Maschinengewehr Kompanie, 1943

[CNE503]

Hello,

In spite of some researches about this, I didn't find an organizational chart or at least conclusive elements about the organization of a heavy weapons company of a German infantry battalion (a "regular" one, from a typical Grenadier Regiment) in early 1943. I'm especially looking for its firepower and so the heavy weapons it possessed at this time.

I found the KStN for a Maschinengewehr Kompanie in February 1941, and it states that it was organized with three heavy machineguns platoons (schweren Maschinengewehr Züge) with four MGs each (total: twelve heavy machineguns). No evidence of mortar platoon, antitank platoon, and so on. Was it still the case in the first semester of 1943?

Thank you for your help.
Cheers,

CNE503

[Gary Kennedy]

Which KStN have you seen for the all MG equipped MG Coy? The one in use in Inf Div Gren Bns was 151c of 01Feb41, which had the MGs as you describe but also included a Platoon with six 8-cm mortars. The Atk guns were found at Regtl level, so not carried on the Gren Bn tables.

The 01Feb41 dated 151c theoretically stayed in force until 01Dec43, but there were a number of changes. The 8-cm Mortar Pl was broken up and the six weapons reallocated two to each Rifle Coy, with the 5-cm mortars being deleted from the Rifle Pls. The 8-cm Mortar Section was outlined in KStN 170 of 20May43, but unfortunately no copies of that table appear to have survived. Back in the MG Coy, the 8-cm Mortar Pl was replaced by a 12-cm Mortar Pl, under KStN 175d of 03Mar43, which had four 12-cm mortars. So the MG Coy was to move to 12 HMGs and four 12-cm mortars, while the three Rifle Coys were to each have 12 LMGs and two 8-cm mortars.

Gary

[CNE503]

Hi Gary,

Thank you for your answer. I had a glance to the KStN 151f dated February 1st, 1941. It clearly states that there were only three MGs platoons with four heavy machineguns each.
Looking at the KStN 151c, I found the fourth platoon equipped with six heavy mortars (I guess it was with 8cm GrW34). So I have the answer I was looking for

Cheers,

CNE503