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Welcome to Gus McDoll Strategy & Tactics, and thank you to our subscribers!

In this series we play through the 16 operations of the German Grand Campaign in Close Combat 3 The Russian Front.

We use each mission to illustrate aspects of WW2 infantry tactics at the company level and below, using actual WW2 German doctrine: frontal and flanking attacks; use of indirect fire; suppressing fire; enfilade and defilade; infantry/tank cooperation; defensive positions; ambushes; and so on.

Each episode we conduct basic mission analysis (mission, enemy, terrain, troops and time), develop and analyse courses of action, then execute the plan in real time, followed by lessons learned.

Check out the playlist at:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfvPrdR0dVYyEwtCjGHSWJwjuTfnoZor9
 
Check out Gus McDoll Strategy & Tactics (@gusmcdollstrategy) at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHP82hqusTfei_Z69UwsoHw

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Enjoy!

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In Boot Camp 1 Moving Your Troops, learn the basics on moving your troops.

https://youtu.be/yWXAvs4ENcs

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In Boot Camp 2 Firing on the Enemy, learn how to issue firing and positioning orders.

https://youtu.be/EPC90oRqa_8

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In Boot Camp 3 Commanders and Tactics, learn how to launch an assault.

https://youtu.be/FwtldIyFbxM

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In Boot Camp 4 Monitoring Your Forces, learn to monitor what's happening on the battlefield.

https://youtu.be/1LyFZmCe9Qk

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In Boot Camp 5 Fighting with Armour, learn how to use armour.

https://youtu.be/E0ImtXMYMzE

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In Episode 6 Blitzkrieg - Operation Barbarossa, Axis forces commence the invasion of the Soviet Union with Operation Barbarossa.

https://youtu.be/9iZ94uutuoc

"In selecting the point of main effort, the Germans consider weaknesses in the enemy's defensive position; suitability of terrain, especially for tanks and for cooperation of all arms; approach routes; and possibilities for supporting fire, especially artillery."
United States War Department, Technical Manual TM-E 30-451 Handbook on German Military Forces (15 March 1945), Chapter IV Tactics, Section IV. Offensive, paragraph 1.

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In Episode 7 Blitzkrieg - On to Lemberg, KG McDoll must make a river crossing to secure the road to Lemberg.
https://youtu.be/6nvxSFLqVTU

Attack Across Water Obstacles
In an assault crossing of a river the predominant mission of the tanks is to provide covering fire for the crossing and to then assume the attack on the other side of the river for the force that has already made the crossing.

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In Episode 8 Blitzkrieg - Next Stop Lemberg, a bunker position overlooks the final river crossing on the road to Lemberg.
https://youtu.be/7UNbpLjQxAs

Sectors of the Attack
Normally the sector assigned to a platoon is between 165 and 220 yards. A company attack sector is about 330 to 550 yards.
United States War Department, Technical Manual TM-E 30-451 Handbook on German Military Forces (15 March 1945), Chapter IV Tactics, Section IV. Offensive, paragraph 3b.

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In Episode 9 Panzers in the Snow - Roads to Moscow, KG McDoll is now attached to 19th Panzer Division for the attack on the Soviet capital. The village of Boguslav lies ahead.
https://youtu.be/oy8aOZ29yDA

False: simply halt at the edge of the woods without using the concealment available. As a result, the vehicle easily falls victim to enemy antitank guns or armoured cars.
Correct: do not move to the edge of the wood line. From a short distance from the wood line observe from a concealed position.
Wolfgang Schneider, Panzer Tactics: German Small-Unit Armor Tactics in World War II, page 258. From Kauffmann, Panzerkampfwagenbuch.

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In Episode 10 The First Fortification Ring, KG McDoll is chosen to lead the German assault on the defences in front of the Soviet capital.
https://youtu.be/f6mN9Z5ddOc

Breaching Obstacles
After the extent of the minefield has been determined or other possibilities for avoidance of the mines or other obstacles has been reconnoitered, they should be bypassed. Where that is not possible, infantry must take the obstacle and engineers clear and mark a path. In the meantime, the tanks cover the obstacle from covered positions.
Wolfgang Schneider, Panzer Tactics: German Small-Unit Armor Tactics in World War II, Chapter 1 Offensive Operations (Der Angriff), page 16.

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In Episode 11 Next Stop Moscow, the KG has been tasked to probe forward along the road to Moscow, and secure a river crossing for the rest of the 19th Panzer Division.
https://youtu.be/wGj3CwNZt3I

Crossing a ridge
False: cross extended high ground which cannot be avoided closely echeloned together so that the enemy can acquire you close together and destroy you individually.
Correct: cross the high ground in a line so that all vehicles are ready to engage an antitank gun or an artillery battery behind the crest.
Wolfgang Schneider, Panzer Tactics: German Small-Unit Armor Tactics in World War Two, page 172.

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In Episode 12 Battle for the Kremlin, the KG has reached the walls of the iconic Soviet capital, and is ordered to attack.
https://youtu.be/5b-DMKr8cnc

Conduct of the Attack
"The Germans learned at heavy cost the futility of charging a hostile antitank defence with tank concentrations and of engaging in tank-versus-tank combat without having superiority in range and armament."
United States War Department, Technical Manual TM-E 30-451 Handbook on German Military Forces (15 March 1945), Chapter IV Tactics, Section IV. Offensive, paragraph 4a.