How a U.S. Soldier’s ‘Ammo Trick’ Killed 40 Germans in 18 Hours and Saved 320 Americans скачать в хорошем качестве

How a U.S. Soldier’s ‘Ammo Trick’ Killed 40 Germans in 18 Hours and Saved 320 Americans

Discover why Corporal Charles E. Kelly, a Pittsburgh street "gangster" initially branded a discipline problem by his drill instructors and rejected by military hierarchy for his refusal to follow standard protocol, became the unexpected savior of the Allied invasion of Italy. ...seized the initiative to become the first enlisted soldier in the European Theater to receive the Medal of Honor, proving that raw adaptability and dangerous improvisation were superior to rigid safety manuals during the catastrophic breakdown of the Salerno beachhead. Explore the chaotic tactical environment of Operation Avalanche on September 13, 1943, where elements of the 36th Infantry Division were nearly pushed into the sea by the German 16th Panzer Division. Learn about the desperate logistical failures that left Company L, 143rd Infantry Regiment, critically low on ammunition while defending the heights of Altavilla against superior numbers. Features detailed analysis of the M-49-A-2 60mm mortar round, a 2.94-pound projectile containing 5.44 ounces of TNT, which was strictly designed for tube-launching with a minimum range of 100 yards but was repurposed by Kelly as a hand-thrown explosive at ranges under 25 yards. Examine the engineering limits of the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), which seized due to carbon buildup and thermal expansion after Kelly fired over 140 rounds in sustained combat, forcing him to switch to an arsenal of scavenged weaponry including an M1 Garand, an M1911, and a 2.36-inch M1A1 "Bazooka" rocket launcher. Document the verified engagement statistics from the 18-hour defense of the Altavilla warehouse, where a single soldier directed the suppression of 200 advancing German infantrymen, resulting in 40 confirmed enemy killed-in-action and the preservation of a vital defensive line. Review the post-action reports filed by Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark’s Fifth Army headquarters, which credited Kelly’s unorthodox tactics with saving 320 American lives and securing the unstable beachhead against the German counterattack. ...revealing why the soldier's ability to improvise weapon systems beyond their intended engineering specifications is often the deciding factor in urban combat survival. Perfect for military historians, students of small unit tactics, and anyone interested in the unwritten engineering improvisations of World War II. Subscribe for more in-depth analyses of military history's most decisive individual actions.