Exam I Battle Analysis

Question 1

Battle of Suomussalmi: Opposing Forces

Answer 1

Finnish: about one division, approx. 11,000 men
Soviets: two divisions and support elements, approx. 40,000 men (163rd Rifle Division and 44th Rifle Division).

Question 2

Battle of Suomussalmi: Tactics

Answer 2

• Finnish burned towns before Soviets arrived so no shelter
• entire soviet opperation had to follow the road
• Motti Tactics v. Soviet 44th Rifle Division

Question 3

Battle of Suomussalmi: Casualties

Answer 3

Soviets: 27,000 dead, 43 tanks and 270 vehicles destroyed/abandoned
Finnish: 900 dead, 1,770 wounded
- Marshal Semyon Timoshenko then put all forces in single operation and brings in new trained troops after breaking through defenses, doesn’t underestimate and has better equipment (Soviet KV-I Heavy Tank that finns can’t penetrate)
- Finns call for armistice and maintain independence

Question 4

Battle of Sedan: Casualties

Answer 4

French: unknown
German: 1000 of all types

Question 5

Battle of Sedan: Tactics

Answer 5

• Germans moved through the forest
• German A division encountered 3 French B divisions (newer troops had never been in fight)
• German engineers crossed river by small rubber boats and established foothold on French side of River

Question 6

Battle of Sedan: French Weakness

Answer 6

• french troops panicked bc they feared troops were on their side of river
• French collapse bc troops had lack of training, tank terror, demoralized, French commanders lacked experience

Question 7

Battle of Sudan: German Weakness

Answer 7

german forces raced across French countryside but leaders were scared and told Gudirion to stop bc it was going suspiciously well. Gudirion quits until superior officers resume

Question 8

Battle of Tai’erzhuang: Tactics

Answer 8

1. Japs target city for railways and resources
2. Japs established 3 lines of advance, Chinese were able to cut off line of supply of 2 Jap forces which draws them in. Japs then become overwhelmed and forced to retreat

Question 9

Battle of Tai’erzhuang: Outcome

Answer 9

• this battle highlights over-extension, Japs previously were successful with aggressive spirit and superior weapons/resources
• battle shows this isn’t always enough
• proves IJA isn’t invincible
• demonstrates what happens when Japs are over-aggressive

Question 10

Battle of Taranto: The Issue

Answer 10

• british declared war on italy after italy declared war on france
• decided their greatest challenge in Mediterranean was existence of the italian fleet, 6 new modern battleships
• though italians werent using fleet aggressively, was still a fleet in being

Question 11

Battle of Taranto: Dealing with the Threat

Answer 11

• admiral andrew cunningham attacks italian naval base at taranto, plan was daring
• launch night attack on main italian fleet in its main base
• technicians beleived torpedo attack in enemy harbor would be impossible, but first four planes dropped fairey swordfish torpedo bombers to illuminate targets so the rest could launch torpedos at vessels sitting in harbor

Question 12

Battle of Taranto: Outcome

Answer 12

• 3 out of 6 battleships were damaged, halved italian naval strength
• attack forced italians to abandon taranto naval base bc it was too vulnerable to attacks, moved to Naples, further from main lines of transportation (using more fuel that they already lacked)
• threat was weakened significantly, half as powerful and further away, giving britain time
• inspired japanese to attack pearl harbor, studied attack meticulously