► Photothread: French Equipment in German Service

[David Lehmann]

Captured & converted French vehicles in German service

The German army made extensive use of French captured vehicles and converted ex-French vehicles, though many had been retired by 1944, or had gone to axis allies such as Croatia or Romania. The following list is far from being complete.

UE 630(f) Schlepper
· Infanterie UE-Schlepper (f)
· Kleiner Funk- und Beobachtungspanzer auf Infanterie-Schlepper UE (f)
· Fernmeldekabel-Kraftwagen auf Infanterie-Schlepper UE (f)
· 3,7cm Pak 35/36 auf Inf. Schlepper UE (f)
· Slf. für 28/32cm Wurfrahmen auf Infanterie-Schlepper UE (f) ( four rockets)
· Luftwaffensicherungsfahrzeug auf Basis Renault UE (f)
· Munitionsschlepper auf Basis Renault UE (f)
· Sicherungsfahrzeug UE(f) - infantry support vehicles armed with one or two MG34s


Infanterie UE-Schlepper (f)


3,7cm Pak 35/36 auf Inf. Schlepper UE (f)


Munitionsschlepper auf Basis Renault UE (f)


Slf. für 28/32cm Wurfrahmen auf Infanterie-Schlepper UE (f)


Sicherungsfahrzeug UE(f)

Lorraine 37L(f) Schlepper
· Gefechtsfeld-Versorgungsfahrzeug Lorraine 37L (f)
· Großer Funk- & Beobachtungspanzer Lorraine (f)
· 4,7cm Pak181(f) auf Geschützwagen Lorraine
· Munitionstransportkraftwagen auf Lorraine Schlepper
· 7,5cm Pak40/1 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
· 10,5cm leFH18 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine (12 produced), Wespe-equivalent based on Lorraine armored tractor
· 12,2cm Kanone (r) auf Geschützwagen Lorraine (f) (1 produced)
· 15cm sFH13/1 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine (94 produced), Hummel-equivalent based on Lorraine armored tractor


Gefechtsfeld-Versorgungsfahrzeug Lorraine 37L (f)


Beobachtungspanzer Lorraine (f)


4,7cm Pak181(f) auf Geschützwagen Lorraine


10,5cm leFH18 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine


15cm sFH13/1 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine




Marder I auf Lorraine

Somua MCL S303 (f)
· Zugkraftwagen Somua MCL S303 (f)
· In 1943, Somua MCL S303 (f) were converted to personnel carriers mSPW S303(f), equivalent of the Sdkfz 251/1
· 8cm Reihenwerfer auf SPW Somua S303 (f), 16 French 81mm Brandt mortars on a single mount
· 8cm Vielfachwerfer auf SPW Somua S303 (f), mounting 2 racks of Russian 80mm Katyusha Rockets
. mSPW S303(f) (Pionier), equivalent of the Sdkfz 251/7


8cm Vielfachwerfer auf SPW Somua S303 (f)

Somua MCG S307 (f)
· Zugkraftwagen Somua MCG S307 (f)
· In 1943, Somua MCG S307 (f) were converted to personnel carriers mSPW S307(f), equivalent of the Sdkfz 251/1
· In 1944, 16 Somua MCG S307 (f) were converted to 7,5cm Pak40 (Sf) auf mSPW S307(f), equivalent of the Sdkfz 251/22
· 8cm Reihenwerfer auf SPW Somua S307 (f), 16 French 81mm Brandt mortars on a single mount
· 8cm Vielfachwerfer auf SPW Somua S307 (f), mounting 2 racks of Russian 80mm Katyusha Rockets
· 15cm Panzerwerfer 42 (Sf) auf mSPW Somua S307(f)


mSPW S307(f)


7,5cm Pak40 (Sf) auf mSPW S307(f)


15cm Panzerwerfer 42 (Sf) auf mSPW Somua S307(f)


8cm Reihenwerfer auf SPW Somua S307 (f)

Zugkraftwagen Unic TU1 U305(f)

Zugkraftwagen P302 U302(f)

