Company Officer's Handbook Of The German Army - All Gauge Page

26 COMPANY OFFICER'S HANDBOOK
slopes in order to fire on attacking infantry situated on or approaching
another objective, and also to engage infantry coming over the
sky line. The reverse-slope positions also prevented attacking infantry
from discovering the machine-gun positions quickly and
made it difficult for artillery to fire effectively on them.
13. INFANTRY HOWITZERS AND MORTARS
a. Infantry Howitzers
The German 75-mm and 150-mm infantry howitzers are regimental
weapons, and their function is to accompany the infantry
and fire on those targets which are too close to German troops to
be engaged by field artillery. They also fire on targets of opportunity.
In the attack, they are placed at the disposal of the assault
battalion commander, and move with his battalion. They engage
personnel, emplacements, and, using hollow-charge projectiles, armored
vehicles. Both light and heavy infantry howitzers normally
deliver indirect fire from covered positions, but in Tunisia they
usually were used for direct fire, and their positions were changed
frequently. In the hilly terrain of Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy, however,
the Germans preferred the mortar as an accompanying weapon for
infantry.
In defense, infantry howitzers are also allocated to front-line
battalions. Usually they are placed back of the main line of resistance.
Their high-trajectory fire is utilized to deny likely covered
approaches to the German main position.
The 75,-mm howitzer can easily be manhandled by an individual
soldier over fairly level ground. It has a very low silhouette. The
150-mm howitzer is much larger and heavier, and is int-e.nded
primarily to engage strong centers of resistance. Because a small
supply of ammunition is allowed for offensive purposes, it usually
reserves its fire until moments of maximum effort. Infantry howitzers
(especially the 75-mm) are well-adapted for inclusion in
rear guards or advanced guards for the destruction of road blocks
and the dispersal of covering forces and unarmored or light armored
vehicles.