Early War AAMG's on German Tanks

PanzerBob · #1 October 29th, 2008, 07:31 PM

I wish I had a referance handy, but I have read that with early war Panzer III's and maybe even IV's there was a fair amount of panzers had the MG34's cupola mounted as a field modification. I'll see if I can dig up the referance.

Bob out

PanzerBob · #2 October 29th, 2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanzerBob

I wish I had a referance handy, but I have read that with early war Panzer III's and maybe even IV's there was a fair amount of panzers had the MG34's cupola mounted as a field modification. I'll see if I can dig up the referance.

Bob out

Well I'm about to go freakin' blind now. I'm going to back peddle some on my claim. I'm convinced, due to the lack of photographic evidence, that that these AAMG mounts were not common. It is possible that maybe the piece I read only alluded to Panzers in the unit the person belonged to. I will still endeavour to find that write up.

Bob out

blitzkreig · #3 October 31st, 2008, 03:59 PM

Panzerbob,

I'd agree with you on those AAMG mounts. I've seen various sources mention they existed and seen various threads on different forums about AAMG on German tanks.

I have seen the AAMG mount or pintle on photographs fitted on sdkfz 231 armoured car, as well as a late production Pz IV command tank, Panther and a Tiger II, these did not however actually have AAMG fitted to the pintle.

With the sheer volume of pictres of German armoured vechilces in WWII I'd have to conclude that the use of AAMG must have been quite rare otherwise surely there would be more photographs of them?

The only actual picutre of a German tank with a MG34 AAMG (with AA sight) I've seen was fitted to a Panther Ausf A.

This can be seen on page 78 of: Standard Catalog of german Military vechiles by David Doyle

ISBN:0-87349-783-x

PanzerBob · #4 October 31st, 2008, 07:34 PM

Later war panzers, did have them, although I must say most of photographic evidence there is mostly the mounts or provisions for them. I suspect, when not in use, they likely were stored in the Panzer itself. An example of this I know for sure, is the MG34 the StuG's carried. It was not a fitment until the Ausf G's maybe some F's, up to that time they were stored inside for local defence. A design shortfall StuG crews were quick to remedy, no small wonder since the StuG was designed to support the Infantry at least to start with.

Bob out