Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

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RichardC
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Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#1

Post by RichardC » 13 Feb 2008, 04:13

Hey everyone

My name is Richard Chambers and I’ve frequently lurked around on this site and have always been impressed with the level of knowledge and unique resources provided here.

I’m currently writing a couple of articles for a wargaming company on the various FJ units in the Normandy Campaign, June to August 1944.

Part of this assignment includes reworking, if necessary, the TO&E presently used by the said wargaming company to represent these units.

I have one simple question to start with and may over time (articles should be finished in next 6 weeks or so) have a couple more.

First up I’ve been trying to work out how many Panzerschrecks and Panzerfausts an average FJ infantry company/platoon would have access to in that time period. I’ve struggled to get any firm numbers, particularly for fausts.

Taking 6FJR for example, would it be correct to assume that during a standard action at the beginning of the campaign, each platoon would have access to perhaps 1 or 2 across the whole platoon. Whereas later in the campaign a platoon from say 3FJD or 5FJD, might have had access to almost 1 or 2 per man.

These might seem pretty basic or sad questions – if so I apologise. I’m attempting to get this as historically accurate as I can. I have order the Zetterling book and I think it will provide some great direction overall – but not to simple things like numbers of schrecks and fausts.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Richard

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Peter H
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#2

Post by Peter H » 13 Feb 2008, 13:01

Richard

I know both Panzerschrecks and Panzerfausts were in short supply for FJR6 initially in June anyway.

This link suggests they were held at the support level at that time:

http://www.fjr6.net/history_a.html
...the 6th Regiment consisted of 3 battalions, each battalion was made up of 3 rifle Kompanies armed with 18 machine guns and 3 (8cm) mortars each. In addition each battalion had a heavy weapons Kompanie armed with 12 heavy machine guns, 4 (8cm) mortas and 2 infantry howitzers.


The Regiment consisted of 3 additional support Kompanies;

13Kp. heavy mortar Kompanie; consisting of 9 (12cm) mortars, 8 machine guns.

14Kp. "Panzerjäger" Anti-tank Kompanie; consisting of 4 (7.5cm) AT guns, 34 Panzer schecks, 6 machine guns.

15 Kp. "Pioniere" Engineer Kompanie; consisting of 2 (8cm) mortars, 6 machineguns.

The combined total strength of the 6th Regiment was 3457 men as of May 19, 1944.

In June of 1944 according to Von der Heydte the regiment was further strengthened. The bicycle platoon was strengthened to a full company and was now the 16. Kompanie. The following Kompanies where also added;
17Kp. (Fliegerabwehr) Kompanie
18Kp. (Kraftfahr) Kompanie
19Kp.(Versorgung und Instandsetzung) Kompanie
20Kp. (Feldersatz) Kompanie.

This brought the regiment to a total strength of 4,500 men.
A start I guess.

Regards
Peter


RichardC
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#3

Post by RichardC » 13 Feb 2008, 22:53

Thanks Peter.

Yes I've read that before - about the Panzerschrecks being sourced from the 14th Kompanie. The game assumes - and I assume it's quite correct - that the schreck equipped tank hunters are spread out amongst the infantry companies to provide them with some integral AT support.

Does this sound correct to you?

Thanks for the reply

Richard

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#4

Post by Fallschirmjäger » 14 Feb 2008, 07:24

There are lots of sites on the net that have info on the FJ,here included of course,the Wehrmact-Awards fourm has a section on the FJ too.This first one though not up to date anymore and did not get finished which dont know why? is realy good still,the 2nd has info on the 4 FJ divisons in normandy/france etc...

http://web.archive.org/web/200603031556 ... rve.co.uk/

http://web.telia.com/~u18313395/normand ... gerob.html
See the FJ divisons 2-6 on the left side,some mention of weapons,TOE etc...

