Reddit Reddit reviews World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Tactics (Elite)

We found 3 Reddit comments about World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Tactics (Elite). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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3 Reddit comments about World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Tactics (Elite):

u/Idiocracy_Cometh · 4 pointsr/AskReddit

...and other people grossly underestimate the importance of tactics and the fact that even miracles have their limits. If huge losses are acceptable, even tanks can be taken by disciplined but ill-equipped force. Also:


  1. Romans did have an idea about view slits and glass windows.
  2. They also had to face their contemporary equivalent of tanks (elephants) and learned to separate them from support, trap them, use fire on them, and go for their eyes.
  3. No need to actually damage the viewports and cameras, only smear/plug them to reduce already limited vision.
  4. Tanks still need air to work, but denying air is not the point (although it can be done, see links below). EDIT: gravel is to plug the gun, to disable by jamming when fired.
  5. Getting close means choosing the right terrain (see: elephants) and rushing from multiple directions. Europe was mostly forest then. Little chance of killing every one of 100 people rushing from behind the trees while the tank tries to get over then-standard obstacle (several fallen tree trunks).
  6. Burning oil also can do the trick (provided more gets thrown on from time to time).
  7. It was actually done in the past:

    http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/Tactics/Formations/FireSupport/infantry_antitank_tactics.htm

    http://www.amazon.com/World-Infantry-Anti-Tank-Tactics-Elite/dp/1841768421 [see first review]
u/mctoasterson · 2 pointsr/AskHistorians

I think this is probably the best answer. If they didn't have any bazookas or AT grenades available to attempt dislodging the tank tracks their best plan would've been to impede the tanks' movement as best as possible (essentially just slowing them down). They had time to pre-position debris, felled trees, concertina wire, and other improvised obstacles to this effect but realistically they would've still had to blow the bridge. Please note that this is all highly speculative.

More reading: World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Tactics (in particular check out the "US Army Anti-Tank Ambush" description on page 61)