German Fully Tracked Vehicles on the Western Front

[Ron Klages]

To all interested,

I have been in the process of attempting to determine which German fully tracked vehicles by type and the quantity that fought in the west from 6 June 1944 through to 8 May 1945. I also wanted to display this data by vehicle type, quantity by month and the assigned unit. I have now accomplished that activity and I wish to share this information with all those individuals that have an interest. I also wish to generate an ongoing narrative to continue to review, add and correct and make any adjustments that would be necessary to develop the most accurate accounting possible of such a data base. This listing was never intended to include the RSO type vehicles.

The kind owners and moderators of this forum have agreed to post the information and to establish a linked “Sticky” for each input that I make. I will input my data base in the following sections.

You will note that each section is linked to the data base as posted here on the forum.

***************************************************************

Section I.- -Assault Guns [2,120 units]: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=79292
StuG III=1,647 units
StuG IV=234 units
StuH 42=239 units

Section II.- -Self-propelled Artillery [439 units]: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=79295
Wespe=135 units
Hummel=118 units
Grille=106 units
Sturmpanzer IV=72 units
Sturmmörser Tiger=8 units

Section III.- -Anti-Tank Vehicles [1,733 units]: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=79355
Jagdpanzer 38(t) [Hetzer]=784 units
Jagdpanzer IV=357 units
Jagdpanther=320 units
Marder III [7.5cm Pak]=148 units
Jagdtiger=69 units
Nashorn=23 units
Marder II [7.62cm Pak]=21 units
Marder II [7.5cm Pak]=8 units
Marder III 7.62cm Pak]=3 units

Section IV- - Captured Equipment [285 units]: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=79411
Somua=52 units
Hotchkiss=45 units
Renault 35R=28 units
10.5cm FH auf Hotchkiss=24 units
10.5cm FH auf Lorraine=24 units
Char B2=24 units
7.5cm Pak auf Hotchkiss=23 units
15cm FH auf Lorraine=16 units
15cm IG auf Lorraine=12 units
Renault B2=9 units
7.5cm Pak auf Lorraine (Marder I)=8 units
4.7cm Pak auf R35=6 units
Renault F17=5 units
Sherman=9 units


Section V- - Flakpanzers [321 units]: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=79413
Möbelwagen=133 units
Wirbelwind=96 units
Flakpanzer 38(t)=92 units

Section VI.- - Recovery vehicles [204 units]: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=79420
Bergepanther=103 units
Bergepanzer III=59 units
Bergepanzer 38(t)=39 units
Bergepanzer IV=3 units

Section VII.- - Panzers [4,434 units]: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=79424
Panther=1,837 units
Panzer IV.=1,666 units
Panzer IV/70(V)=331 units
Tiger II=204 units
Tiger I=200 units
Panzer IV/70(A)=93 units
Panzer III.=75 units
Panzer II=27 units
Tiger (P)=1 unit

Section VIII.- -All other [351 units]: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=79425
Demolition vehicle BIV=307 units
Beobspanzer IV.=25 units
Beobspanzer III.=19 units

Grand total all types=9,887 units

Distribution by month is:
1944
June=1,817
July=1,081
August=866
September=1,248
October=651
November=999
December=1,646

1945
January=632
February=204
March=316
April=415
May=12

Jagdpanzer 38 distribution list: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=74614

The format will be self-explanatory. The month I post vehicle quantities is the month that the unit was in combat with the vehicle rather than the shipping or receipt date by the unit. This was done since many units were refitting in Germany or other locations before entering combat on the western front.

I also wish to emphasize that this is my list and it may not be complete or accurate. That is the reason I am entering the data base on the forum to enable corrections, etc. to be made by the audience out there. I also look for additions and or corrections to any unit information shown.

Since the sections can be lengthy it will probably take several days to input all of them.

So here is to happy gathering of data to develop a complete listing of all fully tracked German vehicles that operated on the western front.

Best regards to all,

Ron Klages

[Revellations]

Well Done Ron! Your information will be so valuable to the forum members as it has been to my own particular research in the past. I congratulate you on your efforts and look forward to further posts.

Kind regards

Revellations

[RichTO90]

Great Ron, something else for me to file and digest!

[jmehner]

Ron,

great job, thank you very much indeed, it's highly appreciated.

Just one Q on the Grilles, I presume the number includes both Ausf. H and M, is there any way to tell which unit received what particular variant?

Cheers,

JM

[Ron Klages]

Guys,

Thank you for the positive remarks.

Rich, I look forward to any additions, corrections, etc. that you might have. As to adding to the data base--we both love to do that--right!

JM- I made little effort to determine a model of a particular vehicle since this data is not present in the reports out of the Wehrmacht. The best way to do that is by time line.

best regards,

Ron Klages

[AikinutNY]

The one Tiger(P) or a VK4501 was assigned to theHeadquarters Company, 653rd Panzerjager Abteilung and served on the Eastern front as a command vehicle. The vehicle was lost (cause unknown) after a few months. Alot of the unit's Ferdinand/Elefants were destroyed by the crew due to mechanical problems or stuck in the mud so they would not be captured, since this was basically the same chassis could have been the same reason.

[joepopo1]

Hello:

I am writing from Indian Prairie Library in Darien, IL (near Chicago). We have a patron who is trying to find out if the Toldi M38 tank was used in Panzer units on the Western front after 1944. Based on one of your postings, it looks like you might know this or know who does. The Toldi M38 was made in Hungary and based on the Swedish L60. Do you know of any source that documents this tank being used on the Western front after 1944?

