tore on muidugi, kui briti doktriinide järgi sobitatakse saksa tanke kategooriatesseLuuraja kirjutas:Enne Teist Ilmasõda eksisteeris arusaam, et üks asi on läbimurde (cruiser, whatever) tank, teine aga jalaväe toetustank.
Esimese tunnuseks oli kiirus, teise omaks tulejõud soomustamata märkide vastu.
PzIV oli algselt mõeldud jalaväe toetustankiks.
Alljärgnev on treeningueeskirjast kergele ja keskmisele tankikompaniile, D645, kuupäev 01.03.1939.a., seega enne sõja algust. Siit peaks saama natuke aimu, kuidas plaaniti tanke kasutada:
Allikas: Panzertruppen I lk.83
[…]
Part B - mittlere Panzer-Kompanie 1939
(At the start of the war, most mittlere Panzer-Kompanien were still designated as the "leichte Panzer-Kompanie (a)".)
22. During 1939 the combat echelon of the mittlere Panzer-Kompanie will be equipped as follows:
Kompanietrupp: 1 kI.Pz.Bef.Wg., 7 Pz.Kpfw.I
one Zug: 3 Pz.Kpfw.III
one Zug: 4 to 6 Pz.Kpfw.IV
This company carries 32 to 36 machine guns, three 3.7 cm Kw.K. tank guns, and four to six 7.5 cm KW.K. tank guns into combat.
II. Strength, Combat Value, Assigned Tasks
24. Based on their weapons, all elements of the combat echelon are capable and qualified for engaging unarmored targets that appear in their sector. In addition, the Pz.Kpfw.III and Pz.Kpfw.IV can engage opponents protected by armor targets at medium and long ranges.
25. Pz.Kpfw.I, III, and IV can engage live targets with their machine guns and tanks and weapons protected by armor shields with Panzergranaten (armor-piercing shells). In addition, the Pz.Kpfw.IV can engage live targets with Sprenggranaten (high-explosive fragmentation shells). The Pz.Kpfw.lV carries Nebelgranaten (smoke shells) which can be used to temporarily blind the opponent.
The main gun ammunition supply carried in the Pz,Kpfw.lIl and the Pz.Kpfw.IV is limited and generally can't be replaced during a fight. Therefore, it should always be determined if the task can be successfully completed using machine guns. The main guns may be used only when machine guns are inadequate for the task.
III. Combat Principles
26. The basic guidelines in Part A also apply to conducting operations with the mittlere Panzer-Kompanie. Knowledge and mastery of these guidelines are prerequisite conditions for employment of the mittlere Panzer-Kompanie.
27. With in the Panzer-Abteilung only the mittlere Panzer-Kompanie 1939 is equipped with guns. Therefore they are to be employed where it is perceived that they are most needed.
Fundamentally, the leichte Panzer-Kompanien in the front line are to engage enemy tanks and anti-tank guns during an attack. Because of their guns the mittlere Panzer-Kompanie is especially suitable for supporting the lighter Panzers in the front line.
It can be useful to employ the mittlere Panzer-Kompanie within the first wave of the Panzer-Abteilung, instead of always in its usual position as the second wave.
When employed in the second wave, flanking targets that can endanger the Panzer attack are to be engaged only at close and medium ranges to eliminate the danger of hitting your own Panzers located further forward.
[…]
30. If anti-tank weapons or other weapons hindering the attack can't de destroyed by machine gun fire, they should immediately be taken under rapid fire and subdued by elements assigned from the mittlere Panzer-Kompanie. In general, each Panzer independently opens fire. The platoon leader must still be in a position to concentrate the fire of his platoon against specific targets. Accurate fire saves ammunition.
If the target can't be pinpointed, a few smoke shells can be used to blind the opponent so that he can be attacked and destroyed by the leichte Panzer-Kompanie in the front line.
[…]
33. In addition to the Pz.Kpfw.II, the Pz.Kpfw.III and Pz.Kpfw.IV are especially well suited for engaging enemy tanks. If it comes to a battle against enemy tanks, all Pz.Kpfw.III and Pz.Kpfw.IV must quickly join the action.
küljekilbid:
vale, need olid ette nähtud tankitõrjepüsside vastu. Soomuse paksus, millele neid ette pandi, oli kuni 40 mm - Pantril pandi kilbid ainult väiksele osale kerest, kus oli vertikaalne soomus, mis ei olnud ratastest varjatud. Esialgsete katsetuste ajal neid kilpe ei tulistatud üldse kumulatiivmürskudegaNeed olid ette nähtud kumulatiivmürskude vastu