Funklenk Tiger Units

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
Andy H
Forum Staff
Posts: 15326
Joined: 12 Mar 2002, 21:51
Location: UK and USA

Funklenk Tiger Units

#1

Post by Andy H » 13 Apr 2002, 17:29

By early 1944 3 Funklenk Kompanies were fitted with Tigers to serve as Radio Control Units for the BIV Sprengstofftraeger.

1st Question: Was the Tiger fitted out differently, and if so in what way?

2nd Question: What is/are BIV Sprengstofftraeger

3rd Question: What does Funklenk & Sprengstofftraeger stand for in English.

Hi Ho Silver Away

Timo
Member
Posts: 3869
Joined: 09 Mar 2002, 23:09
Location: Europe

Re: Funklenk Tiger Units

#2

Post by Timo » 13 Apr 2002, 18:27

1st Question: Was the Tiger fitted out differently, and if so in what way?
...Part of the ammo storage was replaced with a Funklenk radio set;

2nd Question: What is/are BIV Sprengstofftraeger
...A Borgward BIV (SdKfz.301). A tankette stuffed with explosives;

3rd Question: What does Funklenk & Sprengstofftraeger stand for in English.
...Funklenk = Radio Controlled. Sprengstoffträger = Explosives Carrier.

Directly after the Polish campaign, the German Army recognized the need for remotely controlled vehicles to clear gaps in minefields. Borgward was given a contract on 21 Nov/39 to develop their "B1", a fully tracked, radio controlled vehicle weighing 1.5 tons with a 4 cyl engine that could be used to tow mine detonating rollers. A total of 50 of these Minenraumwage(SdKfz 300) were produced between Jan. and May 1940.

Borgward was issued a second contract on 3 Apr/40 to develop the "B2", a slightly larger vehicle of 2.3 tons with a 49hp engine. The first unit to be issued the B2 was Minenraum Abteilung 1, formed in 1940 with 2 companies. However, it does not appear that it saw action in France or in the East. In Oct./41 Borgward got another contract to design a radio controlled vehicle that could carry an explosive charge of 500 kg. Known as the B IV, it was officially designated by the Waffen amt as the Sprengladungstrager (SdKfz 301). It weighed 3.5 tons and was powered by a 6 cyl, 49hp engine. Twelve trial vehicles were completed by Apr./42 and full production began in May/42. Minenraum Abt. 1 was reorganized and designated Pz.Abt. (Funklenk) 300.
The unit now consisted of 3 companies with an official organization published in KStN 1171f, dated Jan.1/43 as follows:
LEICHTE PANZER KOMPANIE f
Kompanie Trupp: 2 PzKpfw III (5cm) (SdKfz 141).
1. Zug: 4 PzKpfw III (5cm) (SdKfz 141) and 12 Spengstofftrager (SdKfz 301).
2. Zug: 4 PzKpfw III (5cm) (SdKfz 141) and 12 Spengstofftrager (SdKfz 301) Pz.Abt. (Funklenk) 300 was was shipped to the Eastern Front and assigned to Heeres Gruppe Sud in late May/42. On June 7/42 it had 27 PzKpfw III and still had 20 operational Pz.III by July 11/42. Before being transferred to Heeres Gruppe Nord in early Sept/42 the active field unit was renumbered from 300 to 301, and an experienced cadre returned to Neuruppin, the home base for the Panzer Versuchs and Ersatz Abt(Funklenk) 300. Pz. Abt. (FKL) 301 with an operational strength of 25 PzKpfw III on Sept 17/42 remained with H-G Nord until Dec./42, when it returned to Neuruppin to rest and refit.

The next major employment of the Funklenk units was at Kursk, when the HQ of pz.Abt.(FKL) 301 was assigned to H-G Mitte with 3 new companie(312, 313, and 314) under its command. These independent companies were formed in Jan./43 and ordered to be operational by May/43. Instead
of PzKpfw III, StuG III were issued to the units for control and command.
Pz.Kp (FKL) 312 had 7 StuG, 313 had 7 and 314 had 9 on July 5/43.

