|
"Weapons affect tactics." - Heinz Guderian.
The German army would have to develop tactics to use these new arms. Remember the base of manuever was always the light machine guns for the Germans. Squads were ten men strong with a squad leader, asst. squad leader, machine gunner, asst. machine gunner, ammo carrier, and five riflemen. With exception of the machine gunner, everyone had a rifle (OK, sometimes squad leader had a MP-40). Squads didn't operate alone and generally fought in coordination with the other squads of the platoon.
Riflemen were not expected to use their ammuntion to achieve domination of the enemy. That was the machine gunner's job. The riflemen were expected to manuever to seize positions and consolidate them against counterattack.
The real value of the Stgw44 would be in the defensive role against infantry attacks - especially on the Eastern Front.
__________________
Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. Molon Labe!
|