tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6055491912637469469.post1157870342253540658..comments2024-03-23T06:17:06.909-04:00Comments on Real and Simulated Wars: German Squad Tactics in WWII: Live and Die by the Light Machine Gun (Iron Front Liberation D-Day)JChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00770262108283393835noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6055491912637469469.post-59486659546779797422013-02-24T15:55:24.050-05:002013-02-24T15:55:24.050-05:00Thanks for your comments!
I hope that sometime I ...Thanks for your comments!<br /><br />I hope that sometime I can extend the discussion to Soviet and US squads. JChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00770262108283393835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6055491912637469469.post-58326716141356901302013-02-11T11:31:24.250-05:002013-02-11T11:31:24.250-05:00Thanks for sharing this. I felt like I was right t...Thanks for sharing this. I felt like I was right there with you on the battle field.John Proctorhttp://americanartofwar.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6055491912637469469.post-40731175236671721622013-02-09T19:06:57.327-05:002013-02-09T19:06:57.327-05:00I agree with Anthony. You did not do bad at all. Y...I agree with Anthony. You did not do bad at all. Your initial MG firing position was very secure, and you did manage to cause some casualties to the enemy. What more could you ask for?<br /><br />Yes, a wider firing arc would have potentially caused even more enemy casualties, but it would also have left your machine gunner more exposed to counter fire.<br /><br />After you have opened fire and given away your position, you do need to move immediately or you will get killed, no matter how secure your position is. The enemy will either take you out with heavy/indirect weapons, or flank you.<br /><br />It looks like you did not have a pre-planned secondary position, but were forced to fight out in the open to protect your left flank? Still, you were able to survive and win the fight, which is all that matters in the end.Johannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6055491912637469469.post-57248898115071736562013-02-08T09:46:04.808-05:002013-02-08T09:46:04.808-05:00Firefights are all about trade offs. One of the bi...Firefights are all about trade offs. One of the biggest deals to me I pulled from Gajkowski's reprints/translations was that the Germans moved their MGs as often as possible. It's important to do as much damage as quickly as possible and shift to a new position immediately to do it all over again.<br /><br />Granted that you didn't have the ideal two MGs at your disposal, you defeated a numerically superior and debatably better equipped force, that says a lot. I'm sure, had you had the second MG42 available, you would've torn their flank apart in short order.<br /><br />As for the cover/fire arc debate, I'm beginning to choose cover with restricted fields of fire over the reverse. The general rule of thumb I find that works is to shift towards better cover and restrictive fields of fire when you're numerically outnumbered, if only to minimize the amount of fire that can be brought on you. Better to conserve your assets than overwhelm them with a target rich field of fire they can't manage alone.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16591251555683319385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6055491912637469469.post-55445935470851282832013-02-03T13:33:01.004-05:002013-02-03T13:33:01.004-05:00Hi Johan,
The 2/5 website! Fantastic reading the...Hi Johan,<br /><br /><br />The 2/5 website! Fantastic reading there! It has been my #1 bookmark for a long while.<br /><br />I don't think the booklet can be bought as a downloadable PDF and I agree is a pity. <br /><br />Marco, thanks for your comment. Reverse slope defense had worked for me only when I have some eyes on the other side.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />JChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00770262108283393835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6055491912637469469.post-10857127783808561162013-02-03T11:24:34.876-05:002013-02-03T11:24:34.876-05:00Excellent defense and good material, it always bot...Excellent defense and good material, it always bother me the compromise between good sight position and enough cover for the main guns (artillery and machine gunners). If I could put a MG on the top of light post, that could be an awesome sight before been gunned down at the first rounds.<br /><br />Now, I'm practicing in different games with the reverse slope defense, let the enemy comes close and tops the ground so I'll take it in the way down. It works good in front of tanks and some infantry (mostly IA), but with experienced infantry (good TvT players, rarely IA) I got smashed.Marconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6055491912637469469.post-56850354711270635742013-02-03T04:07:48.118-05:002013-02-03T04:07:48.118-05:00Hi JC! Very interesting post, I also have a specia...Hi JC! Very interesting post, I also have a special interest in small unit infantry tactics. Do you know if that printed book also available to be bought as a high quality downloadable PDF? Seems more convenient than getting a physical copy.<br /><br />Also, have you seen this page:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.2ndbn5thmar.com/" rel="nofollow">2nd Battalion, 5th Marines</a><br /><br />Some very interesting stuff there, particulary the series of short PDF:s on infantry tactics under "Infantry Tactics for Leaders".Johannoreply@blogger.com