EQUIPMENT OF THE PANZER DIVISIONS - II
Sdkfz 251 Halftrack -
While trucks could carry infantry quickly into the battlefield,they were not armoured and very vulnerable to enemy action which forced the infantry to dismount quite a bit to the rear.The halftrack was a hybrid ,
regular wheels at the front for steering and tracks at the back to propel the vehicle and carry most of the load. The purpose of this combination is to produce a
vehicle with the cross country capabilities of a tank and the handling of a wheeled vehicle.The main disadvantage is the increased maintenance to maintain track tension, and the reduced life span of tracks (up to 10,000 km) compared to tires (up to 80,000 km).The initial idea was for a vehicle that could be used to
transport a single squad of infantry to the battlefield protected from enemy arms fire, and with protection from artillery fire fragments and shrapnel.In addition, the standard mounting of at least o
ne MG34(later mg42) allowed the vehicle to provide fire support for the infantry squad once they had disembarked in battle.Halftracks gave the wehrmacht true mechanized infantry -halftracks were used as armoured troop carriers as well as support combat platforms,and as tractors for towing heavy vehicles and guns.
Weight -7.8 tonnes Designer - Hanomag Armament -2 machine guns or variants
Speed -52 kmph Range -300kmph
Crew - 2 + 10 infantry Armour - 6-15mm
The 251 halftrack was germany's
standard infantry halftrack throughout the war.Capable of carrying a
full 10 man squad fully protected from enemy small arms fire it was perfect for supporting the advance of tanks.Highly reliable,it remained in production from 1939-45 with excelelnt cross-country ability.More than
15,000 were built.In
1940 however only one company of the motorized infantry battalions(of the motorized infantry regiment/s of the panzer division) generally were equipped with halftracks due to production shortage.
The basic design was used for as many as
22 variants as the war progressed.Notable amongst these are -
The
Walking stuka(Stuka Zu Fuss) mounting 6 rocket tubes on the sides -an artillery platform
The
Flammenpanzerwagen 251/16 with 2 flamethrowers on the sides
The
Stummel 251/9 with mounted 75 mm infantry gun howitzer
Several anti-tank gun mounted versions -Mounting Pak36,pak40 etc.
Mortar halftrack version,Command hafltrack version etc.
Positive aspects of the open top included greater situational awareness and faster egress by the infantry, as well as the ability to throw grenades and fire over the top of the fighting compartment as necessary while remaining under good horizontal cover.The
downside was a major vulnerability to all types of plunging fire,this included from mortars and field artillery as well as depressed-trajectory small arms fire from higher elevated positions, lobbed grenades or molotov cocktails and strafing by enemy aircraft.
Sdkfz 231/232 Heavy Armoured Car -
In the German Army,
armoured cars were intended for the traditional cavalry missions of reconaissance and screening They
scouted ahead and to the flank of advancing mechanized units to assess enemy location, strength and intention. Their primary role was to observe and assess, rather than engage in extended fire fights, but they would
engage enemy reconnaissance elements,probedefences and at times attempt to capture enemy patrols. Armoured Cars were concentrated in the
Divisional reconaissance battalion attatched to every panzer division(usually with upto 60 armoured cars).The battalion had 2 companies of armoured cars -and company had 2 zugs(platoons) of light armoured cars and 1 zug of heavy armoured car plus the kompanie trupp.In effect there were around 12 heavy armoured cars in the 1940 panzer division.
Weight -8.3 tonnes Designer - Bussing-NAG Armament - 20mm autocannon + 1x 7.92 mm Mg34
Speed -85 kmph Range - 300kmph Ammunition - 180 x 20mm, 2100 x 7.92mm rounds
Crew - 4 Armour - 8-15mm
The
Sdkfz-231 series of heavy armoured cars entered service back in 1932,but the 6 wheelers were deemed to have insufficient cross-country performance and replaced from 1937 by the
standard 8 -wheeled version.This became the basis of all german hevay armoured cars.during the war.The 20 mm cannon was not designed to defeat enemy tanks,Using high explosive ammunition, the
20 mm autocannon was highly effective against infantry and unarmoured vehicles.The role intended was for the car's armour to protect the crew from small arms fire during reconnaissance missions.During the early war in the western campaigns and africa the wehrmacht made excellent use of such light vehicles.The
Sdkfz 232 was a modified variant.The 232 carried a Fu.Ger.11 SE 100 medium range and a Fu.Spr.Ger.A short range radio and was often used by the kompanie trupp.Late war these 2 types were gradually being replaced the 234 series 'Puma' heavy armoured cars.
Sdkfz 221/222/223 Light Armoured Car -
The light armoured car of the reconaissance battalions,this series of
4-wheeled vehicles were produced from 1935-44 with
total production exceeding 2400 units of all types.The 222 was the most produced type with~1000 built.
The
Sdkfz. 221 was armed with a single Mg34,manned by a two man crew, and had 4-wheel drive.
Sdkfz 222 was
armed with a 20mm autocannon and a 7.92 mm Mg34. The crew was increased to three by the addition of
a gunner, relieving the commander of that task.(In picture above).
Sdkfz223 armoured car with similar features to the Sd. Kfz. 221, but with the addition of a raisable frame antenna and a 30-watt FuG 10 medium-range radio set. Later versions of the vehicle were equipped with an improved 80-watt FuG 12 radio set. Mg34 only armamenr,crew increase dto 3 buy addition of radio operator.
