Tank Aces of WWII

Discussions on all (non-biographical) aspects of the Freikorps, Reichswehr, Austrian Bundesheer, Heer, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Fallschirmjäger and the other Luftwaffe ground forces. Hosted by Christoph Awender.
User avatar
davethelight
Member
Posts: 1691
Joined: 21 Dec 2002, 08:52
Location: Australia

Tank Aces of WWII

#1

Post by davethelight » 12 Aug 2004, 12:26

I'm not sure where to put this thread, so I'll start it here in the lounge and let the moderators decide where it should go.

I'm interested in tank aces from WWII, Axis or Allied. I'd like to get information about them in the form of something like short biographies of their careers which include reasonably detailed descriptions of the relevant highlights of their careers, particular actions where they distinguished themselves etc. Aces like Michael Wittmann and Karl Brommann, or any Allied/Russian tank aces.

User avatar
cyberdaemon
Member
Posts: 424
Joined: 11 Mar 2004, 23:04
Location: estonia

#2

Post by cyberdaemon » 20 Aug 2004, 11:28

heres a quoete from another thread :
http://forum.axishistory.com/posting.ph ... te&p=41299

Wolfkin wrote:Thank you , Homer!

This is strange indeed. It makes me wonder which source is correct. Is the info in Panzer Aces correct or several other books like Tigers In Combat or Michael Wittmann and the Tiger Commanders of the Leibstandarte? Maybe we should have a look as to what sources each of this books used?

Basically two different lists:

168 kills- Kurt Knispel
150+ kills-Otto Carius
139 kills- Hans Boelter
138 kills- Michael Wittmann


140+ kills- Michael Wittmann
139 kills- Hans Boelter
125 kills- Otto Carius
42 as tank commander, 126 as gunner- Kurt Knispel


The question is...how did other sources come up with these totals? Do they include scores of when the commander was a gunner? Do they include, for example, when Wittmann was in a StuG? What should be included and what shouldn't? Should it be a total of all the kills as a commander, no matter what vehicle? Or should it be only those kills made while a commander of a Panzer?

Hmmmm...lots of questions, too little answers :):):).


Cheers,

Wolfkin
heres Marcus Wenels post to the same thread.
Marcus Wendel wrote:Here is a list of panzer aces posted by David C Clarke over in the Feldgrau forum.


TANK KILLERS

Contributors; Ron Klages, David C. Clarke, Erich Brown, Steve Eckardt, John S.

