Background For War: THREE TANKS OF THE KOREAN WAR

These are (left to right) the 45-ton U.S. General Pershing, the 33-ton Russian T-34, and the U.S. 35-ton General Sherman. The T-34 is more maneuverable than the Sherman or the Pershing. The Russian tank’s silhouette is at least a foot lower than either of the U.S. tanks, and its armor slopes back more sharply so that it is harder to hit squarely. The T-34s now in action in Korea are probably equipped with 85-mm. guns, compared with the 76-mm. gun of the Sherman and the 90-mm. gun of the Pershing.

105-MM. HOWITZER

This is a light, mobile, dependable weapon with a rapid rate of fire (10-15 rounds a minute). It was the most used artillery weapon of World War II, can lob its shells as far as 12,500 yards. A U.S. infantry division has 54 105s.

Antitank Weapons

The Korean war has revived an old question: What is the best way to stop a tank? The Germans, the British, the Russians and the Americans, studying the lessons of World War II, generally agreed that the best weapon against a tank is another tank. Last week, in Korea, Russian-made T-34 medium tanks were still spearheading the Communist drive southward. So far, the U.S. had no tank in the Korean fighting that was clearly superior to the T-345. Until the new tanks arrive (some are on the way), U.S. troops will have to rely largely on less effective weapons to stop the T-34s. Most of these weapons are not new. None of them is a complete tank defense weapon in itself; their effectiveness depends on coordinated use. The most spectacular single weapon yet used by the U.S. against the Red tanks is the Big Bazooka, which made its debut last week, knocked out seven tanks in seven tries. Another good antitank weapon is the mine, which the Germans used with deadly results in World War II. But the mine is a defensive weapon, and U.S. troops have so far made little use of it in Korea.

75-MM. RECOILLESS RIFLE

This modern descendant of the horse-drawn French 75 is a cross between a gun and a rocket launcher. It is handled in the field by a small crew, can knock out a tank if it hits the treads or the relatively thin side armor. One drawback: the blast which spurts from the openings in the rear of the recoilless rifle reveals the weapon’s position.

ANTITANK MINE

This mine will cripple the heaviest tank, but will not explode when a foot soldier walks over it.

THE BIG BAZOOKA

This is the most effective U.S. antitank weapon yet used in Korea. The Big Bazooka (3.5 in.) shoots an 8½-lb. rocket whose shaped charge can penetrate about eleven inches of armor; it is used mostly for close-in fighting.

MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHER

This lethal pipe organ shoots fifteen 4.5-inch rockets at once (some models shoot 24 or more), but is not very accurate; it is best used to lay pre-attack barrages on the enemy’s rear areas, is sometimes mounted on tanks.

4.2-lNCH MORTAR

This is a lightweight (300 Ibs.), easily handled weapon for close support of infantry; it can fire about 30 rounds a minute.

155-MM. GUN (THE “LONG TOM”)

This gun fires on a relatively flat trajectory with extraordinary accuracy. The Long Tom (maximum range: 14½ miles) can reach into enemy assembly areas, hit tank and troop concentrations and supply depots before the attack begins. In World War II the Long Tom was widely admired in all theaters as a tough, reliable weapon.

8-lNCH HOWITZER

Big guns like this and the Long Tom are classed as heavy artillery. They are good for destroying enemy batteries, pillboxes and other fortifications. If a shell from either weapon should hit a tank, the tank is done for.

155-MM. HOWITZER

This weapon is an accurate, long-range (up to nine miles) piece, especially useful for barrage fire against tanks that are channeled by mountain defiles or unfavorable ground. U.S. troops are using these now in Korea.