Zugkraftwagen P107 U304(f) (Unic-Kégresse P107)
· Leichte Zugkraftwagen P107 U304(f). Softskin halftrack, based on the Unic P107, used to tow 37 mm Pak 35/36, 75 mm Pak 97/38, 7.5cm PaK40, 10.5cm leFH18 etc.
· In 1943/44, P107s were converted to personnel carriers leSPW U304(f). They were stripped of their superstructures and fitted with armored hulls that were almost like the SdKfz 251 series. Issued to armored units in France.
· leSPW U304(f) (Fkl) - Equivalent of the Sdkfz 251/3 or 251/8 radio/command vehicles
· leSPW U304(f) (FlaK 38 ) - Equivalent of the Sdkfz 251/17, mounting the 20mm Flak 38
· leSPW U304(f) (PaK 36) - Equivalent of the Sdkfz 251/10, mounting the 37mm PaK 36
· leSPW U304(f) (8cm GrW) - Equivalent of the Sdkfz 251/2, mounting the 8cm mortar




leSPW U304(f)

Zugkraftwagen Ci/306(f) (Citroën P14)

Gepanzerter Transportkraftwagen P380(f) (Panhard-Kégresse)

Panzerspähwagen VM 701(f) (AMR-33)

Panzerspähwagen ZT 702(f) (AMR-35 ZT)
· PSW ZT 702(f)
· some were rearmed with 20mm KwK 30 or KwK 38 L/55 guns
· 8cm Granatwerfer auf PSW AMR35(f)


8cm Granatwerfer auf PSW AMR35(f)

Panzerspähwagen Wh 201(f) (AMD White-Laffly AM29)

Panzerspähwagen Laf 202(f) (AMD Laffly AM80)

Panzerspähwagen 203(f) (AMD Panhard TOE)

Panzerspähwagen 204(f) (AMD Panhard 174/178)
· PSW P174/178 204(f)
· some were rearmed with 20mm KwK 30 or KwK 38 L/55 guns
· some were modified and rearmed with 50mm KwK L/42 guns
· some were converted to railway protection armored cars


PSW 204(f)

Panzerkampfwagen AMC 738(f) (AMC-35)

Panzerkampfwagen 17R/18R 730(f) (Renault FT 17/18 )
Panzerkampfwagen 730c (f) is the cannon version and 730m (f) is the MG version. Many were used in armored trains or were given to the Luftwaffe as snow plows for airfields


Panzerkampfwagen 730m (f)

Panzerkampfwagen 35R 731(f) (Renault R35 and R40)
· Panzerkampfwagen 35R 731(f)
· Befehlspanzer 35R (f)
· PzKpfw 35R 731(f) armed with MG34s
· Munitionspanzer 35R 731(f)
· Artillerie Schlepper 35R 731(f)
· Zugkraftwagen 35R 731(f)
· 4,7cm Pak(t) auf PzKpfw 35R (f)
· 5cm Pak38 auf PzKpfw 35R (f)
· 10.5cm leFH18(Sf) auf 35R(f)
· Flammenwerferpanzer 35R (f)
· Mörserzugmittel 35R (f) : 8cm sGrW34 auf PzKpfw 35R 731(f)
· some were used in armored trains


Panzerkampfwagen 35R 731(f) (SA18 gun version)


Munitionspanzer 35R 731(f)


Artillerie Schlepper 35R 731(f)


4,7cm Pak(t) auf PzKpfw 35R (f)


Flammenwerferpanzer 35R (f)

Panzerkampfwagen D1 732(f) (Renault D1)

Panzerkampfwagen D2 733(f) (Renault D2)
· Panzerkampfwagen D2 733(f)
· number of turrets was sent to Croatia and mounted on armored trains

Panzerkampfwagen 35H 734(f) (Hotchkiss H35)
· Panzerkampfwagen 35H 734(f)
· Munitionsschlepper 35H 734(f)
· 7,5cm Pak40 auf PzKpfw 35H (f) "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
· Slf. für 28/32cm Wurfrahmen auf PzKpfw 35H (f)
· some were some were used in armored trains
· Artillerie Panzerbeobachtungswagen auf 35H 734(f)


Panzerkampfwagen 35H 734(f) in Norway (SA38 gun version)

