Re: 99th Division, 395th Infantry Books
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In reply to:
Re: 99th Division, 395th Infantry Books
Mark Smith 12/09/08
There was a difference between an Anti-tank company and an anti-tank platoon. Each of nine battal;ions in as division had headquarters conpany that contained anti-tank, heavy weapons (mortars), communication and clerical/cooks platoons.
Ant-tank COMPANUES, like Cannon compsnies, were a different animal.. They were attached to regiments. Hence,the 395tyh had only one of each.
By the time we reacherd the front lines,. our 57 mm guns were almost useless. Against the newer Panthers and Tigers, it was like shooting peas against their armor. We dragged along behind the infantry and were used against pill-boxes, houses, etc. or handed bazookas. As a result, our casualties were much lighter than the riflemen's.