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Slide 7 of 24
The best account of the idiotic U.S. Army mechanized cavalry doctrine that resulted in wheeled vehicles used as scout cars in WWII is Lou Dimarco's report:
Mechanized Cavalry Doctrine in WWII
PART 3: throat microphones, Rommel to Afrika leads from front in light tanks or by Storch STOL observation plane, short on tanks, he wanted to lure Allies into kill zone of his 88mm guns out to 2, 000 meters, his AfrikaCorps troops would ride on the back of his light tanks to effect mechanized infantry effects.
Germany invades Russia and has early success with their light tanks, T34 arrives and German infantry fire support guns can't knock them out, must hit on rear or sides, no radio and no tank commander, gunner had to duck back down into turret to press eye against optic to fire, Germans had slight time advantage to shoot first, advance stalled 19 miles from Moscow, Russian winter strikes, no winter clothes or preparation in the vehicles, wounded, you die, Tiger tank created to breakthrough enemy lines 2, 000 meter range compared to 400 to 1, 000 meters in Panzer IVs
Though a medium tank, the T34 has EXTRA WIDEEEE tracks to help compensate for the weight and could be used to break brush and tree limbs for the infantry walking behind them....