1.Kurt Knispel –168 Kills (sPzAbt. 503)
2.Otto Carius – 150+ Kills (sPzAbt. 502)–Tiger I--Knight's Cross 5/4/44, Oak Leaves 7/27/44.
3.Johannes (Hans) Bolter-- 139 Kills (possibly 144) (sPzAbt. 502) Tigers– Knight's Cross 4/16/44, Oak Leaves 9/10/44.
4.Michael Wittman – 138 Kills (sS.S.PzAbt. 101 Liebstandarte)–Tiger I–Knight's Cross 1/14/44, Oak Leaves 1/14/44 with Swords, 6/25/44.
5.Hans Sandrock – 123 Kills (assorted AFV last unit HJ )
6.Paul Egger – 113 Kills (s SS Pz. Abt. 102)–Tigers– Knight's cross 4/28/45
7.Fritz Lang– 113 Kills (StuG. Abt. 232)
8.Arno Giesen – 111 Kills (Das Reich)
9.Oberfahnrich Rondorf—106 kills (sPzAbt. 503)–Tigers
10.Feldwebel Gaetner ( Gartner?)– 103 Kills (sPzAbt. 503)–Tigers
11.Karl Koener – 100+ Kills (sS.S.PzAbt. 503)–Tigers–Knight's Cross 4/29/44.
12.Albert Kerscher – 100+ Kills (sPzAbt. 502)–Tigers–Knight's Cross 10/23/44.
13.Balthazar (Bobby) Woll–100+ Kills, 81 as Gunner (sSS Pz. Abt. 101)–Knight's Cross–1/16/44.
14.Helmut Wendorff—84 Kills (sS.S.Pz Abt.101)–Tigers–Knight's Cross 2/12/44.
15.Ernst Barkmann—82+ Kills (Das Reich)—Panther–Knight's Cross 8/27/44.
16.Eric Litztke—76 Kills (sPzAbt. 509)--Tigers– Knight's Cross 10/20/44
17.Hermann Bix – 75+ Kills (4th Panzer Division)–Knight's Cross 3/22/45.
18.Hans Strippel – 70 Kills (4. / II/ PzAbt. 1, 1st Pz. Division)–Pz. IV–Knight's Cross 6/4/44.
19.Emil Seibold – 69 Kills (Das Reich)–Pz IV+ Captured T-34s
20.Wilhelm Knauth—68 Kills (sPzAbt. 505)–Tigers–Knight's Cross 11/14/43.
21.Hugo Primozic– 68 Kills (StuG Abt. 667)–Knight's Cross 9/25/42, Oak Leaves 1/25/43.
22.Karl Bromann – 66 Kills (sS.S.PzAbt. 503)–Tigers.
23.Josef William (Sepp) Brandner – 61 Kills (StuG Brigade 912)–Knight's Cross 1/17/45, Oak Leaves 4/30/45.
24.Hans-Bobo von Rohr – 58 Kills (25 Pz. Abt., 7th Pz. Division)–Knight's Cross 11/15/44, Oak leaves 4/8/45 (Posthumously).
25.Karl Heinz Warmbrunn-- 57 Kills, 44 as gunner (s SS Pz. Abt. 101)–Tigers
26.Albert Ernst–55 Kills–(s.Pz. Jgr. Abt. 519)--Nashorn–Knight's Cross–2/7/44.
27.Richard Engelmann—54 Kills (StuG Abt. 912)–Knight's Cross 7/22/44.
28.Heinz Kling–51 Kills (s SS Pz. Abt. 101)--Tigers.
29.Johann Muller–50 Kills ((sPz. Abt. 502)--Tigers–Knight's Cross 10/23/44.
30.Josef Dallmeier—50 Kills (Fhr. PzJager Kp.1183)–Hetzer–Knight's Cross 4/3/45(?).
31.Walter Feibig—50+ Kills (StuG Brigade 301)
32.Heinz Kramer – 50+ Kills (sPzAbt. 502)–Tigers–Knight's Cross 10/6/44.
33.Alfredo Carpaneto – 50+ Kills (sPzAbt. 502)–Tigers–Knight's Cross 3/28/45.
34.Oberleutnant Mausberg – 50+ Kills (s.Pz. Abt. 505)–Tigers.
35.Wolfgang Hans Heimer Paul von Bostell–48 Kills–( Pz. Jgr. Kp. 1023, Pz. Jgr. Abt. 205)–Knight's Cross 9/2/44, Oak Leaves 4/30/45.
36.Jurgen Brandt—47 Kills (sS.S.Abt. 101)–Tigers.
37.Heinz Deutsch – 44 Kills (Fsch. StuG Brigade 12) Knight's Cross 4/28/45.
38.Fritz Amling—42+ Kills (in 48 Hrs. with StuG Brigade 202) Knight's Cross 12/5/42.
39.Heinz Scharf—40+ Kills (StuG Brigade 202) Knight's Cross 9/5/44.
40.Walter Oberloskamp – 40+ Kills (StuG Brigade 667) Knight's Cross 5/15/43.
41.Fredrich Tadje—39 Kills (StuG Abt. 190) Knight's Cross 10/24/42.
42.Rudolf Roy—36 Kills (12 S.S. PanzerJager Abt. HJ)–JP IV–Knight's Cross 10/16/44.
43.Gottwald Stier—30+ Kills (StuG Brigade 667) Knight's Cross (date unknown).
44.Josef Trager – 30+ Kills (StuG Brigade 667) Knight's Cross (date unknown).
45.Richard Schram—30 Kills (StuG Brigade 202) Knight's Cross 12/12/42.
46.Karl Pfreundtner—30 Kills (StuG Abt. 244) Knight's Cross 9/18/42.
47.Karl Heinrich Banze – 24 Kills (13 on one day StuG Abt. 244) Knight's Cross 5/27/42.
48.Felix Adamowitsch –23 Kills (in an 8 day period, StuG Abt. 244) Knight's Cross 10/20/44.
49.Eugen Metzger—23 Kills (StuG Abt. 203) Knight's Cross 9/29/41.
50.Hauptmann Rade –23 Kills (StuG Abt. 244)
51.Heinrich Teriete – 22 Kills (in one engagement, sPzJgAbt. 653) Knight's Cross 7/22/43.
52.Franz Staudegger—22+ Kills (sS.S.Pz Abt. 101) Knight's Cross 7/10/43.
53.Franz Kretshmer – 21 Kills (sPzJgAbt. 653) Knight's Cross 12/17/43
54.Horst Naumann—21 Kills (StuG Abt. 184) Knight's Cross 1/4/43
55.Klaus Wagner – 18 Kills (in two days, StuG Abt. 667)
56.Hermann Feldheim—16 Kills (sPzJgAbt. 654)
57.Heinrich Engel –15 Kills (StuG Abt. 259) Knight's Cross 11/7/43
58. Rudolf von Ribbentrop– 14 Kills (LSSAH+ HJ) Knight's Cross 7/20/43.
59. Wachtmeister Moj–12 Kills (StuG Abt. 190)
60. Siegfried Freyer– 11 Kills in one engagement (Pz. Abt. 24) Knight's Cross 7/23/43.
61. Alfred Reginitor–10 Kills (StuG Abt. 279) Knight's Cross (date unknown).


