Hello,
As we talk a lot on this site about the capabilities / results of German armored vehicles and anti-tank parts, I wanted to start a topic on the capabilities / results of portable anti-tank weapons (Panzerfaust, Panzerschreck, Mines, ...) during the campaign from Normandy (June 6 to late August / 12 of September with the fall of Le Havre). Often hidden, I am therefore on the lookout for the results obtained by infantry divisions.
Thus on June 29 (Anlage "zu Heeresgruppe B / Stoart Nr 630/44 g.Kdos / Panzerabschusstliste), we learn the following results for the 352.Inf.Div : 30 vehicles destroyed in close combat (mostly in Villers-Foissard ? ?). Have any results been given on other units of this type ?? And if so which ones? I also know that the remarkable performances of the Kampfgruppen of 265, 266 and 275. Inf.Diven are regularly overlooked. Did they mention the results obtained on this aspect?
Regards
AETIUS
Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.
- AETIUS 1980
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Re: Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.
Osprey booklet "Panzerfaust vs Sherman" Zaloga covers this issue, also covers the Villers-Foissard action.
According to this:
Coox, Alvin & L. Van Loan Naisawald (1951). Survey of Allied Tank Casualties in
World War II. Operations Research Office, Johns Hopkins University, MD.
tank losses to PzF/Pzshreck, ETO
June: 10%
July:22%
August: 12%
According to this:
Coox, Alvin & L. Van Loan Naisawald (1951). Survey of Allied Tank Casualties in
World War II. Operations Research Office, Johns Hopkins University, MD.
tank losses to PzF/Pzshreck, ETO
June: 10%
July:22%
August: 12%
- AETIUS 1980
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Re: Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.
Great, do we find in this report a geographical distribution of this destruction? And per unit ??
Regards
Regards
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Re: Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.
No. It is a 1950s paper where all the information is taken from Unit accounts and it gives a general overview of casualties and not just destroyed tanks.AETIUS 1980 wrote: ↑30 Sep 2021, 14:39Great, do we find in this report a geographical distribution of this destruction? And per unit ??
Regards
This is a a more detailed account:
https://mcoepublic.blob.core.usgovcloud ... %20MAJ.pdf
Last edited by Michael Kenny on 30 Sep 2021, 15:27, edited 2 times in total.
- AETIUS 1980
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Re: Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.
Good analysis, relatively objective moreover ! A real "bloody carnage" in a vehicle in the US ranks. Have any german reports mentioned this confrontation ? Was there any feedback on the use of small arms? As for the use of the Panzerfaust 30 Klein/30, I know that the 716.Inf.Div had begun collecting them from mid-May 1944 with instructions from the Division.Kampfschule.716 toward the companies (with some problems !!!). As far as the Panzerschrecks are concerned, I know again that some of them have again been send to the same division. There are also two destructions carried out by this weapon on British armored vehicles on June 6 (Wn 14 and 17).