1. ARMORED-CAR TACTICS
Questioning of German reconnaissance-unit prisoners
reveals the following information about armored-car tactics:
Antitank guns moving on self-propelled mounts have
advanced at times with the armored cars.
When attacked by low-flying aircraft, only the
4-wheeled vehicles engage with fire from their open
turrets; 8-wheel cars, lacking open turrets, cannot fire.
The commander of an armored-car reconnaissance
patrol always moves in the leading armored car.
2. AMMUNITION SUPPLY FOR TANKS
It is reported that trucks no longer go well forward
to supply tanks with ammunition. Trucks now unload
out of range of enemy artillery and establish small
dumps, which can be cleared in a day. Drivers unload
their own vehicles, no extra personnel being allotted for
this purpose. Wherever possible, these dumps are
located under cover of rising ground, and the tanks
come back to the dumps for fresh supplies of ammunition.
3. TANK TACTICS
German tank tactics are very flexible. Often a local
commander can vary them, according to his own ideas
and local circumstances. No tank opens fire until it is
definitely sure of the identity of the target. German
tanks advance on the enemy at full speed until they are
within 200 to 300 yards; at this point they halt temporarily
and fire. The operation demands a high degree
of self-control, but the compensating factor is that a
much larger percentage of hits can be scored from a
stationary tank than from a moving tank.
4. TANK REPAIRS
Each tank battalion carries seven fully qualified tank
mechanics. The regiment has a small repair shop, with
adequate spares, which follows very closely behind the
fighting units. Eighty percent of all tank repairs are
made on the battlefield, but if a tank has to go back to
its base, it is usually taken on a recovery vehicle.
5. ARMAMENT
The total number of shells carried by a Mark III tank
is 80. Previous information indicated that 100 rounds were carried.
6. RADIO COMMUNICATION
Intercommunication between units ranging in size
from the battalion to the regiment is on medium wave
lengths. Intercommunication between units lower than
the battalion is on short wave lengths. All wave lengths
are allotted by the division, and are changed frequently.
7. LATEST INTERROGATION PROCEDURE
No formal questioning of prisoners regarding tactics
is carried out by leading combat elements. As soon as
prisoners have been captured, they are searched and
then dispatched to division headquarters for tactical
interrogation by division intelligence officers. The
officer or noncom in charge of the front-line troops who
have taken the prisoners goes alone to the rear, ahead
of the captured men. He takes with him all captured
documents, and informs division intelligence officers as
to the local tactical situation so that they will be well
equipped to examine the prisoners. If possible, he also
attends the interrogation.