User avatar
davethelight
Member
Posts: 1691
Joined: 21 Dec 2002, 08:52
Location: Australia

#3

Post by davethelight » 20 Aug 2004, 15:30

Thank you cyberdaemon, at least someone has replied to this thread. :)

User avatar
Imad
Member
Posts: 1412
Joined: 21 Nov 2004, 04:15
Location: Toronto

#4

Post by Imad » 26 Dec 2004, 01:52

I believe the greatest tank 'ace' of the Second World War was Sgt. Lafayette Pool of the U.S. 3rd Armored Division. Destroyed 258 German vehicles of all types and killed about a thousand Germans. All this in a Sherman! Unlike Wittman Sgt. Pool actually survived the war. It is possible that Wittman might have outscored him had he not been killed before the war ended.
All the best, Imad

User avatar
Victor
Member
Posts: 3904
Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 15:25
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Contact:

#5

Post by Victor » 26 Dec 2004, 09:25

How many out the 258 vehicles were tanks?

davethelight, if you are interested also in small nations tank aces, I think you will find this topic on Romanian tank aces interesting: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=8113

Jan-Hendrik
Member
Posts: 8695
Joined: 11 Nov 2004, 13:53
Location: Hohnhorst / Deutschland

#6

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 26 Dec 2004, 10:50

imad , Germans did not count trucks , halftracks and such staff as combat records ...

How many bicycles are included in this 258 "cars" ?

Jan-Hendrik

User avatar
KalaVelka
Member
Posts: 1087
Joined: 26 Dec 2002, 17:12
Location: Suomi Finland Perkele

#7

Post by KalaVelka » 26 Dec 2004, 11:25

imad wrote:I believe the greatest tank 'ace' of the Second World War was Sgt. Lafayette Pool of the U.S. 3rd Armored Division. Destroyed 258 German vehicles of all types and killed about a thousand Germans. All this in a Sherman! Unlike Wittman Sgt. Pool actually survived the war. It is possible that Wittman might have outscored him had he not been killed before the war ended.
All the best, Imad
I remember that somebody posted a link about US tank ace (I dont remember the name, could be this one) long time ago. The site claimed that this US dude had something like 1000 vechiles scored and nearly as much AFV's. Its interesting that we havent heard more about this destroyer of entire panzerdivison.

/Kasper

User avatar
davethelight
Member
Posts: 1691
Joined: 21 Dec 2002, 08:52
Location: Australia

#8

Post by davethelight » 26 Dec 2004, 19:16

Victor wrote:How many out the 258 vehicles were tanks?

davethelight, if you are interested also in small nations tank aces, I think you will find this topic on Romanian tank aces interesting: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=8113
Thanks Victor, that is a very interesting article.

User avatar
Imad
Member
Posts: 1412
Joined: 21 Nov 2004, 04:15
Location: Toronto

#9

Post by Imad » 27 Dec 2004, 01:17

Victor wrote:How many out the 258 vehicles were tanks?

davethelight, if you are interested also in small nations tank aces, I think you will find this topic on Romanian tank aces interesting: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=8113
Victor, I am glad you pointed that out. I did a little bit of research on that. It turns out that the "258" included tanks, armored cars, and self propelled guns. Of these, at least 12 were tanks. That is a far cry from Wittman's record. However, the Americans are fond of saying Pool "outscored" Wittman, and that is just what I was repeating. My mistake. By the way, here's the website I looked up: http://www.3ad.com/history/wwii/article ... ayette.htm
All the best, Imad

User avatar
Victor
Member
Posts: 3904
Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 15:25
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Contact:

#10

Post by Victor » 27 Dec 2004, 10:41

I remembered some older discussion about this sgt. Pool on another forum and that not all the kills were tanks. The Allied tankers had less available targets than their German counterparts in 1944 and it was pretty hard to destroy so many tanks in a rather short period of time. Nonetheless, the man deserves his "ace" title and should be aknowledged as such.

Igorn
Member
Posts: 566
Joined: 10 Dec 2004, 12:13
Location: Moscow, Russia
Contact:

#11

Post by Igorn » 05 Jan 2005, 20:12

Guys,

Here is the information about Russian Tank Aces. http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 91&start=0

Best regards from Russia,

Jan-Hendrik
Member
Posts: 8695
Joined: 11 Nov 2004, 13:53
Location: Hohnhorst / Deutschland

#12

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 31 May 2006, 12:02


User avatar
Pips
Member
Posts: 1280
Joined: 26 Jun 2005, 09:44
Location: Country NSW, Australia

#13

Post by Pips » 31 May 2006, 23:52

Just curious if there is a similar list for PAK aces. On the Russian Front there would have been some very high scorer's I'm sure.

User avatar
Marcus
Member
Posts: 33963
Joined: 08 Mar 2002, 23:35
Location: Europe
Contact:

Re: Tank Aces of WWII

#14

Post by Marcus » 29 Dec 2008, 14:14

A discussion on Tank battles in Poland 1939 has been split off into a thread of its own to get more room.

/Marcus

WorldwarBill
Member
Posts: 96
Joined: 11 May 2010, 01:29

Re: Tank Aces of WWII

#15

Post by WorldwarBill » 23 Feb 2019, 22:21

Just as an FYI, Arno Giesen is a nom de guerre. The man's real name was Arnold Friesen.

Post Reply

Return to “Heer, Waffen-SS & Fallschirmjäger”