The only detailed action account from 5th to 8th July comes from 312, attached to sPz.Abt. 505 (with 31 Tigers and 15 Pz.III), is as follows:

One B IV was sent 800 meters against a PaK Nest of 2 or 3 anti-tank guns and detonated, destroying the guns along with their accompanying infantry. A second B IV was sent 400 meters against a T34, which was destroyed when it rammed the B IV. Three B IVs were sent 400 to 600 meters against three concrete bunkers and destroyed them. Two B IVs were sent 800 meters against an anti-tank gun position and an infantry gun position, destroying both of them. One B IV reached a Russian position and was set on fire by a Molotov Cocktail. It exploded and eliminated the position. Pz.Kp.(FKL) 313 was attached to the II.Abt./sPz.Jag. Rgt. 656 (sPz.Jag.Abt. 654 with 44 Elefants). Its initial role was to clear a gap thru the enemy minefield. Before reaching the minefield 4 B IVs were lost in German minefields, and 4 made it thru to blow a gap thru which the Elefants passed. Later, 3 B IVs destroyed two PaK Nests and a bunker. Pz.Kp. (FKL) 314, attached to the I. Abt./sPz.Jag.Rgt. 656 (sPz.Jag.Abt. 653 with 45 Elefants), used 12 BIVs to blow a gap thru deep enemy minefields. The StuGs used as control vehicles moved thru, but the Pioniers could not mark the gaps since they were pinned down by heavy artillery fire. The Elefants lost track of the gap and some were disabled on the mines, delaying the attack considerably. Later that day, two BIVs were sent into a woodline held by enemy infantry. After detonating, enemy resistance ceased to exist. The companies under command of Pz.Abt. (FKL) 301 had lost 20 BIVs in 4 days. Only 4 BIVs didn't reach their assigned targets due to being hit by A/T and artillery fire. Two of these were burnt out and two were recovered. Those BIVs that did not have the spring detonators set, did not explode but burned when hit. Overall, the unit was pleased with the performance, but the radio control proved to be effective for a range of 800 - 1000 meters instead of the desired 2000 meters.

The unit commander requested that Tigers replace the StuGs as a much more effective control tank, due to the thicker armor and higher profile to view the BIV's progress. All 3 companies were quickly decimated in the heavy fighting in H-G Mitte during July and August, and returned to rebuild in Germany in late 1943. A fourth company, 311, was not was not ready for Kursk and was later sent to H-G Sud in mid-August, outfitted with 10 StuGs, and remained on the East Front until May 18/44, when it was ordered back for refit with Pz.Versuchs und Ausbildung Abt. 300 in Eisenbach. The HQ of Pz.Abt. (FKL) 301 returned to Neuruppin and again took over command of its original 3 companies. In Sept./43 the unit was outfitted with 32 StuG. In addition, two new companies, Pz.Kp. (FKL) 315 and 316 were formed and each was issued 10 StuGs in Aug./43.

At the close of 1943, all of the Funklenk units except 311 were in training centers in the West, with the following strength as of Dec. 31/43:
301 had 31 StuG; 311 had 7 StuG; 312 had 2 StuG; 313 had 10 Pz.III/N;
314 had 4 StuG;
315 and 316 each had 10 StuG.

In response to the Allied landings at Anzio, in Jan./44 Pz.Abt.(FKL) 301 was sent to help reinforce the front, remaining in action there until Mar./44.

A new phase in the deployment of Funklenk units occurred in Dec./43 when 313 was assigned to sPz.Abt. 508 as its 3. Kompanie. 314 was sent to sPz.Abt. 504 as its 3. Kompanie in Jan./44, and 316 was assigned to the Pz.Lehr Abt.
All 3 of these units were to receive Tigers as control tanks, as dictated by KStN 1176f dated Feb. 1/44:
SCHWERE PANZER KOMPANIE "TIGER" (F.K.L.)
Kompanie Trupp: 2 PzKpfw Tiger (SdKfz 181 or 182)
1. Zug: 4 PzKpfw Tiger (SdKfz 181 or 182) and 9 Sprengstofftrager (SdKfz 301), plus 1 mSPW (251/1)
2. and 3. Zug: Same as 1. Zug. Sondergerat Reserve of 9 SdKfz. 301.
The 3. Kp of sPz.Abt 508 with 14 Tiger I was sent to Italy to the Anzio beachead in Feb./44, and the 3. Kp of sPz.Abt 504 with 14 Tigers was sent to Italy in June/44. Both of them remained in Italy until October, when their personnel were sent back to Germany for further employment with other units.

