Royal Marines Tank Hunting in WW2

TANK HUNTING

by Capt.J.E.Stiebel, R.M.

Extract from 40 Commando Royal Marines War Diary January 1943

World War II German Panther Tank [Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-300-1876-02A]

I. General.

1. The main task of infantry is to ensure that no enemy infantry exploit the success

of their tanks. It is essential that our own Tps. are NOT drawn off in pursuit of

enemy tanks, but remain concealed.

2. As soon as enemy tanks have penetrated our own Tps., it is the primary duty of pls.

and secs, to destroy the following infantry.

3. Tps. who have been taught how to trap tanks will have the advantage of being able

to deal with both infantry. and tanks. The method of tank trapping and hunting is

left to a certain extent to the initiative of Pl. Comds. but certain principles

should be observed.

4. Pls. can with the arms available in the Tp. deal with most tanks(A-Tk. rifle,

68,74 and 75 grenades, incendiary bombs and smoke. ) Thereafter all Pls. should learn

something of tank hunting.

5. A Pl. will NOT normally take on more than three tanks at a time. One tank per sec.

6. It is essential that all ranks know the weaknesses of tanks and also a little of

tank tactics ;-

(a) German tanks normally work in Tps. of five tanks each, one tactical bound

behind the other.No.2. tank covers No.1. and No.3. tank covers No.2.and so on.

If held up they immediately try and get off the road.

(b) Tanks are comparatively blind, their radius of vision is limited owing to slits.

(c) The field of fire is also limited, guns being seldom capable of depression to

fire at anything within an approximate radius of 20ft. elevation is seldom above

25 degrees with the result that tanks can NOT fire at men on the first or

second story of a building.

(d) The tank has many vulnerable points, in particular the slits(to S.A. fire);

the belly and top have the least thickness of armour; the air vents or louvres

are particularly vulnerable to incendiary bombs which often cause the tank to

catch fire.

(e) Tanks are incapable of movement by night unless the tank Comd.mputs his head

through the open roof.

II. Drill for tank trapping. (SEE SKETCH)

1. The location of tank traps should be left to common sense. Choose less obvious

trap should be sited where there is a certain amount of cover at the side of the road such as a hedge, a wall, houses, etc.

2. Establish an O.P. to give early warning of tank approach.

3. Establish three checking points ;-

(a) First checking point-a necklace of 75 grenades joined together by a cord,

concealed at the side of the road in front of the leading tank. A 75 grenade

will blow the tracks off a Churchill tanks.

(b) Second and third checking points-knowing that tanks work in bounds, the second

and third checking points can be established fairly accurately.

(c) Second and third checking points merely the "seal" and would consist of

another necklace as in (a)above.

4. A rendezvous must be arranged so that the Pl. can re-assemble on the completion of

the attack; or should the plan fail a hurried withdrawal, on a pre-arranged signal,

would assure all sections making their way to the R.V.

5. It cannot be too highly emphasised that speed in the withdrawal is necessary.

Do NOT linger to watch the "fruits of your labour." The whole operation should

be over in two or three minutes.

German Panzers WW2 [https://www.britannica.com/technology/panzer]

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