KStN 1113 (gp)

[Leo Niehorster]

Both the 01.04.44 and the 01.07.44 versions of KStN 1114c (gp)(f.G.) [both found in the 01.04.44 PzDiv (freie Gliederung) file] have one "mSPW (2cm) (Sd.Kfz. 251/17)" in the platoon headquarters.

As with all equipment authorized in KStN, newer versions were not issued until the old models were used up/destroyed, or after the company had been completely rebuilt and reequipped. In addition, troops made field modifications, for example, substituting a 28mm gun (sPzBü) or a 20mm gun for a 37mm ATG.

The other armored rifle companies were:
Pz. Brig. KStN Armored Infantry Company
No KStN numbers were allocated. See Annex 2, order KH/Gen.Insp.d.Pz.Tr./Abt.Org./Nr. 2100/44 g.Kdos., dated 18.07.1944.
Co Hqs: 4 KK (2); 2 cars (light-cc); 1 SPW (251/17); 2 SPW (251/3).
2 SMG Plt: Hqs Sect: 1 SPW (251/17).
.. 3 SMG Sqd: 1 SPW (251/1); 1 SMG Squad w/ MP-44.
1 Inf Plt: Hqs Sect: 1 SPW (251/17).
.. 3 Inf Sqd: 1 SPW (251/1); 1 Infantry Squad w/ 2 LMG.
1 Hvy Plt: Hqs Sect: 1 KK (2); 1 SPW (251/1).
.. MG Sect: 3 SPW (251/17); 3 HMG.
.. Mortar Sect: 2 SPW (251/2 with 81mm mortar).
.. Gun Sect: 2 SPW (251/9 with 75mm Gun).

KStN 1114a (gp)(f.G.) 01.08.1944 Armored Infantry Company
Co Hqs: 3 KK (2); 2 cars (light-cc); 2 SPW (251/3).
2 SMG Plt: Hqs Sect: 1 SPW (251/1).
.. 3 SMG Sqd: 1 SPW (251/1); 1 SMG Squad w/ MP-44.
1 Hvy Plt: Hqs Sect: 1 KK (2); 1 SPW (251/1).
.. Mortar Sect: 2 SPW (251/2 with 81mm mortar).
.. Gun Sect: 2 SPW (251/9 with 75mm Gun).
1 AA Plt: 1 KK (2); 6 SPW (251/21 with triple 20mm 151 AA Gun).

KStN 1114b (gp)(f.G.) 01.08.1944 Armored Infantry Company
Co Hqs: 3 KK (2); 2 cars (light-cc); 2 SPW (251/3).
2 Inf Plt: Hqs Sect: 1 SPW (251/1).
.. 3 Inf Sqd: 1 SPW (251/1); 1 Infantry Squad with 2 LMG.
2 AA Plt: 1 KK (2); 6 SPW (251/21 with triple 20mm 151 AA Gun).

KStN 1114d (gp)(f.G.) 01.08.1944 Armored Infantry Company
Co Hqs: 3 KK (2); 2 cars (light-cc); 2 SPW (251/3).
3 AA Plt: 1 KK (2); 6 SPW (251/21 with triple 20mm 151 AA Gun).

There was no 01.11.44 version for the armored rifle company. The next version was to be issued on 01.04.45, which I don't think was implemented. The only PzGrenKp issued on 01.11.44 was KStN 1114b (f.g.) PzGrenKp (fahrradbeweglich) = bicycle-mobile.

--
Leo

[Gary Kennedy]

Yes Gary, I remember that discussion. It is the KStN 1114gp which I may now have to amend to your April 44 to November 44. But as Alan has said, but due to equipment shortages, would these platoons still have the Sd.kfz 251/10 from 1942?
The one I have started to build has the April 44 version but with 251/10s.

Ian

Ian, I think we are talking at cross purposes on this one.

If you're putting together a tabletop representation of an armoured Panzer Grenadier Company, based on the Nov 1943 or Apr 1944 organisations, for halftracks you would need along these lines;

Company HQ - 2x SdKfz 251/3
Heavy Platoon - 1x SdKfz 251/10 (Platoon HQ); 2x SdKfz 251/2 (8-cm mortars); 2x 251/9 (7.5-cm cannon); 2x SdKfz 251 (each dismounting two heavy MG teams).
Three Rifle Platoons, each - 1x SdKfz 251/10 (Platoon HQ) and three SdKfz 251 (each dismounting eight men).

In theory, the HQ halftrack in each Rifle Platoon and the Heavy Platon, and both the halftracks dismounting heavy MG teams were to be SdKfz 251/17 types, armed with the 2-cm Flak cannon. However, as discussed earlier in the thread (and lots of other places) there was a big gap between saying those vehicles were to be used and then providing them. You can easily have a mixture Platoon HQ vehicles (one standard 251, one 251/10 and one 251/17 for example) to reflect the inconsistency seen in the field.

The 7.5-cm armed SdKfz 250 referred to in earlier posts was only in relation to the Reconnaissance Company equipped with light SdKfz 250 halftracks, and shouldn't impact on your standard SdKfz 251 equipped Rifle Company.

Gary

[yantaylor]

Thats the one I have gone for Gary.

Ian

[yantaylor]

Concerning the two main halftracks the 250 and 251, both had versions armed with the 3.7cm PaK 35/36. Early versions of the vehicle had the full gun shield, but then we had various cut down versions too. The last version had just one piece of armored plate on the right-hand side of the gun, but did both the 250/10 and 251/10 have this same basic shield?

I am currently trying to assemble a platoon of each and I am concerned that the full shield looks wrong, especially for the stage in the war in which I am building them for, which is 1944. I using PSC models for both halftracks and their 251/10 has the full shield, on the other hand their 250/10 has the cut down version. So could I use the cut down shield on both the 250/10 and 251/10.

Thanks
Ian