We would appreciate any assistance that you can provide. If you need to talk to a librarian directly, please call 630-887-8760, ext. 240.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Popowitch
Reference Librarian

[joepopo1]

Hello Again:

I am writing from Indian Prairie Library in Darien, IL (near Chicago). We had posted a question and received a very detailed answer regarding the Toldi M38 tank. Our patron has been trying to find out if the Toldi M38 tank was used in Panzer units on the Western front after 1944, and from the posted response, it seemed very improbable that the tank was there.

Since we received that response, our patron has continued doing research. He says that they have identified, as he calls it, "a light reconnaissance tank unit," the 25th Waffen SS. This tank unit clashed with the 70th Tank Battalian near Nuremburg. The 25th was, he thinks, chased out of France sometime during 1944. Because it was a Hungarian unit and specifically a "light reconnaissance tank unit," he feels that if any Toldi M38 tanks were still left, that this unit may have been using them. Unfortunately, they have nothing that documents the unit as having had any Toldis. I realize you have already looked into this matter, but based on the new information we have provided, if you think you can discover any additional information, it would be greatly appreciated.

Our patron, Bill, has said that you can call him if you want to discuss the matter. His phone number is 630-852-0353.

We would appreciate any assistance that you can provide. If you need to talk to a librarian directly, please call 630-887-8760, ext. 240.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Popowitch
Reference Librarian

[USMC03]

Ron,

Ill say it as well...great post...Ive been looking for something like this for my model building...Thanks...Semper Fi, Leigh

[MjrMayhem]

Panzer IV/70(V) and (A), do you mean Jagdpanzer IV/70 (V) and (A)? Not to be picky or anything, i just havent seen a Panzer IV with a L/70 75mm. Would that work anyways?

[Ron Klages]

MjrMayhem,

There never was officially a vehicle named Jagdpanzer IV/70 (V) and (A). The official names were Panzer IV/70(V) and (A).

To differentiate this jagdpanzer from the Jagdpanzer IV with the 7.5cm Pak 39 L48 the troops began calling them Panzer IV/70 with the (V) for Vomag and the (A) for Alkett. In November 1944 the official title adopted by the Waffenamt was the latter.

So a direct answer to you question is yes but to call them Jagdpanzer IV/70 (V) and (A) is incorrect.

This is the same type of problem when calling a Jagdpanzer 38 a "Hetzer". That is an erroe since it was never called a "Hetzer" either officially or un-officially.

Best regards,

Ron Klages

[MjrMayhem]

Thank you, Ron. Learn something new everyday.

[Ron Klages]

To all,

In Section VII on Panzers in the west in August 1944 I show 24 Panthers allocated to OB West.

I now have the specfic units that received these Panthers. They are as follows:

August 1944
8 Panthers for I./SS Panzer Regimnet 12 with the 12. SS Panzer Division
8 Panthers for I./ SS Panzer Regiment 9 with the 9. SS Panzer Division
8 Panthers for I./ Panzer Regiment 6 with Panzer Lehr Division

I am still looking for additionl data but the going is now slow.

Best regards to all,

Ron Klages

[spannermann]

Hi Ron,
Many thanks for the interesting info, but can you help on a slight tangent, its concerns the Flakpanzer 38(t), is it possible that you could list the units that received them in the east ? and anything that may show them still in use in Czechoslsovakia in 1945.

thanks

[Ron Klages]

Spannermann,

A total of 141 FlakPz. 38(t)s were build and issued in the war.
These are the units that were issued these vehicles.

• Waffenamt = 1

• IN THE WEST
2. PD = 12
21. PD = 12
PD LEHR = 12
1. SSPD = 12 [originally issued to 9. SSPD but transferred to 1. SSPD]
2. SSPD = 12 [originally issued to 10. SSPD but transferred to 2. SSPD]
12. SSPD = 12
17. SSPGD = 20 [8 originally issued to 10. SSPD but picked up by the 17.SSPGD]

Therefore 92 were issued to units fighting in the west and by 1 December 1944 only 3 from the 2. PD and 6 with the 17. SSPGD were still available. All other units had lost or replaced there FlakPz. 38(t)s. The 17. SSPGD withdrew from the west into the area just east of Nürnberg in April 1945 but that is the closest any of these units got to Czechoslovakia and I suspect that the likelyhood of any of the FlakPz. 38(t)s still available would have been very slight.

• IN ITALY
26. PD = 12
PD “HG” = 12
29. PGD = 12
90. PGD = 12

Therefore a total of 48 were issued to units fighting in Italy and on 15 March 1945 only 21 were still available, 6 with the 26. PD, 7 with the 29. PGD and 8 with the 90. PGD.
PD “HG” left the fighting in Italy in July 1944 and went to fight in the east. However, when they left they transferred their armored vehicles to other units that remained in Italy. I doubt they had any FlakPz. 38(t)s when the end came in May 1945.

Therefore based on the above information I would say that most likely there were no FlakPz. 38(t)s fighting on the eastern front.

Hope this data helps.

Best regards,

Ron Klages

Sources are:

Panzer Tracts No. 12 by Jentz
Czech. Armored Fighting Vehicles by Kliment
Die Deutschen Divisionen 1939-1945 Band 1-4 by Schmitz, Thies, Wegmann and Zweng