Pz.Kp. (FKL) 316 under the Panzer Lehr Rgt.received the first 5 production Tiger IIs to replace their StuGs in Feb./44. When the Allied landed in Normandy the Tiger IIs were mechanically unsound and it was decided to ship them back to Germany. However, transport could not be arranged and the 5 Tiger IIs remained in France at Chateaudun where they were subsequently destroyed to prevent capture.

The Funklenk company fought in Normandy with the Pz.Lehr Rgt., starting with an operational strength of 9 StuG and 3 Tiger Is. They still had 7 operational StuG on July 1/44 and were pulled out of the front later in July to join the newly formed Pz.Abt (FKL) 302.

301 was built up to 4 companies by the addition of 312 as the 1. Kompanie. When the Allies landed at Normandy 301 was attached to 2. Pz.Div. with an operational strength of two Pz.III, 32 StuG, and 146 B IVs. The organization had been updated by KStN 1171f dated 1/Jun/44 as follows:
LEICHTE PANZER KOMPANIE f
Kompanie Trupp: 2 StuG (SdKfz 142/1)
1. Zug: 4 StuG (SdKfz 142/1) and 12 Sprengstofftrager (SdKfz 301), plus
1 mSPW (SdKfz 251/1)
2. Zug: (Same as above 1. Zug). Sondergerat Reserve of 12 Sprengstofftrager (SdKfz 301) The unit was quickly decimated in June and July 1944 and pulled out to rebuild.

Pz.Abt (FKL) 302 was formed in June 1944 and by the time of its employment consisted of 4 Kompanies. Pz.Kp. (FKL) 316 became the 1. Kompanie, 315 the 2. Kp., 317 the 3. Kp., and 311 the 4. Kp. It was sent to Heeres Gruppe Mitte in the East in Aug./44 with 3 PzKpfw IV, 40 StuG and 144 B IVs. It remained there and reported having 38 StuG on Dec. 5/44, and 28 StuG on Jan. 15/45, but was down to 3 StuG by Mar. 15/45. The unit ended its days in East Prussia.

The last independent company, Pz.Kp. (FKL) 319, was formed and sent west in Sept./44. It had been outfitted with 10 StuG and 36 B IVs. the 319 took part in the Ardennes Offensive in Heeres Gruppe B and reported an operational strength of 10 StuG on Jan. 15/45. It was pulled out of the front to help form the battalion sized Funklenk unit in Feb./45.

After leaving France, 301 was ordered on Aug. 19/44 to reorganize and re-equip as sPz.Abt (Tiger/FKL) 301. Each of the 3 companies were to have 10 Tiger Is and the Abteilung HQ was to have 2 Tiger Is. Since the Tiger I had gone out of production the unit was issued a total of 31 Tiger Is that had been rebuilt, of which 10 were acquired from an SS sPz.Abt. The new 301 also took part in the Ardennes Offensive under Heeres Gruppe B.

Late in the war a third Abteilung, the Pz.Abt (FKL) 303 was organized by pulling together the remains of 319, 301 and 302. On Feb. 17/45 it was ordered to be formed as a normal Panzer Abteilung without Funklenk equipment. Issued 31 Pz. IV, it was renamed Pz.Abt. "Schlesien" and sent to face the Russians during the closing months of the war.

The last unit to be formed was Panther Zug (FKL) 303. It consisted of the remnants of personnel and vehicles from Pz.Abt. (FKL) 303 and Pz.Versuchs and Ausbildung Abt. 301. On Feb. 18/45 this platoon was ordered to be quickly organized, issued 4 StuG and 12 B IV, and shipped to the Eastern Front and attached to 35. Pz.Gren.Div. under H-G Mitte. The overall worth and effectiveness of these Funklenk units in the closing months of the war was minimal.

