces combine<br />
to make the battlefield a deadly place for even the most heavily armed and well-protected tank.