Weight -4.8 tonnes Designer - Eisenwork Armament - 20mm autocannon + 1x 7.92 mm Mg34
Speed -70 kmph Range - 200kmph Ammunition - 180 x 20mm, 1050 x 7.92mm rounds
Crew - 3 Armour - 8-15mm
Front and sides were made of 8 mm thinner 5 mm (0.2 in) plates protected the top, rear, and bottom. Cast vision ports later replaced ports cut into the armour. The
open-topped turret was fitted with wire mesh anti-grenade screens. Beginning in 1939, the front armour was increased to 14.5 mm (0.6 in). In 1942, the Ausf. B chassis was introduced; this had 30 mm of frontal armour, as well as a more powerful engine.this class of vehicle was hampered by its
relatively poor off-road performance. In those theaters, it gradually found itself replaced in the reconnaissance role by later model halftracks.
BMW R12 & R75 Motorcycles -
The Kradschutzen troops were equipped on motorcycles -with a
sidecar and a mg34,both manufactured by BMW.The mission of these type of units was, to
surprise and outflank the enemy far ahead of own forces, using superiority in movement and speed.
Motorcycle infantry units are especially capable of performing the following tasks:
>
Fast taking of important areas,
> Securing of narrow terrain features,
> Fighting against weak enemy forces,
> Surprising attack against enemy flank and rear,
> Pursuit, securing and covering own movements of motorized forces."
Mainly organized within the kradschutzen battalions ,or by companies within the motorized regiment.The divisional reconaissance battalion also had a kradschutzen detatchement.Produced until 1944 when over
20,000 had been produced.Superb speed(95kmph),cheap cost and maintainence,low fuel consumption and high mobility made them good reconaissance units.The panzers were always proceeded by the arrival of these troops,and they remain
iconic of the blitzkrieg era.
Sdkfz 7/8/9/10/11 Halftracks -
These halftracks were the
motorized skeleton of the panzer divisions.Each division required hundreds of these to operate and thousands were produced.
Sdkfz 7 - 11.5 tonne vehicle with 1 crew and 11 passengers.Used as
tractor for 88 mm Flak gun or 150 mm heavy howitzer.Secondary role troop transport and armoured recovery vehicle.Also employed as platform for AA light flak gun in variants.
12,000 built from 1938-44.
Sdkfz 8 - 14.7 heavy prime mover.Used for
towing large artillery pieces 150mm or 210 mm.
4000 built.
Sdkfz 9 - 18 tonne heavy mover.Used for towing
heavy artillery early war,240mm pieces and as
armoured recovery vehicle for tiger and panther later.
2500 built.
Sdkfz 10 - 4.9 tonne light halftrack Its main role was as a
mover for small towed guns such as the 2cm Flak, the 75mm infantry gun, or the 37mm pak36 anti-tank gun. It could carry eight troops in addition to towing a gun or trailer.
14,000 built.
Sdkfz 11 - 7.2 tonne
medium halftrack for medium towed guns ranging from the 37 mm flak up to the 105mm Lefh18 field howitzer. It could carry eight troops in addition to towing a gun or trailer
.9000 produced.
These
large varieties of Towing halftracks while individually reliable and effective machines often
overlap in roles,are
symptomatic of the lack of german mass production strategy or attempts at standardizing on types that would hamper its prospects in what would be an industrial war.
Opel Blitz Truck -
The real backbone of german mechanized strength the opel 3-tonne utility truck was employed as the main troop carrier for the motorized infantry(due to lack of halftracks),main cargo and supplies truck to maintain mobility of operations.However thousands of other trucks were also pressed into service ,especially after the french campaign when french trucks/lorries confiscated in thousands aided the formation of new panzer divisions for the invasion of russia.Opel remained the dominant type throughout the war,serving on all fronts.130,000 were built.
2 cm Flak 30/38 -
Panzer divisions also
had a small anti-aircraft section of light anti-aircraft flak guns -the flak30/38 of 20 mm calibre which was also very effective against infantry and light armoured targets.The original flak30 had low rate of fire which was rectified in the flak38.with 280–450 rpm (cyclic) &120–180 rpm (practical).Range was 2200 metres.An ingenious variation was mounting of 4 flak38 barrels together for the
Flakverling 38 quadruple mount.144,000 flak 30/38 were produced.They served the army units,the luftwaffe defence units,the kreigsmaine.The heavier 37mm ,88mm and 105 mm flak guns were operated exclusively by Luftwaffe.They were very
often used in anti-infantry role,particualrly in the eastern front against soviet human wave attacks.
Infantry weapons & Artillery -
BATTLE REPORT #16 Fall Gelb:Blitzkrieg 1940 | Page 3
Page 3 and 4 of this thread describe in detail weapons used by german infantry.Same weapons employed by motorized infantry.They also used same infantry guns and anti-tank guns.The divisional anti-tank battalion at this stage also used pak36 gusn described in pg4.The
artillery weapons of the panzer divisions (non-infantry guns) will be described later under german artillery section.
NEXT : PANZER CREWMAN: PANZER SMALL UNIT TACTICS: PANZERGRENADIER SMALL-UNIT TACTICS
