manchildstein (ii) Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 hi, this site here http://www.freeport-tech.com/wwii/011_germany/41_organ_army/41_div_pz-11.html shows 11th panzer with a tank regiment of '2 battalions,' each with 2 light tank companies and a medium tank company. i'm just wondering if the 38t is a light tank or medium. in other words, would a scenario representing the 11th panzer in say july of 1941 be more 'realistic' using a combination of pz ii (light) and 38t (med), or with 38t (light) and pz iii (med)? also, were the 'mechanized infantry' battalions within the same regiment/brigades in the panzer divisions all outfitted with spw 251/1 or were there a lot of trucks involved... say only 1 battalion out of 4 in the typical division having spws? finally, does anyone know specifically which axis divisions were fielding the somua tanks and whatnot? thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offtaskagain Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 Most Panzer Divs probably didnt have any SPWs at the start of Barbarossa so its trucks for the infantry. I'm think 38t fits more in light tank companies but I could be wrong. Pz IIIs and IVs certainly fit in the medium companies. But there still werent all that many III or IV at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchildstein (ii) Posted November 13, 2002 Author Share Posted November 13, 2002 i'm also thinking that perhaps the weaker panzer divisions were committed in the south, and weren't equipped as well as the ones in the center and north. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berlichtingen Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 the 38(t) replaces the PzIIIs that would be in a German equipped division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchildstein (ii) Posted November 13, 2002 Author Share Posted November 13, 2002 Originally posted by Berlichtingen: the 38(t) replaces the PzIIIs that would be in a German equipped division.so the german 11th panzer had 38(t)s as mediums then? ... so panzer ii as lights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berlichtingen Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 Originally posted by manchildstein II: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Berlichtingen: the 38(t) replaces the PzIIIs that would be in a German equipped division.so the german 11th panzer had 38(t)s as mediums then? ... so panzer ii as lights?</font> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Lucke Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 The organization of Panzer Regiments varied wildly depending on vehicle availability --- the "average" regiment had two battalions. They usually consisted of two light tank companies, each of three PzIII platoons, and one PzII (recon) platoon, and one medium tank company with three PzIV platoons. In early '41, the PzIV's would be D, E or maybe F1's. The PzIII's would be half E (37mm) and half G/H (50L42). Some divisions used the Czech tanks, either 35(t)'s or 38(t)'s --- in this case they had two companies of three Pz38(t) platoons and one company of three PzIV platoons. All "standard" Panzer companies supposedly had four platoons, but in practice three rapidly became the norm, and the PzII's were quickly relegated to battalion or regimental recon. The Rifle troops all rode in trucks apart from a very small number in HT's. Generally only one company in the first battalion of the 1st regiment had 251/1 halftracks --- some favored units had the whole 1st battalion in halftracks, however. (Edited to make meself clearer). [ November 13, 2002, 03:20 AM: Message edited by: von Lucke ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 I have seen AARs and tank readyness statements of 12th Panzer in which the 38(t) is referred to as a 'III'. So you have to be careful if you look at these, because while it may say e.g. 'III (k)' it does not necessarily mean 'Panzer III 50L42' but 'Panzer 389(t)', which makes a bit of a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berlichtingen Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 Originally posted by manchildstein II: ...shows 11th panzer with a tank regiment of '2 battalions,' each with 2 light tank companies and a medium tank company. i'm just wondering if the 38t is a light tank or medium.11.Panzer Division (15.Panzer-Regiment) was armed with German tanks. 12. Panzer Division (29.Panzer-Regiment) was Czech armed. 15.Panzer-Regiment had 2 battalions of 4 companies each (3 leichte & 1 mittlere). leichte Panzerkompanie -Kompanie Trupp: 2x PzKwIII le. Zug: 5x PzKwII* 1. Zug: 5x PzKwIII 2. Zug: 5x PzKwIII 3. Zug: 5x PzKwIII mittlere Panzerkompanie -Kompanie Trupp: 2x PzKwIV le. Zug: 5x PzKwII* 1. Zug: 4x PzKwIV 2. Zug: 4x PzKwIV also, were the 'mechanized infantry' battalions within the same regiment/brigades in the panzer divisions all outfitted with spw 251/1 or were there a lot of trucks involved... say only 1 battalion out of 4 in the typical division having spws?11.Panzer Division (11.Schützen Brigade) had one company equipped with SPW 251/1. That company was 1.Kp./I./110.SR finally, does anyone know specifically which axis divisions were fielding the somua tanks and whatnot?The only Panzer formation I can find that was officially equipped with French tanks on 22 June 1941 was Panzer-Abteilung 211. This was an independent Panzer-Abteilung assigned to XXXVI Armeekorps (Finland) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchildstein (ii) Posted November 13, 2002 Author Share Posted November 13, 2002 thanks for all of the info everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts