golden delicious -> RE: WWII-Db V1.2 (Now for Toaw III) (3/14/2007 3:24:22 PM)
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ORIGINAL: Scout_Pilot As golden delicious said, the truck-borne panzer grenadier squads also have (had) two MG-34 (or MG-42 later in the war) "teams". What's really at play here is the German tactical doctrine in WWII that placed this weapon in a position of primacy in the infantry (grenadier) squad, as opposed to the support role it served in all other armies. In German squads the riflemen supported and protected the MG; i.e. in an attack the riflemen provided suppressive fire so the MG could be advanced to a position where it could either kill, rout, or, heavily suppress the defender during the final close assault by the grenadiers. The light weight and high rate of fire of these weapons facilitated the "stosstrupp" tactics used with such success by the German "infanterie" in the early years of the war. Even in squads with two MG, the riflemen still supported the MG and the MG was the principal weapon in the beginning phase of the attack. In the defense ... well, it's obvious that the German squad, when equipped with two MG, was much more powerful than, say, an American squad that had ONE 0.30 Cal., clip-fed B.A.R. Anyway, here's a great website with a good amount of detailed info on the organization and infantry tactical doctrines emplyed by the principal belligerents in WWII. http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/ The MG-34 mounted on the SdKfz 251/1 served several purposes, but not in the squad LMG role described above. Its primary role was protecting the vehicle (from enemy infantry) and it also could serve as "heavy fire support" for the dismounted squad (in the right circumstances, of course). In this role it might be likened to the tripod mounted MG-34/42 since the vehicle provided the stable mounting necessary for sustained heavy rates of fire. Remember that the Germans used the MG-34, and the later MG-42 in BOTH roles, the only difference being whether it had the bipod or was mounted on the heavy tripod. It was the high sustained rate of fire that made it the best squad MG of the war in the "light" (bipod) configuration and in the "heavy fire support" role from the tripod mount. Absolutely. Of course as you note the SdKfz won't be able to fight in a lot of situations.
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