M3 Medium Tank vs Panzer III: Kasserine Pass 1943 (Duel)

M3 Medium Tank vs Panzer III: Kasserine Pass 1943 (Duel)

Gordon L. Rottman

Language: English

Pages: 80

ISBN: 184603261X

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


"...the first-person perspectives offered by Kirby and Köhler put this book on my recommended books list. These personal experiences definitely stirred some interest for me to research more on the design, evolution, and field performance of each of the two tanks.- C. Peter Chen, World War II Database (July 2008)

Smarting from their defeat at El Alamein and with directives to save the North African campaign, Rommel's battle-hardened armored divisions confronted a fresh opponent in the form of the newly arrived Americans. This would be a duel between the stalwart of the Wehrmacht armored divisions - the Panzerkampfwagen III - and the American's as yet untested first armored division. In reality both would prove unequal to the task as they floundered amidst the rugged hills and ravines of the Tunisian landscape. This book charts the design and development of these two disparate rivals - their vastly different armament and armor as well as their tactical concepts. Mutually hampered by the climate, terrain, and lack of experience, this was a desperate struggle for supremacy. Moreover, it was a duel with far-reaching implications. For the Americans it was their first baptism of fire and the outcome would determine their future war strategy. For the Germans, this was the final throw of the dice to regain the overwhelming superiority they had enjoyed during the first years of the war. Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of these two deadly opponents, this book explores the successes and failures of the Grant and Panzer III as they clashed at the critical battles of North Africa. Moreover it is an insight into the lives of the tank crews themselves as they struggled with the twin horrors of tank warfare and the fight for survival amidst some of the most inhospitable terrain on earth.

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countless radiating gullies and rocks. Other low hills lay to the northeast and © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com 29 northwest. The ground was rocky, gravelly, and almost impossible to dig in. Large wadis were few and troops were forced to construct rock sangars for fighting positions. The few roads in the area (Sidi Bou Zid was a crossroads) were single- or “one-anda-half ” lane hard-packed earth. Vegetation was low patches of thorny camel brush, clump grass, and occasional

suffered the same flaw. Regardless of flaws, the M3 was considered reasonably reliable, was solidly constructed, and had adequate armor. Its greatest value lay in the 75mm gun. Even with its low velocity and traversing problems, it was among the heaviest guns mounted on Allied tanks in North Africa. It came at a time when the Germans were fielding M3 MEDIUM TURRET 1. 75mm M2 gun 2. Driver’s indirect vision port 3. 75mm gun trunnion 4. 37mm M6 gun 5. M1 periscope for 75mm gun 6. 37mm gun

would become known as Kern’s Crossroads, named after Commander Col William Kern, 6th Armored Infantry. Withdrawing CCA elements would reassemble behind this screen. Fleeing vehicles mired in soft sand and those that broke down were being abandoned as units withdrew under long-range artillery and tank fire. Surviving units would attempt to defend the route to Sbeïtla. In the meantime the Germans continued to press in. Kampfgruppe Stenkhoff from the south linked up with 10. Panzer-Division elements

an antiaircraft gun, was often used to engage tanks and could knock out any Allied tank even at its maximum range. Another surprise for the Americans was that the Germans were just as likely to attack at dusk as at dawn, the former being unexpected. The Germans were also noted for their rapid decision making and taking immediate advantage of emerging situations. However, they sometimes hesitated to pursue withdrawing American units, perhaps feeling they might be drawn into ambush along the line

prepared to deploy there. Tripoli in French Algeria had become the main Axis logistics base after the loss of Tobruk when the British moved into Libya. The 5. leichte Division began arriving equipped with PzKpfw I, II, III, and IV tanks. On February 24 German and © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com February 13, 1943 MEDITERRANEAN SEA xx Bizerte BROICH xxxx 139 Bône Cap Bon Gulf of Tunis Mateur x xxx Tabarka xx 5 Tunis FISCHER 78 xx xxx x 334 5 xx xx Hammamet 6

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