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Peter H
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Re: Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#5

Post by Peter H » 24 Mar 2008, 12:57

http://www.phoenixcommand.com/fallton.htm
German WWII Fallschirmjager (1940-1945)
Table of Organization & Equipment:

The Fallschirmjaeger are the easiest to start with.All were technically elite even in 44 when more than 160,000 were active.The training even without actual combat jumps was sufficient to create a light infantry force only matched by the Allied elite (Commandos,SAS,some Russian specials etc ,not regular airborne or even rangers of the day) Indeed as demonstrated at Casino they made the ideal defenders in the face of allied doctrine.

A typical rifle company would consist of an HQ unit of 1 officer and 35 enlisted and 3 rifle platoons of 1 officer and 38 enlisted divided into 3 squads of 12-13 men (on paper of course)The Platoon ideally was a mix of about 16 rifles(by 44 a mixture of FG42s and MP44/MP43 with a number of Gewehr 33/40 for sniper work),9 MP-40s(officers and senior NCOs),and 6 machine guns (double the number in regular infantry squads).The machine guns were most often the MG34 as the MG42, while slowly supplanting it, was judged less desirable due to its increased weight and difficulty deploying.Also most Paras carried a pistol when possible.A throw back to the early days in Holland and Crete where these were the only weapons carried in the jump,with the rest in containers).

Usually a number of special weapons were issued or just plain scavenged in the fighting to increase the firepower of the unit.These range from picked up ATK rifles which proved their value even in nonarmored fighting on the eastern front (Russians loved their rifles and partially pioneered their use as AMRs over ATK as well as sniper work) to light mortars(5cm leichter granatenwerfre 36) and Panzerfausts/Schrecks.

The Schreck proved its value in Northern Europe especially in hedgerow fighting and usually was found 1 per squad with limited rounds due to the supply state. The 'fausts were usually kept in their sealed containers till needed just prior to use. They had to be armed ahead of time. You might find anywhere from 6-8 in a well supplied squad.

The Jaegers also had more access to specialist weaponry such as the Shaped Charges and Flamethrowers (Eintoss Flammenwerfer) making them very unpredictable opponents....

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Re: Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#6

Post by RichardC » 02 Sep 2008, 06:40

Just a quick note to let you know that the articles (well two of them anyway) that I mentioned earlier have now been placed on the Flames of War website for anyone whose interested, Hope you don't find too many mistakes! :wink:

6. FJR in Normandy
http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=816

3. FJD in Normandy
http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=817

Interested to know what you think - unfortunately my bibliographies we let out of the articles.

Hope it's ok to post this here?

RichardC

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Re: Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#7

Post by Ypenburg » 03 Sep 2008, 00:16

FJR6:

Hauptmann Emil Pr e i kschat

1.Kp Wilhelm-Josef Billion
2.Kp Oberleutnant Helmut Schulz
4.Kp Leutnant Eugen Scherer
5.Kp Hauptmann Otto Herrmann
6.Kp Leutnant Brunnklaus
8.Kp Oberleutnant Heinrich Graf von Benthusy-Huc
9.Kp Oberleutnant Helmut Wagner
10.Kp Oberleutnant Erich Priebe
12.Kp Oberleutnant Martin Pöppel
15.Kp Hauptmann Rudi Hauc k

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Re: Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#8

Post by RichardC » 03 Sep 2008, 00:31

Thanks... and bugger. I'm pretty sure I had a lot of the first names but left them out because I didn't have all of them. I've added them to my own copy of the article. Sorry about the spelling.

Richard

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Re: Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#9

Post by Ypenburg » 03 Sep 2008, 12:36

RichardC wrote:Thanks... and bugger. I'm pretty sure I had a lot of the first names but left them out because I didn't have all of them. I've added them to my own copy of the article. Sorry about the spelling.

Richard
Some time ago I got my hands on the expensive history of the 3 Fsch.Jgr.Div. I'm pretty busy at the moment but will take some time tonight to provide some extra info on this Division. I'll be running through some sources on Fjr6 to.

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Re: Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#10

Post by RichardC » 03 Sep 2008, 23:37

That would be excellent thankyou very much. I had to peice together what I had from a number of different sources, with the most extensive - action wise - being an American study of the battle of St Lo. Not exactly what I had hoped for but the best I could find.

