Andreas - German Observation Battaillonen

[Michael Dorosh]

Andreas - I have found the following info on GD's Observation Battalion -

Sound Ranging Platoon

2 x Flash Spotting Platoon

Survey Platoon

Warning Platoon

2 x Analysis Platoons

Do you (or anyone else) have detailed breakdowns of how these platoons were organized?

[Andreas]

Michael - working from my grandfather's recollections, a light ranging platoon would be broken down in Messtrupps (?) (sections) led by a sergeant (Unteroffizier) or Corporal (Obergefreiter). One Trupp would occupy one OP, and be a five man group, including the section leader, radio operator and three goons (i.e. don't know what they did). Assuming that four-five OPs would cover the frontage of the Abteilung, a platoon would have about 20-30 men including platoon HQ ( a lieutenant in my grandfather's case). I suspect that the basic organisation would be similar for sound ranging, except if there are more or less tasks to be done. Also, a sound ranging platoon would include the advance warning section. I shall go and ponder this a bit more.

BTW - I am gone to Cornwall walking the dog for a few days and this thread dives to fourth page with no answers. Call yourself grogs...

[Andreas]

Well bugger me with a three-pronged pitchfork. Engelmann has all the data you want - unfortunately the English translation is not explaining the abbr.s...

date 01.Sept 1944

Unit type: armoured observation battery

5 Officers

31 NCOs

133 OR

1 Motorbike 1

11 Car 11

19 (3) Truck (trailer)

7 Sdkfz 251/12 (I think this was a specialised CB vehicle)

sub unit: command section

1 Sdkfz 251/12 (OC Bty)

2 cars

sub unit: survey platoon

3 cars

1 light truck

1 medium truck

Sub unit: armoured light ranging platoon

car for platoon commander

3 Sdkfz 251/12

car (unspecified use)

truck w/medium trailer

Sub unit: armoured sound ranging platoon

1 Sdkfz 251/12 (platoon commander)

2 car (unspecified use)

2 Sdkfz 251/12 (for OPs)

2 light trucks (for OPs)

4 medium trucks (one medium trailer)

Sub unit: trains

4 medium trucks (1 1.5t trailer)

1 motor bike

Sub unit: mech repair section

1 car

1 light truck

1 medium truck

I did not add up the numbers to see how they turned out. The strength went from 184 all ranks on 01. April 1941 to 210 all ranks on 01. July 1943 down to 169 all ranks 01.sept. 1944. vehicle strength accordingly 47 (1) to 50 (1) to 38 (1).

Source: engelmann 'german artillery in WW2' Schiffer

[Michael Dorosh]

Page 4 - Good Lord, what did you do, search for your own name?

Thanks for the info. I have little doubt that GD, being the "special case" they were, likely did things differently, but it is definitely a start. Thanks very much!

[Andreas]

Originally posted by Michael Dorosh:

Page 4 - Good Lord, what did you do, search for your own name?

Thanks for the info. I have little doubt that GD, being the "special case" they were, likely did things differently, but it is definitely a start. Thanks very much!

Err no, I knew you had asked, but I did not have time before buzzing off to Cornwall to answer.

I would agree with that GD might have done things differently - the 'warning platoon' looks like that to me, because I think those were just sections in Engelmann and the OOB given on my site (sig link). Is that actual or TO&E organisation you have got there?

[Michael Dorosh]

Originally posted by Andreas:

Hard to say; some of it is TO and E from Spaeter, but the artillery observation stuff comes from God, Honor and Fatherland which seems to give actual as opposed to supposed-to-have - but the reference to the observation battalion is done in passing only so its impossible to tell.