Panzerkampfwagen 38H 735(f) (Hotchkiss H38)
· Panzerkampfwagen 38H 735(f)
· 7,5cm Pak40 auf PzKpfw 38H (f) "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
· Munitionsschlepper 38H 735(f)
· Großer Funk- & Befehlspanzer 38H 735(f)
· Artillerie Panzerbeobachtungswagen auf 38H 735(f)
· 10,5cm leFH18/40 auf Geschützwagen 38H (f)
· Slf. für 28/32cm Wurfrahmen auf PzKpfw 38H (f)
· Mörserzugmittel 38H (f) : 8cm sGrW34 auf PzKpfw 38H 735(f)
· some were used in armored trains


Panzerkampfwagen 38H 735(f) in Russia (SA18 gun version)


Munitionsschlepper 38H 735(f)

Panzerkampfwagen 39H 735(f) (Hotchkiss H39)
· Panzerkampfwagen 39H 735(f)
· Munitionsschlepper 39H 735(f)
· 7,5cm Pak40 auf PzKpfw 39H (f) "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
· Slf. für 28/32cm Wurfrahmen auf PzKpfw 39H (f)
· 10.5cm leFH18(Sf) auf Geschützwagen 39H(f), Wespe-equivalent based on Hotchkiss H39 tank
· some were used in armored trains
· Artillerie Panzerbeobachtungswagen auf 39H 735(f)


Panzerkampfwagen 39H 735(f) (SA38 gun version)


10.5cm leFH18(Sf) auf Geschützwagen 39H(f)




7,5cm Pak40 auf PzKpfw 39H (f)

Panzerkampfwagen 40R 736(f) (Renault R40)

Panzerkampfwagen FCM 737(f) (FCM 36)
· Panzerkampfwagen FCM 737(f)
· 7,5cm Pak40 auf PzKpfw FCM (f) "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
· 10,5cm leFH 16 auf Geschützwagen FCM (f)




7,5cm Pak40 und 10,5cm leFH 16 auf FCM (f)

Panzerkampfwagen 35S 739(f) (Somua S35)
· Panzerkampfwagen 35S 739(f)
· Fahrschulpanzer Somua 35S (f)
· some were used in armored trains








Panzerzüge N°26, 27, 28 and 29 for example had two tank carriers with a Somua Panzerkampfwagen 35S 739(f).

Panzerkampfwagen B1/B2 740(f) (Renault B1, B1bis and B2)
· Panzerkampfwagen B1/B2 740(f)
· 10,5cm leFH18/3 auf Geschützwagen B2(f) (16 converted in 1942)
· Flammenwerferpanzer Renault B2 (f), retaining the turret-mounted 47mm, but with the hull-mounted 75mm replaced by a flamethrower
· Fahrschulpanzer B1 (f) (turretless)


Panzerkampfwagen B1/B2 740(f)


Flammenwerferpanzer Renault B2 (f)


10,5cm leFH18/3 auf Geschützwagen B2(f)

Panzerkampfwagen 3C 741(f) (FCM3C ... I know only the FCM2C model)

Panzerkampfwagen 770(f) (Renault YS)

19,4cm Kanone GPF (f) in Sf. Schneider 485 (f)


Many Trucks (Citroën, Panhard, Peugeot, Renault etc.)


Peugeot DK5 behind and Büssing NAG in front




Renault AGR and AGK


Citroën 45

Tank turrets used in coastal defenses or for protection of important areas


H38, FT18m, AMC35 and PzV turrets


Somua S35 turret guarding the entrance of Honfleur harbor



EXAMPLES OF UNITS ISSUED WITH FRENCH VEHICLES IN NORMANDY IN 1944 :

- 100. Panzer Abteilung (commited to 91. ID)
Panzerkampfwagen 35R 731(f)
Panzerkampfwagen 39H 735(f)
Panzerkampfwagen 35S 739(f)
Flammenwerferpanzer Renault B2 (f)
Panzerkampfwagen 17R 730c(f)