Anyhow - look forward to seeing what you've got

Richard

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Re: Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#11

Post by Ypenburg » 04 Sep 2008, 22:58

3. Fallschirmjägerdivision
Commander – Generalleutnant Dipl. Ing.Richard Schimpf
Chief of Staff – Major Lutz-Ludwig Wagner

5. Fallschirmjägerregiment
Commander – Major Karl-Heinz Becker
+ Rgt. Sturmzug
+ Rgt. Radfahr-(Kradschützen-)Zug

I. Bataillion – Hauptmann Adolf Specht
+ Btl. Sturmzug
1.Kompanie (Rifle) - Leutnant Alfred Dixius
2. Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Helmut Hillebrecht
3. Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Helmut Rathgeber
4. Kompanie (Heavy) - Oberleutnant Gottfried Arnold
II. Bataillion – Hauptmann Walter Münter
+ Btl. Sturmzug
5.Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Werner Kastell
6. Kompanie (Rifle) - Leutnant Alfred Lattka
7. Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Konrad Schütz
8. Kompanie (Heavy) - Oberleutnant Heinrich Mainusch
III. Bataillion – Hauptmann Eberhard Boerger
+ Btl. Sturmzug
9.Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Gustav Freitag
10. Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Adolf Meinecke
11. Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Karl Danielsen
12. Kompanie (Heavy) - Oberleutnant Konrad Grau
13. Schwere GrW.Kompanie (Heavy Mortar) - Oberleutnant Johannes Böhme
14. Panzerjägerkompanie (Anti-tank) - Oberleutnant Karl Pientka
15. Pionerekompanie (Engineer) - Leutnant Wassak


8. Fallschirmjägerregiment
Commander – Oberstleutnant Egon Liebach
+ Rgt. Sturmzug
+ Rgt. Radfahr-(Kradschützen-)Zug

I. Bataillion – Major Oskar Wiedermann
+ Btl. Sturmzug
1.Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Erich Claus
2. Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Hans-Harry Brand
3. Kompanie (Rifle) - Leutnant Gerhard Tegebauer
4. Kompanie (Heavy) - Oberleutnant Clemens Wedding
II. Bataillion – Hauptmann Karl Voshage
+ Btl. Sturmzug
5.Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Max Schwarz
6. Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Siegfried Sartorius
7. Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Walter Kleinert
8. Kompanie (Heavy) - Oberleutnant Clemens Beckermann
III. Bataillion – Hauptmann Josef Krammling
+ Btl. Sturmzug
+ Pionierzug III.Btl.

9.Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Karl Gebhardt
10. Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Bernhard Spinner
11. Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Karl Eckstein
12. Kompanie (Heavy) - Hauptmann Gerhard Kitzler
13. Schwere GrW.Kompanie (Heavy Mortar) - Hauptmann Karl Harjes
14. Panzerjägerkompanie (Anti-tank) - Oberleutnant Grieb
15. Pionerekompanie (Engineer) - Hauptmann Schlüter


9. Fallschirmjägerregiment
Commander – Major Kurt Stephani
+ Rgt. Sturmzug
+ Rgt. Radfahr-(Kradschützen-)Zug

I. Bataillion
Commander – Major Friedrich Alpers
+ Btl. Sturmzug
1.Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Josef Moser
2. Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Hans Klepzig
3. Kompanie (Rifle) - Leutnant Horst Ansorge
4. Kompanie (Heavy) - Hauptmann Günter Simon
II. Bataillion
Commander – Hauptmann Rudolf Reil
+ Btl. Sturmzug
5. Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Werner Kersting
6. Kompanie (Rifle) - Hauptmann Kurt Ladwig
7. Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Alexander von der Kamp
8. Kompanie (Heavy) - Oberleutnant Uwe Clausen
III. Bataillion
Commander – Hauptmann Karl Meyer
+ Btl. Sturmzug
9. Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Eugen Herold
10. Kompanie (Rifle) - Oberleutnant Hans Grundmann
11. Kompanie (Rifle) – Hauptmann Fritz Matula
12. Kompanie (Heavy) - Oberleutnant Edgar Lotz
13. Schwere GrW.Kompanie (Heavy Mortar) - Oberleutnant Josef Glaser
14. Panzerjägerkompanie (Anti-tank) - Oberleutnant Helmut Busch
15. Pionerekompanie (Engineer) - Leutnant Karl-Heinz Haman


