Page "Battle of Hürtgen Forest" Paragraph 15

The tall forest canopy also favored the defenders.

Artillery fire was fused to detonate as tree bursts.

While defenders were protected from shell fragments ( and wooden splinters from the trees ) by their dug-in defensive positions, attackers in the open were much more vulnerable.

Conversely, U. S. mortar platoons needed clearings in which to work ; these were few and dangerous, being pre-ranged by German troops, so mortar support was often unavailable to rifle platoons.