- 21. Panzer Division
Panzerkampfwagen 35S 739(f)
Panzerkampfwagen 39H 735(f)
Flammenwerferpanzer Renault B1/B2 (f)
Panzerbeobachtungswagen auf 35/38/39H(f)
Großer Funk- & Beobachtungspanzer Lorraine-S (f)
10,5cm leFH18/40 auf Geschützwagen 38H (f)
10,5cm leFH18 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine
15cm sFH13/1 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine
8cm Reihen Vielfachwerfer auf SPW Somua S303/307 (f)
8cm Vielfachwerfer Mörser auf SPW Somua S303/307 (f)
7,5cm Pak40 auf PzKpfw 38H (f) "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
7,5cm Pak40 auf PzKpfw 39H (f) "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
7,5cm Pak40/1 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine "Marder I (SdKfz 135)"
7,5cm Pak40 (Sf) auf mSPW S307(f)
4,7cm Pak(t) auf PzKpfw 35R (f)
Zugkraftwagen P107 U304(f)
Zugkraftwagen Somua MCL S303 (f)
Zugkraftwagen Somua MCG S307(f)
leSPW U304(f)
leSPW U304(f) (Fkl)
leSPW U304(f) (FlaK 38 )
leSPW U304(f) (PaK 36)
leSPW U304(f) (8cm GrW)
mSPW S303(f)
mSPW S303(f) (Pionier)
mSPW S307(f)
Softskins : 21. PzD had over 50 different softskin types (mainly French, but also some Italian ones) including Citroën, Laffly and Renault trucks. Unic-Kégresse P107 and Somua MCL & MCG softskin halftracks as well as Somua SPWs were very common.

- Artillerie Regiment of the 716. ID was equiped with :
8cm Reihen Vielfachwerfer auf SPW Somua S303 (f)
8cm Vielfachwerfer Mörser auf SPW Somua S307 (f)

- Panzerjäger Abteilung of the 709. ID had nine 7,5cm Pak40 (Sf) auf mSPW S307(f)


Sources :
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/fren.htm
http://mitglied.lycos.de/TechnicalArchi ... icles.html
http://ww2photo.mimerswell.com/
http://www.panzerzuge.com/Armoured/main.html
...
"The Panzers and the Battle of Normandy" (Georges Bernage)
"Normandy 1944 : German Military Organisation, Combat Power & Organizational Effectiveness" (Niklas Zetterling)


David Lehmann – "Panzermeyer"

[Marcus]

Very good info, thanks David.

/Marcus

[Bayerlein spirit]

Thanx a lot ! A good thread !

PS : Alors comme ça, tes un gone?

[David Lehmann]

I think all the self-propelled artillery versions based on Lorraine and Hotchkiss chassis were very important ones ... The Wespe and Hummel being only developped during 1942 and really entered in duty in 1943 I think.

David

[Trommelfeuer]

Thank you very much for all the effort you have put in this thread, it's very interesting!

With friendly gretings, Sven

[Korbius]

Great pictures Panzermeyer, keep 'em coming!

[David Lehmann]

Just addind a picture of an Unic P107 BU in german service :



a model of the "gepanzerte" version :



and a drawing of the 2cm (Sf) auf Unic P-107 (f) version :



The "added" armor seems to be different from the "leSPW U304(f)" version previously illustrated in the thread.

Regards,

David

[Christian Ankerstjerne]

Didn't see this until now - a very nice thread, Panzermeyer!

Christian

[David Lehmann]

Other photos of French captured/converted tanks :


Panzerkampfwagen B1bis 740(f)



Flammenwerferpanzer Renault B2 (f)


Panzerkampfwagen 39H 735(f) (SA38 gun version)


Panzerzug with a Somua Panzerkampfwagen 35S 739(f)

David

[David Lehmann]

another pic of French equipment in German service, the famous "75", the 75mm Mle1897 :



David

[Aufklarung]

Very good post, PzM.

Did the Germans use much French kit in Italy?

Please find below a pic of Sherman IIs (disabled by mines) from the Calgary Regiment in the breaking of the Hitler Line in the Liri valley, Italy, 22 May '44. I have no idea who was operating the destroyed UE(f).

regards
A

[Paul Lakowski]

I'm always interested in this type of subject, BTW are you related to Rudolf Lehmann?

