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2021-11-20 Britain

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Posted by badanov 2021-11-20 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top

#1 My father spoke of limitations of artillery that detonated upon impacting the ground. Enemy in trenches were below the shrapnel. So his unit in WWII used artillery shells with fuses that caused detonation a few feet above ground which decimated Japs in trenches. Battle map messages on the maps he brought back home showed how much forward US rifle companies relied on his unit to decimate enemy units. He told me when his heavy weapons unit that was just behind rifle companies opened up on jap positions, the Japs were obliterated so quickly and thoroughly "they never knew what hit them.". He was 1st Cavalry Ft Hood, Texas under the command of General Swift (who he admired greatly).

Posted by Blackbeard Barnsmell6454 2021-11-20 00:53|| 2021-11-20 00:53|| Front Page Top

#2 used artillery shells with fuses that caused detonation a few feet above ground

Was that a common practice by then, Blackbeard Barnsmell6454, or something invented by your father’s artillery unit?

Posted by trailing wife 2021-11-20 08:20|| 2021-11-20 08:20|| Front Page Top

#3 The Americans use proximity fuzes. The American Army went big on artillery preferring to substitute fire power for manpower (although the Marines seem to shift more to the manpower thing).

Posted by Procopius2k 2021-11-20 08:50|| 2021-11-20 08:50|| Front Page Top

#4 Was not common until 1943/44 and used only by the US. Was a top secret shell as they did not want such a devastating artillery shell (air burst shell) used against US forces.

Developers included many US companies (RCA, General Electric, Sylvania, Kodak, and many others and the British were also involved.

Products derived from the development of the VT Fuse technology were hearing aids, Energizer type batteries, bread board circuitry, Doppler radar, etc..

It's use caused minor mutinies among German troops who refused to leave bunkers during US atillery barrages. General Patton credited the VT Fuse for winning the Battle of the Bulge.

Posted by Blackbeard Barnsmell6454 2021-11-20 11:04|| 2021-11-20 11:04|| Front Page Top

#5 Procopius2k you are so correct regarding the Army vs the Marines. My father actually mentioned the same thing. He said a lot of good men died in the Marines because they did not rely on artillery as much as the Army in WWII.

Posted by Blackbeard Barnsmell6454 2021-11-20 11:09|| 2021-11-20 11:09|| Front Page Top

#6 He spoke of on one occasion he took out entire entire jap reinforcement formations by himself by sitting on a hill top over looking a valley directing artillery fire. As columns of jap reinforcements moved into the valley below his observation position and were fully exposed, he ordered the artillery to fire for effect which completely wiped out each formation.

The only danger he experienced was from a round hitting between his feet from a vicious dog fight above him between a Jap Zero and a US Mustang.

Posted by Blackbeard Barnsmell6454 2021-11-20 11:20|| 2021-11-20 11:20|| Front Page Top

#7 A flyboy: "Right into my skillet
Had fallen a fat turkey pullet!
I fired. By and by
Came a terrible cry.
I replied, 'Hi! Big sky, little bullet!'"

Posted by Hupusoling Dingle2963 2021-11-20 18:32|| 2021-11-20 18:32|| Front Page Top

#8 WW11 American trenches were covered with trees to block fragmentation from explosions among the tree canopy above.German88's

Posted by Dale 2021-11-20 20:00|| 2021-11-20 20:00|| Front Page Top

#9 Captain Wilhelm Bach fascinating fellow.

Posted by Dale 2021-11-20 20:14|| 2021-11-20 20:14|| Front Page Top

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