Cheers,
Timo


User avatar
David Lehmann
Member
Posts: 2863
Joined: 01 Apr 2002, 11:50
Location: France

#3

Post by David Lehmann » 13 Apr 2002, 21:06

Borgward IV- SdKfz. 301

Image

Image

Image
Last edited by David Lehmann on 13 Apr 2002, 21:18, edited 1 time in total.

Timo
Member
Posts: 3869
Joined: 09 Mar 2002, 23:09
Location: Europe

#4

Post by Timo » 13 Apr 2002, 21:08

"Kurt",

did you have a specific reason to post a text that is an almost exact copy of the text I posted?

User avatar
David Lehmann
Member
Posts: 2863
Joined: 01 Apr 2002, 11:50
Location: France

#5

Post by David Lehmann » 13 Apr 2002, 21:22

no specific reason at all :? (don't beat me please !!!!!!!!!!)
I had just read the question and pasted one of my word documents stored on my computer, didn't realized it was the same text Timo... :monkee:
Nevertheless, the images are new aren't they ? :wink:
I have edited my previous message ...

Panzermeyer

Timo
Member
Posts: 3869
Joined: 09 Mar 2002, 23:09
Location: Europe

#6

Post by Timo » 13 Apr 2002, 23:05

The images are a very nice addition :)

Cheers,
Timo

User avatar
Andy H
Forum Staff
Posts: 15326
Joined: 12 Mar 2002, 21:51
Location: UK and USA

#7

Post by Andy H » 14 Apr 2002, 16:45

Many thanks Timo for your in depth narrative, very informative, and thank you P.Meyer for the images, which always help in understanding a vehicle.

In the image, is the 'Bin' like structure the place where the explosives were packed?

Hi Ho Silver Away :D

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

#8

Post by Jan-Hendrik » 01 Nov 2007, 18:33

The last independent company, Pz.Kp. (FKL) 319, was formed and sent west in Sept./44. It had been outfitted with 10 StuG and 36 B IVs. the 319 took part in the Ardennes Offensive in Heeres Gruppe B and reported an operational strength of 10 StuG on Jan. 15/45. It was pulled out of the front to help form the battalion sized Funklenk unit in Feb./45.
#

Sorry, that is not right. PzKp (Fkl) 319 did not participate in "Wacht am Rhein", they remained, subordinated to LXXXI.AK at the Rur-Front.

On 4th December 1944 the Kp. reported 3 out of 10 StuG III combat ready, of the 36 B IV 32 were reported combat ready.

Jan-Hendrik

TrenchfootJoe
Member
Posts: 6
Joined: 30 Sep 2009, 03:18

Re: Funklenk Tiger Units

#9

Post by TrenchfootJoe » 30 Sep 2009, 03:35

Kompanie Trupp: 2 PzKpfw Tiger (SdKfz 181 or 182)
1. Zug: 4 PzKpfw Tiger (SdKfz 181 or 182) and 9 Sprengstofftrager (SdKfz 301), plus 1 mSPW (251/1)

Does anyone know what the 251's were used for and what sort of additional equipment/modifications were done to the 251's for thier role in Funklenk units ?

Rob Johnson
Member
Posts: 49
Joined: 25 Oct 2006, 22:08
Location: USA

Re: Funklenk Tiger Units

#10

Post by Rob Johnson » 08 Nov 2009, 02:07

Timo wrote: After leaving France, 301 was ordered on Aug. 19/44 to reorganize and re-equip as sPz.Abt (Tiger/FKL) 301. Each of the 3 companies were to have 10 Tiger Is and the Abteilung HQ was to have 2 Tiger Is. Since the Tiger I had gone out of production the unit was issued a total of 31 Tiger Is that had been rebuilt, of which 10 were acquired from an SS sPz.Abt. The new 301 also took part in the Ardennes Offensive under Heeres Gruppe B.
Timo,

Excellent and extremely informative post.

I have just two small corrections...

