26. Panzer-Division - the last Panzer-Division in Italy

[gerritgriebl]

Hi @ the community.

Today i'm here to ask for some help.
I think some of u guys will follow the website "tanks-encyclopedia.com".
They released a new article about the Semovente 105/25. Basing on the article there was a discussion on the tanks-encyclopedia.com discord about the armored strength and composition of the 26. PzDiv.

So is someone here who can help to provide data for the TOE/arsenal of the division?
What kind of weapons were fielded by the 26. PzDiv? Numbers? What kind of armored cars, apc, spg, sp artillery, howitzers, canons, guns were used by the 26. PzDiv? Any information is welcome.

Basing on my research the 26. PzDiv had fielded Flammenpanzer III with its 1. and 2. Flamm-Kompanie, PzReg. 26. Furthermore basing on the book "Panzer Tracts 19-02, p. 19-118" the 26. PzReg fielded some Semovente 105/25 and 75 (most likely 75/18).
Some internet pages are talking about some Semovente 90/53 as part of the Stabskompanie/PzRgt. 26.
Unfortunately Georg Staiger (26. Panzer-Division, Ihr Werden und Einsatz 1942 bis 1945) had no further information about vehicle and arms assignment.
Furthermore i cant read the Kriegsgliederung because the book copy quality is too bad.
So u can see that the small parts are already a colorful picture with a lot of different equipment and vehicles.
It seems to me that the 26. PzDiv was a mixture of any available weapon of the italian theater.


So i would be happy about any information.
Any AFV report, equipment reports, ectpp is welcome.

Thank you very much!

[steelers708]

This is Pz Regt.26 from the 1st December 1943 Kriegsgliederung.

[gerritgriebl]

Great!
Thx for the pic.
So i think the 1st Battalion has the "same" structure of the 2nd Battalion?
Do u have any information of details for the line "9T1(i.)".
Is it 1 "anti tank gun" 9cm, italian? Any clues?
Perhaps one of the Semovente 90/53 that was added to the 26. PzDiv (basing on same claims and photos)?

Thx.

[steelers708]

On the 1st February 1944 kriegsgliederung it shows:

9cm T(i)
1
Breaking this down I would say that the 9cm refers to the Semovente 90/53, the T is the tactical symbol for an Anti-tank Company, the (i) is obviously for Italian and the 1 below the T shows that they have a single Semovente 90/53.

As usual the internet screws with the formatting above.

[Richard Anderson]

So i think the 1st Battalion has the "same" structure of the 2nd Battalion?

I. Abteilung never served with the regiment or division. It began equipping with Panthers in June 1943 and was sent to Panzer Regiment 9. of 25. Panzer Division on 10 September before being assigned to Panzer Regiment Großdesutchland after 28 October 1943.

The regiment did not have a I. Abteilung present in Italy until around 20 May 1944, when the I./Panzer Regiment 4., which was a Panther unit assigned as Heerestruppen was more or less permanently attached to the regiment as its I. Abteilung. On 12 February 1945 it was redesignated as I./Panzer Regiment 26.

[Richard Anderson]

This is Pz Regt.26 from the 1st December 1943 Kriegsgliederung.

To put things in perspective, operational Panzer strength as reported to OKH on 30 November 1943 was:

Pz III Flamm 10
Pz IV k 7
Pz IV l 40
StuH (i) 3
StuG (i) 3
BefPz 7

Sorry, forgot the Panzer III kurz. 11 were operational as of 30 November 1943. Note also that some of these tanks were transferred from 16. Panzer Division before it departed for the Ostfront. As of 27 November 26. Panzer Division was notified to expect 7 Pz III Flamm, 1 Pz III k, 13 Pz IV l, 1 Bef Pz, 3 StuH (i), 7 StuG, and 5 StuG (i) from that source.

[Алексей]