World War II Infantry Assault Tactics

Osprey's examination of assault tactics used by the infantry during World War II (1939-1945). Just about every war movie - famously, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers - includes dramatic scenes of soldiers trying to attack an enemy pillbox or trench. Continuing the series explaining World War II tactics, Gordon L Rottman (who became expert in these tactics during the Vietnam War) explains and illustrates the kit and techniques used in assaulting fortifications. He covers the differences in US, British, German, Soviet and Japanese approaches and experiences, concentrating on small units of foot soldiers with hand-carried equipment. The weapons used included the purpose-made and the improvized: assault charges of various shapes, sizes and characteristics, flamethrowers, grenades and bazookas. Their tactical deployment is analyzed and explained in detail, with the support of color artwork, maps, diagrams and photographs.

Just about every war movie - famously, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers - includes dramatic scenes of soldiers trying to attack an enemy pillbox or trench. Continuing the series explaining World War II tactics, Gordon L Rottman (who became expert in these tactics during the Vietnam War) explains and illustrates the kit and techniques used in assaulting fortifications. He covers the differences in US, British, German, Soviet and Japanese approaches and experiences, concentrating on small units of foot soldiers with hand-carried equipment. The weapons used included the purpose-made and the improvized: assault charges of various shapes, sizes and characteristics, flamethrowers, grenades and bazookas. Their tactical deployment is analyzed and explained in detail, with the support of color artwork, maps, diagrams and photographs.

Gordon L Rottman entered the US Army in 1967, volunteered for Special Forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. He served in the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969-70 and subsequently in airborne infantry, long-range patrol and intelligence assignments until retiring after 26 years. He was a special operations forces scenario writer at the Joint Readiness Training Center for 12 years and is now a freelance writer and author of over two dozen series titles for Osprey. The author lives in Cyprus, TX (near Houston).