On the battlefield, if they are supported and used properly, tanks are a very deadly menace. Rommel's use of his two Panzer regiments demonstrated this fact over and over again.

No one to my knowledge makes the Mk.I or Mk.II. The Mk. III and IV are made in 1/87 scale by Minitanks, Both models have the short and long barrels.

If one wished to make a Mark III with a 3.7cm barrel, then cut off the model with the long barrel 5cm about half way down the barrel.

The battle for Tobruk in 1942 found Panzerarmee Afrika with 332 tanks. (50 Mk. IIs, 223 Mk III's, 19 MkIII Specials, and 40 MkIV's). In the big push at Alamein in the fall of '42, the Germans were down to 211 tanks. These consisted of 85 Mk. IIIs, 88 Mk. III specials, 8 Mk. IV's, and 30 Mk. IV specials.

Rommel's tank regiments generally consisted of two battalions each of four companies. Each company had consisted of between 15 and 22 tanks, varying upon the amount of gunners and amount of replacements that crossed the Med. Generally, the 4th and 8th companies had the Mk.IV's.

My tabletop setup is as follows:

Each Battalion
HDQ: 1 Mk. III w/5cm 1/b gun
1st Company 3 Mk. III's with 3.7cm s/b gun
2nd Company: 3 Mk.III's 5cm s/b gun
3rd Company - 3 VIK.III specials w/ 5cm 1/b gun
4th Company - 3 MK.IV's with 7.5cm s/b or 1/b gun

There was also a Regimental HDQ tank to the regiment.

Detailing the tanks is very easy. Pirst paint the tank white, let dry, and cover with the sand mixture, as stated in Part 1. Outline all details with a pen or brash and let dry. Numbered decals from Roskoph set #200 are applied to the sides of the turrets and to the rear of the decks. Antennas can be placed on the right sides of the tanks, about halfway down the tank. Micro Decals have the 15th and 21st D.A.K symbols. Place them on the left front fender. Almarks, in 1/76 scale is coming out with a sheet of Afrika Korps palm tree insignias. These contain about 50 decals each, These may be placed on the sides of turrets, centrally on the front of the tank, and on the overhang of the rear decks, German crosses may be placed on turrets, and fender shirts both in front and rear.

By 1942 most Panzer Regiments had an Assault Gun Battalion attached to the organization. I forget which battle, but Rommel had besides his 120 tanks, about 9O S/P vehicles mounting guns. Unless you are handy in scratch building, use Minitanks Mk. III Assault guns for the vehicles in this battalion. Tabletop strength - 7 vehicles.

Attached to the regiment was a flak company. Use two 2cm and one 3.7cm vehicles to represent the company.

German Tank Numbering System

The tactical number consisted of three digits. The first digit designated the company, the second the platoon, and the third, the tank within the platoon.

The tactical number consisted of three digits, the first digit designated the company, the second the platoon, and the third, the tank within the platoon. Generally they were large red numerals painted with a white border on the vehicle. Later, black instead of red, was used, and this became the standard system. Numbers were painted on sides and backs of turrets, on the rear surface of the decks and on the sides of all other vehicles.

The regimental headquarters vehicles substituted the capital R instead of the digit. The vehicles of the battalion headquarters used a roman numeral in place of the company number.

Example s

R01Reg. Com., I03 - 1st Bat. signal or ordnance officer, II02 2nd Bat. Adj., I04 - 1st Bat. staff officer, I01 - 1st Co. Com., I02 - HQ platoon leader, 1st Co., 111 - Platoon leader, 1st platoon, 1st company. 742 7th Comp 4th platoon, 2nd vehicle.

More Panzer Armee Afrika

Panzer Armee Afrika Part I
Panzer Armee Afrika Part II
Panzer Armee Afrika Part III

Reply to Panzer Armee Afrika
Panzer Armee Afrika: References and Regiments