Army Ground Forces: Difference between revisions

The [[tank destroyer battalions (United States)|tank destroyer arm]] was probably the most controversial. Tank destroyers based on the [[M3 Half-track]] proved too vulnerable in the [[North African campaign]] and a decision was made that half of all tank destroyer battalions would be equipped with towed guns, emphasizing the defensive role.<ref>{{cite web| work=Leavenworth Papers |title=Seek, Strike, and Destroy: U.S. Army tank destroyer Doctrine in World War II |first1= Christopher R. |last1=Gabel |url=httphttps://wwwapps.dtic.mil/cgi-binsti/pdfs/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA532138}}{{dead link|date=June 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic.pdf}}</ref> This decision was reversed after the towed battalions lost large numbers of guns over-run or stuck in mud and snow during the Ardennes offensive. Later, good self-propelled gun carriages became available, but massed enemy armor became scarce and most tank destroyer units began operating as field artillery. Some 25 tank destroyer battalions were inactivated to fill depleted infantry and armoured divisions.<ref>{{harvnb|Greenfield|Palmer|Wiley|1947|pp=423–434}}</ref>