military intelligence « Lone Sentry Blog

Tactical and Technical Trends #34

By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on January 22nd, 2011%

The U.S. intelligence articles from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 34, September 1943 have been added to the main Lone Sentry website:

The Me-410 Aircraft ◊ Protection Against Japanese Aerial Bombing ◊ General von Arnim’s Orders for Ground Deployment ◊ Italian L Type Grenade ◊ German Conversion of French 75s into Antitank Guns ◊ Japanese 70-mm Howitzer Model 92 ◊ Notes on German Artillery Tactics in Tunisia ◊ Russian Artillery Support in Tank Attacks ◊ Notes of a British Armored Force Officer on German Tank Employment ◊ Detailed Report on the German “Tiger” PzKw 6 ◊ Italian Portable Flame Thrower, Model 41 ◊ German Compass Card ◊ German Butterfly Bomb ◊ Notes on the German Infantry Division ◊ Notes on Mobile Surgical Units in the Middle East ◊ Axis Use of Skoda AA/AT Gun ◊ Testing Antiaircraft Gun Barrels in Combat Areas ◊ Japanese 12.7-mm (Fixed Mount) Aircraft Machine Gun ◊ German Recognition Signals ◊ Drinking Water from the Rattan Vine ◊ Lessons from the New Zealand Division Operations in Cyrenaica

Small Wurzberg German Radar

By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on January 5th, 2011%

Report on the German “Small Wurzburg” radar from U.S. Naval Intelligence report Japanese Electronics, March 1945:

The “Small Wurzburg” or “Bowlfire” was first designed in 1936, and is one of the most efficient Radars. It is primarily for A.A. fire control but has been used for A/C reporting, searchlight control, and as a standby for Ground Control of A/C. In general, it is a mobile Radar, mounted on a four-wheeled trailer with outriggers for levelling. Some sets are emplaced, however, and the wheels removed.

Search is by mechanical rotation of the apparatus for bearing and by elevation of the reflector bowl for height measurement.

The diameter of the paraboloid reflector is 10 feet, the top of which is but 12½ feet above the ground. A cupboard, housing the radar equipment, and an operators seat are attached to the rear and side of the reflector.

There are several types of Small Wurzburgs; among them Types “A”, “C”, and “D” are most used and are quite similar. Type “D” is found with limber mounting and may be without wheels or even set in concrete.

For transport, the paraboloid can be split, by hinges, and turned down in two halves.

Type F.M.G. 41-T is a modification of the Small Wurzburg which incorporates a scoop-like form for cutting out ground echoes.

The practical range of the Small Wurzburg is not more than 25 nautical miles but it has a high degree of accuracy for Fire Control purposes.

Tactical and Technical Trends #12

By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on September 26th, 2010%

The U.S. military intelligence articles from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 12, November 1942 have been added to the main website:

German Aircraft Cannons ◊ The German Rescue Buoy ◊ Antiaircraft Defense of Motor Columns on the March ◊ Japanese Antiaircraft Guns ◊ Italian 90-mm Multipurpose Gun ◊ Soviet Antitank Defense ◊ Armor Penetration of German Antitank Guns ◊ German Schwere Wurfgerät 40 ◊ German 105-mm Gun ◊ 305-mm Skoda Coast Defense Gun ◊ 210-mm German and Italian Howitzers ◊ German Self-Propelled 150-mm Howitzer ◊ Japanese Incendiary Bombs ◊ Nitrogen Mustard Gases ◊ Demolition Charge for 20-mm AA/AT Gun ◊ Winter Fighting in Russia ◊ German Tactics in the Final Phases at Kharkov ◊ Crew and Communications of German Mark IV Tank ◊ Security Measures of a German Armored Division ◊ Enemy Practices Used in Interrogating Prisoners of War ◊ Italian Measures for Concealing a Withdrawal ◊ Operations of the German Tank Recovery Platoon ◊ Propeller-Driven Sleds ◊ Report of Italian Pilot on “Crows Feet” ◊ Markings on German Motor-Maintenance Vehicles ◊ German Methods Against Russian Winter Conditions ◊ Katakana (Phonetic Japanese) Used in Communications

Tactical and Technical Trends #43

By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on January 31st, 2010%

The intel articles from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 43, January 1944 have been added to the main Lone Sentry website:

Japanese 47-mm AT Gun ◊ The 100-mm Skoda Howitzer ◊ Japanese Use of Military Barges ◊ German Propaganda Rifle Grenade ◊ German Rocket Ammunition ◊ Enemy Heating of Vehicle Coolant ◊ Japanese Model 97 (1937) 7.7-mm MG ◊ Japanese Delayed-Fuze 20-mm Ammunition ◊ German Two-Way Radio Telephones ◊ Soviet Railroad Restoration ◊ Japanese Navy Special Landing Forces

Tactical and Technical Trends #41

By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on December 23rd, 2009%

The U.S. military intelligence articles from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 41, December 1943 have been added to the main website:

The HE-177 ◊ Japanese Air-Ground Liaison ◊ German AA Pivoted Ring Sight ◊ Recognition Leaflets for German AT Guns ◊ Lessons in Tank Tactics ◊ Tank Versus AT Gun ◊ German 150-mm SP Assault Howitzer ◊ Marking of German Minefields ◊ German “Pram” Mine Detector ◊ Explosive Rivet ◊ Additional Data—German 42/28-mm AT Gun ◊ German Heavy Transport Trailer ◊ Japanese 81-mm Mortar, Type 99 ◊ Japanese Antiaircraft Bomb ◊ Improved Nose-Rod for Air Bombs ◊ Japanese 90-mm Mortar, Type 94 ◊ German Destruction of Motor Vehicles ◊ Development of the Waffen SS ◊ Employment of Flak with the Field Army

