Latewar Tank Company Organization

[Harckocizo]

As the topic suggests, im looking for information about the hungarian tank companies in 43-45 when they recieved Turans, Tigers etc.

That is the HQ, Platoons and support avaible.

Köszi

[Leo Niehorster]

Tank Battalion: (March 1944)
  Headquarters Company
    – Motorized Pioneer Platoon (3 LMG)
    – Motorized Traffic Control Platoon
    – Signal Platoon (2 Turán [40mm] command tanks; 1 Turán [40mm] gun tank)
    – Light Tank Platoon (5 Toldi [20mm] light tanks)
  Motorized Service Company
  2 Heavy Tank Companies (2 Turán [40mm] command tanks; 9 Turán [75mm] gun tanks)
  2 Medium Tank Companies (2 Turán [40mm] command tanks; 16 Turán [40mm] gun tanks)

The number of Tiger tanks received was very limited, not standard equipment, and there was no specific organization for them.

Cheers
Leo

[PanzerKing]

I have read three different numbers for Tigers available to Hungary, 3, 5, and 10. Who knows which is true?

[Danubia]

The true figure is ten Tiger E models supplied to the M. kir. 2. honved. in Majus 1944.

[DenesBernad]

There were a total of 15 Pz.Kpfw VI Ausf. E handed over to Hungarian forces (only 13 are documented). These tanks were used to fill in the heavy companies of Honvédség armoured formations from 1943 on.

Dénes

[Andrew Telford]

Hello Denés,
I’m interested in your comments concerning the Tiger I handed over to the Hungarian 3. hk, you state that there were 15 vehicles, however only 13 were documented, could you elaborate on this please?

I have been researching the Hungarian Tiger issue for a number of years (off and on) and I have found no official; Hungarian or German primary material (orders etc) that states how many Tigers were actually handed over during the summer of 1944.

The source most often quoted and used concerning the Hungarian Tigers is the diary of Fohadnagy Matthias Eszes who was the training platoon commander ( 1 Tiger, 1 X Pz IV, 1 x StuG III) of the 3/I. hk after the handover of the Tigers.

During my discussions with him confirmed that only 10 Tigers were handed over to the 3. hk during May 1944 at Nadworna, he only ever witnessed 10 Tigers handed over (despite what s.Pz.Abt 509 orders may have stated).

There are the often mentioned additional 3 Tigers delivered in late August as a ‘birthday gift’ for Vezérörnagy (Major-General) László General Hollosy-Kothy; however he believes this information is incorrect due to this gentleman not actually being in Galacia at the time (3. hk were not in Galacia either at end August) and they – Tigers (if they existed) may have been delivered to Hungary in late July and could have been for General Zoltán Zsedényi birthday (Commander 2. pc.ho) who was respected by Walter Model, his birthday was 22 July; General Hollosy-Kothy birthday was August 23rd.

Fohadnagy Matthias Eszes was detached from the main elements of the 3/I. hk (with his platoon) and rightly states he can not confirm or deny whether these additionals were actually delivered, he strongly believes there may have been one Tiger extra delivered taking the total to 11, not three but did not witness this.

This is still one of those unsolved mysteries…….
Looking forward to your reply

Rgds
Andrew