Infantry antitank capability 1939-1940

[jclaxton]

I did not realize the lack of effective AT methods early in the war.  Threads like this are very interesting.

[cuprum]

Now that has to get my vote as most dangerous way to tackle a tank 

Please note that track tank broken.

I believe that for the destruction of tanks infantrymen - tank should first be stopped. The best way - engineering obstacles. Anti-tank mines, tank traps (disguised pit). If there is no time to prepare defensive positions - you need to use a bundle of grenades, or anti-tank mines on the ropes or wooden boards for damage the chassis tank. After stopping tank you can destroy him Molotov cocktails (By the way, I do not know, as in other countries, but in the USSR have developed special combustible liquids for such bottles. They were hypergolic compounds similar to napalm. They were enough viscous fluid and it was impossible extinguish the fire. But there were other, hand-made - a mixture of kerosene and oil with gasoline made directly to troops).
But the best anti-tank infantry weapon for the initial period of the war were antitank rifles, provided their massive use. Even now in Ukraine they have shown their effectiveness against light armored vehicles (BTR and BMP).

[Truscott Trotter]

I was actually referring to the chance of the tank firing a main gun round at this point rather than running him over 
The tank loses a barrel but he only has his boots for the medics to pick up

[MartinR]

I was actually referring to the chance of the tank firing a main gun round at this point rather than running him over 
The tank loses a barrel but he only has his boots for the medics to pick up

A tank with a broken track surrounded by infantry is dead meat, what would they be firing the main gun at? If the crew had any sense they would have bailed and run/surrendered.

As noted earlier, stopping/immobilising the tanks is a pre-requisite for infantry close assault. In the instructive film 'Men Against Tanks' all the Russian tanks conveniently park up in the middle of the German positions so they can be attacked with demo charges, teller mines, grenade bundles, poison gas grenades and petrol poured over the engine deck.

This sort of thing is much easier in dense/broken terrain.

Cheers
Martin

[Truscott Trotter]

hat would they be firing the main gun at?
Well they could fire at there own tanks or they could fire at the enemy in the distance 
Either way that picture is a typical army training 'joke' that passes for training. The guys actually doing the fighting would have a much better use for the pages they were printed on 

[Mahwell skel]

After the experience of T26 tanks in the Winter war against the Finns using petrol bombs the later models were modified to have a cover over the engine grill so when bottles were thrown on the back of the tank instead of the burning fuel dropping into the engine compartment it would run off the cover down the back of the tank where it would not do any damage. The grooved engine cover can be seen here

[fred]

I think the U.S. picture with the crossed stick is probably a method of ensuring an immobilised tank can't be re-used by the enemy, rather than a method of attacking a tank.

[Vintage Wargaming]

After the experience of T26 tanks in the Winter war against the Finns using petrol bombs the later models were modified to have a cover over the engine grill so when bottles were thrown on the back of the tank instead of the burning fuel dropping into the engine compartment it would run off the cover down the back of the tank where it would not do any damage. The grooved engine cover can be seen here

I have always wanted to know what that engine cover was and now I do - thanks

[Vintage Wargaming]

Also - doesn't the sticky bomb deserve a mention?

[Truscott Trotter]

I think the U.S. picture with the crossed stick is probably a method of ensuring an immobilised tank can't be re-used by the enemy, rather than a method of attacking a tank.

Yes I think you are probably right Fred

[Cubs]

Also - doesn't the sticky bomb deserve a mention?

There were also sticky bombs.

[Cubs]

One thing that always strikes me about brigade level organisation is how specialised the roles were in the early war. See tanks? Call in the Anti-Tank battery. What do you mean they're 5 miles down the road? There's a steep learning curve in every war, but certainly it's been said before and it'll be said again, the Allies in particular were wholly unprepared in 1939 to fight the type of war Germany was planning.

[cuprum]

I must admit that German army at the beginning the war has surpassed all his opponents and on strategic and tactical levels. The interaction of all combat arms on the battlefield was practically ideal.

[Tactalvanic]

The only nation that had prepared fully for the War That Germany had planned prior to and up to 1939 sadly was Germany.

In the end the only really effective anti-tank weapon that appears to have been available, early war, was the simple defensive barrier method of the English Channel.

[cuprum]

Oh, yes - if they were have at least five pieces. And they had a length from sea to sea