3. Fallschirmjäger-Artillerie-Abteilung
Commander – Major Hans-Eberhard von Bauer
I. Abteilung - Major Hans-Erhard von Bauer
II. Abteilung Hauptmann Egon von Peller
III. Abteilung Major Fritz Stagat


3. Fallschirmjäger-Panzerjäger-Abteilung
Commander – Hauptmann Persch

3. Fallschirmjäger-Pionere-Batallion
Commander – Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Beth
1.Kompanie - Oberleutnant Hans-Joachim Böhnke
2. Kompanie - Hauptmann Erich Riese
3. Kompanie - Oberleutnant Richard Naumann
4. Kompanie - Oberleutnant Alois Duchatsch

3. Fallschirmjäger-Flak-Abteilung
Commander – Oberleutnant Freidrich
I-III Battr. 8,8 Flak
IV Battr. 3,7 Flak
V Battr. 2,0


3. Fallschirmjäger-Nachrichten-Abteilung
Commander – Hauptmann Hölzner

Fallschirm-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 12
Commander - Hauptmann Bodo Goettsche
3 x Kompanie (Rifle)
1 x MG-Kompanie (lMG, sMG)
1 x Kompanie (Heavy) 8cm Gr.Wrf., 2cm Flak


This should do for now I suppose. :wink:

Anything on the text has to wait 'till after this week-end, since my agenda is booked to the fullest 8O

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Re: Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#12

Post by Manuferey » 17 Sep 2008, 23:52

In an official document written by an officer of the 506th PIR (101st Airborne) after the war for an officer class at Fort Benning, I found a mention of a single 7,5 cm LG40 in the hand of the “6th Parachute Regiment” during the fight for Vierville (north of Carentan) on June 7, 1944:
“One item of equipment captured was a wheeled 75 mm recoiless riffle. This was the first and only weapon of this kind encountered by the regiment though its value was not realized”.

Would that gun have been part of the FJR 6.’s AT company ?

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Re: Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#13

Post by Steve Wilcox » 18 Sep 2008, 16:16

Manuferey wrote:In an official document written by an officer of the 506th PIR (101st Airborne) after the war for an officer class at Fort Benning, I found a mention of a single 7,5 cm LG40 in the hand of the “6th Parachute Regiment” during the fight for Vierville (north of Carentan) on June 7, 1944:
“One item of equipment captured was a wheeled 75 mm recoiless riffle. This was the first and only weapon of this kind encountered by the regiment though its value was not realized”.

Would that gun have been part of the FJR 6.’s AT company ?
AFAIK it would be in the schwere Kompanie:
"Infantry Gun Platoon - served two 7.5-cm infantry guns. The German airborne forces had also deployed a recoilless 7.5-cm gun in their airborne days, and these were also to be found in use."
http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/Ger ... talion.htm

The late Bruce Quarrie refers to the battalion's heavy company as the MG company in his German Airborne Divisions: Mediterranean Theatre 1942-45, but he also puts the recoilless rifles there (page 34). :|

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Re: Help on equipment of FJ in Normandy 1944

#14

Post by Ypenburg » 19 Sep 2008, 00:24

According to the source I mentioned before, the 4. Kp(fallschirmjäger-Maschinengewehrkompanie had:
1) Gruppe-Führer with 2 x Pz.Büchsen 2,8 cm
2) 1. Zug with 4 x sMG
3) 2. Zug with 4 x sMG
4) 3. Zug with 4 x m. Gr.Wrf. 8,14 cm
5) 4. Zug with 2 x l.Geschütz 7,5 cm
6) Nachrichtenstaffel
7) Gefechtstross
8) Kfz-Gruppe
9) Restkommando Heimat

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