Hq 2nd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment (Report)
In areas where there is not a concentration of pillboxes we found that you can, with reasonable safety, outflank the pillbox. This is the fastest method and we used the following system. One assault platoon concentrates its fire on the pillbox and the other platoon covers them. In the assaulting platoon, one section concentrates heavy fire on the ports and the other section moves around to the rear flanks of the pillbox and lays heavy fire in the back of the pillbox. Generally, this forces a quick surrender.
Lt Jack Bennett, Fox Co, 41st Armored Regiment
The tanks, firing 76.2-MM (3′) ammunition, would engage the pillboxes from the embrasures and blindsides. The 76.2-MM gun blasted holes through the steel doors, causing casualties to any enemy inside the boxes.
Lt Mike Levitsky, Able Co, 41st Armored Regiment
An artillery concentration on and around the pillbox drove the enemies armed with Panzerfaust or Panzerschreck back into the pillbox. The tanks deployed on a line, with infantry following, then fired AP (Armor Piercing) ammunition at the pillboxes. Tanks lifted fire and then the infantry surrounded the pillboxes and drove the prisoners out.
Col Charles G. Rau, 7th Armored Group, (Report of 743-TB
The effort to reduce these pillboxes, which had concrete walls of about 6 to 7 feet thick by the fire of tanks and assault guns was a waste of ammunition unless the morale of the occupants was initially low. However, as covering fire for infantry and engineers in their approach for an assault, the
tank fire was very effective in preventing the enemy in the pillboxes from firing.
Col William D. Duncan, 743d Tank Battalion
When tanks operated with infantry, the tanks would lay down a base of fire with 75-MM APC §Armor Piercing Caped) and machine gun fire and the accompanying 105-MM assault tank of the assault gun platoon would fire 105-MM HE with a T-105 CBF (Concrete Bursting Fuze). This fire would continue on the embrasures until the enemy came out or until the infantry was within 50 yards of the box. Then, the tanks fired only a .30 caliber machine gun fire until the infantry were within 25 yards of the pillbox. The tank fire would cease and the tank maneuver on beyond the box to protect the assault units as they assaulted the box.