I once tried to estimate the extent of the german use of war boote and concluded that as many as 1500 french tanks may have fallen into german hands along with thousands of the UE tractors.

In practice few were actually used , with many collecting rust and dust in wharehouses across france.

By my count no more than 750 would have been used. Have you ever come across figures? Jents tells us [Pztruppen Vol-1] that Char B was used in Russia from 42 and H-35/S35 were used to raise several Pz DIvisions in France in that year too!

[David Lehmann]

Hello,

I don't think I am related to Herr Rudolf Lehmann (there are many Lehmann in Germany) but who knows, I never made researches about my ancestors

I have really no precise idea about the number of French equipment used by the germans. Several ones were used in first line units and even in 1944 the 21. PzD has been completed extensively with French vehicles and tanks. All over the Reich French vehicles, planes, guns were issued to Germany's allies, to second line operations against partisans or to small logistical tasks on air bases etc. I don't know precisely about units in Italy, but even the Italians were given French stuff.
At the beginning of the war on the eastern front there was also many French equipments because they needed it simply rapidly and because the losses during the western campaign were nevertheless quite high. Pieces like the 194mm GPF SPA were rather rare (only 50 pieces available in France) but were used by the Germans ... I saw photos of them on the russian front. I know also the Germans liked the Panhard P178 for example.
Many French guns and HMGs were used on the Atlantik Wall and several osttruppen or later Volksturm had sometimes French rifles and LMGs. The famous 75mm (used by 18 countries) has been used under the name FK 97(f) (old version) or FK 231(f) (French modernized version). In 1942 the Germans converted 600 for anti-tank use (on the PaK 38 carriage) as the 7.5cm PaK97/38 for the eastern front.

I would be very interested to know for example for the eastern front which were the units using French equipment and on what scale ...

Regards,

David

[David Lehmann]

In June 1943 :

Eastern Front
Heeresgruppe A : 6 Renault B2
Heeresgruppe Süd : 12 Panhard P178
Heeresgruppe Mitte : 15 Hotchkiss H-38, 2 Somua S-35, 18 Panhard P178
Südosten (Balkan) : 96 Hotchkiss H-38, 43 Somua S-35, 17 Renault B1 and B2

Western Front
149 Hotchkiss H-38
67 Somua S-35
81 Renault B1 and B2
58 Renault R-35
12 Renault FT-17/18
33 Panhard P178

Norway
68 Hotchkiss H-38
17 Somua S-35

Finland
33 Hotchkiss H-38
16 Somua S-35

But many vehicles are not listed here : very numerous chenillettes UE(f), softskins and halftracks are also missing like several tanks (H35, H39, R40, FCM36, D1 and D2).

source : http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waf ... euge-R.htm

David

[Paul Lakowski]

Thanks for that David!

Interesting source...it suggest the germans had 715 Beute pz in mid 1943 and still at the end of the war there were 424 such tanks in the inventory.

In Chamberline and Doyle & Jentz, Encyclopedia of GErman Tanks of WW-II, they report...
211 Panzerabteilung attacked into FInland in 1941 with platoons each with one S-35 and 4 x H-38s.

Also 190 P-178 were used unmodified in 1941 with 107 lost in action.

Jentz in Pz truppen Vol-1 reports Char B2 flame tanks in use in boarder battles reducing fortifications in the summer of 1941 attached to 2nd company 102(f) Panzer Abteilung.

In 1942 Beute Pz Komp 223 was formed 10 April 1942 [ under 22nd Pz Div] with CharB2 flame tanks and was engadged in fighting near Sevastopol . THis was expanded to include 2 pz komp & command element with a second komp with 5 x Pzkpfw.B2 & 12 x Pzkpfw.B2 (Fl). Mean while a PzKomp was formed in the SS Prince Eugen div with 17 x Pzkpfw.B2 and sent to Yugoslavia.

About this time 24th and 25th Pz divisions where formed in France with french tanks before being converted to German Pz when sent to the front.

hope this is of some help.

BTW Alister Horne reports some 7000 French 75mm field guns fell into german hands after the 'fall of france'.