The 18th Artillery Division was created in 1943 from the remains of the 18th Panzer Division. It was disbanded in 1944. It had the following units assigned to it. 18th Artillery Division Troop Quality: Experienced, Morale: 8 Division HQ, with: 1 command stand 1 car 1 staff radio truck 1 infantry stand 1 light truck MP Detachment, with: 1 recon MP Stand 1 light truck Artillery Combat Battalion 18 HQ Company, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1st & 2nd Cos, each with: 1 command Infantry stand 2 Infantry stands 1 weapons stand 2 medium trucks 3rd Company, with: 1 command RkPzB stand 1 RkPzB stand 4 antitank assault stands 4 light trucks 4th Company 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 2 gun crew stands 1 45L66 ATG (Russian) 1 75L12 IG (battalion gun) 2 light trucks Division Services, as late 1943 Panzer Division Supply Battalion, as late 1943 Panzer Division Signal Battalion, as late 1943 Panzer Division 88th Panzer Artillery Regiment Regimental HQ Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 car, 1 staff radio truck, 1 maint van, 1 med gen supply truck with trailer, 1 med baggage truck with field kitchen, 1 support stand I/88th Panzer Artillery Battalion, with: HQ Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 1 staff radio truck, 1 FO PzBeobWg III, 1 med gen supply truck with trailer, 1 med baggage truck with field kitchen, 1 support stand 2 Light Batteries, each with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen,1 Wespe SP 105, 1 sWS ammo carrier, 1 light truck, 1 support stand Medium Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 1 Hummel SP 150, 1 sWS ammo carrier I light truck, 1 support stand II/88th Light Artillery Battalion, with: HQ Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 FO stand, 2 kubelwagens, 1 staff radio truck, 1 med gen supply truck with trailer, 1 med baggage truck with field kitchen, 1 support stand 3 Batteries, each with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 1 gun crew (ds), 1 105L28 How, 1 tractor, 1 tried ammo truck with trailer, 1 support stand III/88th Medium Arty Battalion, with: HQ Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 1 staff radio truck, 1 mcd gen supply truck with trailer, 1 med baggage truck with field kitchen, 1 support stand 3 Batteries, each with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 1 gun crew (ds), 1 150L30 How, 1 tractor, 1 tried ammo truck with trailer, 1 support stand 288th Artillery Regiment Regimental HQ Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 car, 1 staff radio truck, 1 maint van, 1 med gen supply truck with trailer, 1 med baggage truck with field kitchen, 1 support stand I/288th Light Artillery Battalion, with: same as II/88th above II/288th Heavy Cannon Battalion, with: HQ Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 FO stand, 2 kubelwagens, 1 staff radio truck, 1 tried gen supply truck with trailer, 1 med baggage truck with field kitchen, 1 support stand 3 Batteries, each with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 1 gun crew (ds), 1 105L52 Gun, 1 tractor, 1 med arnnuo truck with trailer, 1 support stand III/288th Heavy Cannon Battalion, with: HQ Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 1 staff radio truck, 1 med gen supply truck with trailer, 1 med baggage truck with field kitchen, 1 support stand 3 Batteries, each with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 1 gun crew (ds) 1 170L50 Gun, 1 tractor, 1 med ammo truck with trailer, 1 support stand 388th Artillery Regiment Regimental HQ Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 car, 1 staff radio truck, 1 maint van, 1 med gen supply truck with trailer, 1 med baggage truck with field kitchen, 1 support stand II/388th Light Artillery Battalion, with: same as II/88th above II/388th Medium Arty Battalion, with: same as III/88th above III/388th Heavy Arty Battalion, with: HQ Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 1 staff radio truck, 1 med gen supply truck with trailer, 1 med baggage truck with field kitchen, 1 support stand 3 Batteries, each with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 1 gun crew (ds) 1 210L31 How, 1 tractor, 1 heavy ammo truck with trailer, 1 support stand Observation Battalion HQ Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen Fire Control Battery, with: 1 staff radio truck (fire control), 2 FO PzBeobWg IIIs, 2 recon StuG IIIGs Survey Battery, with: 1 command stand, 2 survey patrols, 3 kubelwagens, 1 shop van Counter-Battery Battery, with: 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, 2 med trucks with sound/flash detectors Notes 1. The 18th Artillery Division was formed from the shell of the 18th Panzer Division. It was designed to quickly bring massive firepower down on a breakthrough or to support a counter-attack. 2. The FOs of the fire control battery of the observation battalion can call fire for any or all of the division's batteries using the staff. The StuGa were assigned to escort the FOs. Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly # 8 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1995 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com