Tactical and Technical Trends #38

By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on November 27th, 2009%

The U.S. military intelligence articles from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 38, November 1943 have been added to the main website:

Aircraft Against Tanks ◊ Japanese AA/AT 20-mm Machine Cannon ◊ New German 88-mm AT Gun ◊ Japanese Artillery in the Arakan ◊ German 75-mm Mountain Gun ◊ German Four-Wheeled Armored Cars ◊ German Use of Area Smoke Screens ◊ Italian 2-Kg Smoke Pot ◊ German Camouflage Methods in Sicily ◊ Engineer Operations in the Jungle ◊ German Defense of Positions ◊ Port Moresby—Attack Directive ◊ Some German Tactics in Tunisia ◊ German Medical Notes ◊ German Paratrooper’s Rifle F.G. 42 ◊ Japanese Hollow-Charge Rifle Grenade ◊ Use of Rubber in Japanese Equipment ◊ German Portable Haversack Filter ◊ German Concentration of Fire—Medium Mortars

From Bayonet to Heavy Artillery

By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on August 31st, 2009%

This illustration from Tactical and Technical Trends shows the primary weapons of the WWII German infantry division according to range — from the lowly bayonet (15½ in.) to the divisional artillery (20,000 yds.)

Weapons of the German Infantry Division (click to enlarge)

WEAPONS OF THE GERMAN INFANTRY DIVISION
Based on a sketch prepared by the Military Intelligence Training Center, Camp Ritchie, Maryland

LEGEND:

1: SEITENGEWEHR (BAYONET)

Length – 15 1/2
Carried by all riflemen

2: HANDGRANATE (HAND GRENADE)

Delay Fuse – 4 1/2 sec
Danger Radius – 20 yds
Variable number per rifleman

3: PISTOLE (PISTOL)

Cal – .35
Semi-Automatic
Carried by personnel who do not carry rifle or submachine gun

4: MASCHINENPISTOLE (SUB MACHINE GUN)

Cal – .35 – Automatic
Eff Range – to 200 yds
Used by small unit leaders and company commander

5: GEWEHR 98K (RIFLE)

Cal – .31
Eff Range – 400 yds
Six per squad

6: LEICHTES MASCHINENGEWEHR 34 (LIGHT MACHINE GUN)

Cal – .31
Eff Range – 800 yds
Rate of Fire – 100/150 rpm
One per squad
(Model 42 now being manufactured)

7: LEICHTER GRANATWERFER (50-mm MORTAR)

Eff Range – 350 yds
Rate of Fire – 6 rds in 9 sec
Danger Radius – 25 yds
One per platoon

8: PANZERBUCHSE 39 (AT RIFLE)

Cal – .31
Eff Range – 200 yds
Rate of Fire – 6/8 rpm
Three per rifle company

9: SCHWERES MASCHINENGEWEHR 34 (HEAVY MACHINE GUN)

Cal – .31
Eff Range – 1,500 yds
Rate of Fire – 350 rpm
Twelve per MG Co
(Same as LMG except for mount)

10: SCHWERER GRANATWERFER (81-mm MORTAR)

Eff Range – 1,200 yds
Rate of Fire – 20/25 rpm
Danger Radius 35 yds
Six per MG Company

11: 3.7 cm PAK (37-mm AT GUN)

Eff Range – 800 yds
Rate of Fire – 15 rpm
Twelve per AT Co in Infantry Regiment

12: 5 cm PAK (50-mm AT GUN)

Eff Range – 1,000 yds
Rate of Fire – 16 rpm
Eighteen per AT
Battalion in Infantry Division

13: 7.5 cm LEICHTES INF GESCHUTZ (75-mm INF HOWITZER)

Max Range – 3,900 yds
Rate of Fire – 10/20 rpm
Six per Howitzer Company in Infantry Regiment

14: 15 cm SCHWERES INF GESCHUTZ (150-mm INF HOWITZER)

Max Range – 6,000 yds
Rate of Fire – 5 rpm
Two per Howitzer Company in Infantry Regiment

15: 10.5 cm LEICHTE FELDHAUBITZE (105-mm GUN HOWITZER)

Max Range – 12,000 yds
Twelve per light battalion in Division Artillery

16: 15 cm SCHWERE FELDHAUBITZE (150-mm HOWITZER)

Max Range – 10,500 yds
Eight per medium battalion in Division Artillery

17: 10 cm KANONE (105-mm GUN)

Max Range – 20,000 yds
Four per medium battalion in Division Artillery

Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 10

By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on August 8th, 2009%

The articles from “Tactical and Technical Trends” No. 10 have been added to main Lone Sentry site. Issue No. 10 was published in October 1942 and covers both Allied and enemy forces. Particularly interesting articles from the issue include:

Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 9

By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on August 2nd, 2009%

“Tactical and Technical Trends” No. 9 (October 8, 1942) has been added to the main site. Interesting articles include:

Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 8

By Lone_Sentry_Admin, on July 26th, 2009%

The articles from “Tactical and Technical Trends” No. 8 have been added to main site. “Tactical and Technical Trends” was published by the Military Intelligence Service of the War Department to inform U.S. forces of both Allied and enemy military developments. At the time of publication, September 1942, the articles were necessarily based primarily on reports from British and Russian sources supplemented by enemy publications and training materials.

Noteworthy articles from Issue No. 8 include:

German airborne forces and the attack on Crete were a major focus of the issue.

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