First, after being rebuilt and equipped with Tiger Is, Panzer-Abteilung (FKl.) 301 still had 4 Kompanies. It seems as though you've taken your info from volume 1 of "Tigers in Combat" which I am afraid is incorrect.

Taken from lexicon.de (http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... t301-R.htm)

4. Kompanie ab Nov/43 bis Jul/44: 33613 - Nummer nur Jul/44: 17589 E - ab Jul/44 bis Feb/45: 33613

"Am 1. Februar 1945 waren nur noch 5 von 23 Tigern einsatzbereit. Die 4. Kompanie wurde Ende Februar 1945 zur Aufstellung der Panzer-Abteilung (Fkl) 303 abgegeben, nachdem sie in der Feldpostübersicht für 6 Tage als 2. Kompanie der Abteilung aufgeführt wurde."

I also have a Soldbuch to a Panzer NCO who served in the 4.Kompanie from early 1943 all the way through Feb.1945 when the 4./Pz.Abt.(Fkl.)301 was used to form Pz.Abt.(Fkl.)303 and there are 4./301 entries and stamps in the Soldbuch that date through the second half of 1944 and into early 1945.

Second, while originally intended to, Pz.Abt.(Fkl.)301 did not participate in the Ardennes Offensive.

Rob

User avatar
hucks216
Member
Posts: 1939
Joined: 20 Jan 2007, 23:49
Location: England

Re: Funklenk Tiger Units

#11

Post by hucks216 » 08 Nov 2009, 16:38


Martin Block
Member
Posts: 440
Joined: 17 Apr 2005, 13:21
Location: Good old Germany

Re: Funklenk Tiger Units

#12

Post by Martin Block » 08 Nov 2009, 18:02

.... about the 4./Pz.Abt.(Fkl) 301 after Aug 1944:

When Pz.Abt.(Fkl) 301 was converted into a Tiger unit, orders said it was to do so with just 1. - 3. Kp. while the 4. Kp. became officially separated from the unit. It was placed at the disposal of the Chef H Ruest u BdE for later use in the formation of other Fkl units and sent to Eisenach to Pz.Ers.u.Ausb.Abt. 300. Gen.Insp.d.Pz.Tr. records show that it remained there until February 1945 when it was used in the formation of Pz.Abt.(Fkl.) 303 together with the 4./Pz.Abt.(Fkl) 302 and Pz.Kp.(Fkl) 319.

Martin Block

Rob Johnson
Member
Posts: 49
Joined: 25 Oct 2006, 22:08
Location: USA

Re: Funklenk Tiger Units

#13

Post by Rob Johnson » 08 Nov 2009, 23:27

hucks216 wrote:This link may prove useful..

http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic ... hlight=301

EXCELLENT informative and most helpful thread, hucks... This will really help me with my research project. Thanks for posting it!

Rob

User avatar
hucks216
Member
Posts: 1939
Joined: 20 Jan 2007, 23:49
Location: England

Re: Funklenk Tiger Units

#14

Post by hucks216 » 08 Nov 2009, 23:39

There is also this link with regards to the Bogward & Funklenk units...

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/articles/borgward.htm

I have a soldbuch to a member of the funklenk units (namely Pz Kp (FKL) 312, Pz Abt (FKL) 301 & the s.Pz Abt (Tiger FKL) 301) although in the case of the latter at least he served as a medic so was in the Versorgungskompanie.

Rob Johnson
Member
Posts: 49
Joined: 25 Oct 2006, 22:08
Location: USA

Re: Funklenk Tiger Units

#15

Post by Rob Johnson » 09 Nov 2009, 00:43

hucks216 wrote:There is also this link with regards to the Bogward & Funklenk units...

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/articles/borgward.htm

I have a soldbuch to a member of the funklenk units (namely Pz Kp (FKL) 312, Pz Abt (FKL) 301 & the s.Pz Abt (Tiger FKL) 301) although in the case of the latter at least he served as a medic so was in the Versorgungskompanie.

Thanks for that link, Hucks.

I'd like to see that Soldbuch. Sounds like a nice one...

Rob

Post Reply

Return to “Heer, Waffen-SS & Fallschirmjäger”