Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.

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AETIUS 1980
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Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.

#1

Post by AETIUS 1980 » 29 Sep 2021, 18:32

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?

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AETIUS

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Re: Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.

#2

Post by Cult Icon » 30 Sep 2021, 13:44

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%


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Re: Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.

#3

Post by AETIUS 1980 » 30 Sep 2021, 14:39

Great, do we find in this report a geographical distribution of this destruction? And per unit ??
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Michael Kenny
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Re: Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.

#4

Post by Michael Kenny » 30 Sep 2021, 14:54

AETIUS 1980 wrote:
30 Sep 2021, 14:39
Great, do we find in this report a geographical distribution of this destruction? And per unit ??
Regards
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.



This is a a more detailed account:
https://mcoepublic.blob.core.usgovcloud ... %20MAJ.pdf

Screensffddfdfdfdfhot_41.jpg
Screenshot_7.jpg
Last edited by Michael Kenny on 30 Sep 2021, 15:27, edited 2 times in total.

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AETIUS 1980
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Re: Effectiveness of German portable anti-tank weapons in Normandy.

#5

Post by AETIUS 1980 » 30 Sep 2021, 15:13

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).

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