German armoured engineer vehicles

[TreadHead]

The 251/rak is definitely a retrofit kit that could be added to a SdKfz 251 model A, B, C, or D. Per Gander, "the Schweres Wurfrahmen 40 [SWR 40] was designed by the J.Gast KG. of Berlin-Lichtenberg during 1940 for mounting on the Sd Kfz 251 and 251/1." Combined with the standard 28 & 32cm rockets fired right from their wood or metal "packkiste" packing/launch crate, you've got a big but admittedly inaccurate hammer. I don't recommend these for final protective fires!

I agree about using these for killing/suppressing AT guns and strongpoints. I take the "battery" of four from the campaign/battle unit selection combined with an ammo vehicle, and have two on the firing line in good overwatch positions of the Schwerpunkt while the other two are reloading. Just don't try to reload where you had been shooting before....displace to a new covered spot to avoid counter-battery. Keep AAA assets in the area, too. Similar tactics can be used with the various Grille 15cm SIG mounts.

No figures that I could find (yet) on how many of these kits went out to the field, but Gander goes on to state, "Sd Kfz 251 half-tracks carrying the SWR 40 were widely used in Russia, especially during the sieges of Stalingrad and Leningrad. They were also encountered in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, and NW Europe." Given that it's a kit, and readily available, the only limitation would be a source of the ammo for your Kampfgruppe's enterprising supply sergeant to get his hand on. Those Tokarev pistols you've been capturing from mopping up retreating crews trade well with the rocket batteries in the rear areas....

Ross

[blitzkreig]

Right then fellas,

I've been doing a bit more digging on this issue so thought I'd "sum up" so to speak. I did check out scen 168 those rockets rule in direct fire mode! A one shot cure for anti-tank guns if ever there was one!

flamethrowers:

Pz 1:

These were field conversions carried out by the troops using infantry flame weapons. One of the turret MGs being replaced my the projector. Exact numbers hard to come by but realitivly few due to the limited ammo (or fuel) supply for what was originally a manpack weapon. The Africa Korp converted some for the Tobruk battles.

Pz 2: Flamingo

60-90 were appently produced. The Flamingo equiped Panzer Abteilung (F) 100 (Thanks thatguy96). It was deployed on the Eastern front until Novemeber 1941 when it was withdrwan due to combat lossess. One source claims the few tanks remaining were converted into marders but I haven't been able to confirm. I've been unable to confirm which other, if any formations the flamingo served with but I think it unlikely to see any into 1942.

Pz 3:

Used in 7 vehicle Zugs (plts) this was the most succesful tank flame thrower. Appently issued one per Pz Regiment with select units from some point in 1943.

Panzerkampfwagon B-2 740(F):

Flamethrower conversion of the french Char B caputed in numbers in 1940. Converted Nov 1941- June 1942 some 60 conversions were completed. The flamethrower being mounted in the hull replacing the main gun. Units using this vehcile included PzAbtl (F) 102 supporting the 24th and 296th Infantry Divisions on the Eastern Front in the early days of Barborassa. 223rd Pz Kp deployed on the Ost front had 12 vechiles in May 1943 the 7th SS cavalry Div "Priz Eugen" had 10 vehicles in Yugolsiaiva. 101 Pz Brigade in France had 24 vehicles, with Pz Abteilung 213 in the Channel Islands having 10 (5 on Jersey & 5 on Gurnesy) possibly to the very end of the war. The only Panzers to set foot on British soil!. Pzabtl 206 operating around Cherbourg had 5 vehciles in June 1944 a number of vehcles also saw service with 100th Ersatz Pz Abtl while supporting the 96th Infantry Division around Carentan in Normandy June 1944. Seversl vehciles also saw action at Arnhem with an unknow formation (at least unkown to me!).

251/16:

Operated in Zug (plt) strength attached to select Pz Grenadier Regimental HQs from 1943. In 1944 the Zugs were attached to the Pioneer Kp of select Pz Gren formations.

Mine tanks:

Minenraumer 1 Ausf B:

50 were "apparently" produced in 1938. No photohraphs or evidence they saw active service.

Minenraumer 4:

No evidence or photogrpahs to suggest this develpoed beyond prototype stage.

The weird and whacky:

Some strange mineclearing units did enter German service in very limited numbers (see attached pics from the Axis history forum).



The 251/rak:

Hard to pin point TOE for this but it does seem to have seen widespread use with various Pz formations. In games terms it rocks! A version based on the French UE tankettte seems to have been used by leg infantry formations though it could only carry less rockets than the 251/rak.

Conclusions:

My KG will endever to get hold of some 251/raks and 251/16 veicles as a priority!

The flam tanks don't really seem to have seen widespred service with the Pz forces until the introduction of the Flampz 3 and 251/16. I can fine no evidence the mineclearing tanks ever saw service in gameterms.

If any one has any info on the flame varients of the Stug and Hetzer then please let me know.

[blitzkreig]

Well I've surprised my self!

Pictures of a minecrearing Pz II.

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t:80372

Used by the Africa Korp (Year unknown).

[PanzerBob]

Thanks for the concise report, Ian, nice to see it summed up like that. Like real life, all my time with PzII Flamms, they end up dead, BOMB MAGNET comes to mind. Better luck with FlammPz III, and I once used one CharB to good effect on a couple bunkers, but slow!!

Interesting tidbit on the CharB's on the Islands, I can't help but get this Monty Pythonequese picture out of my head, where the Germans are chasing the poor islanders around (singeing pants etc) but never catching them, claiming it's a dragon...

PanzerBob out

[thatguy96]

The captured Char B's also did time in Yugoslavia fighting the partisans.