"Experience with 88 mm Pak 43 anti-tank guns
Front line experience showed that towed 88 mm anti-tank guns are of limited usefulness in mobile warfare (counterattacks, mobile defense, and especially when covering retreats).
Causes:
CAMD RF 500-12480-24
Front line experience showed that towed 88 mm anti-tank guns are of limited usefulness in mobile warfare (counterattacks, mobile defense, and especially when covering retreats).
Causes:
- The 4.5 ton mass, 1.9 meter height, and completely unprotected prime movers limit its mobility on the battlefield.
- As a rule, there is not enough time to organize a proper firing position.
- The gun, due to its size, cannot be concealed from the enemy (especially from the air).
- Due to the difficulty of turning the gun, it is difficult to defend against infantry at close range.
Conclusions: The towed 88 mm gun is only useful in positional warfare. In mobile warfare, it can only be used in the main directions of defense, for example in important sectors, control over which is especially important.
The manual 18/9 "Instructions on using the 88 mm Pak" issued on June 27th, 1943 is being revised."
CAMD RF 500-12480-24