PanzerArmee Afrika

References and Regiments

by Dave Geisz


Rifle Regiment of the Panzer Division.

After missing two issues, one, which was filled in with a great article by Dr. A. Vigneron, and Pat's numerous letters and phone calls chiding, begging, or threateninq, ("since you have gone, I've got to do the whole damn magazine--send money and articles--help), I'm back on typewriter.

In answer to Dr. Vigneron's article, I must point out that he is probably right on the assault gun battalion. Most of Rommel's S/P guns were the Pz. I&II's, Pz.38's and the Lorraine Chassis. Since no one makes the S/P guns or the above chassis, I use the Mini-Tank Mk.III Assault gun with the short-barrel to have representation on the battlefield.

If the readers will permit me, since you are reading the article and have little choice, I would like to give some interesting references concerning the Afrika Korps.

"Afrika Korps was intended to consist of two divisions, the first to sail, 5th Light Division. In fact the 5th Light was an early example of the forthcoming smaller Panzer Divisions created by halving the tank component of the original Panzer division, and had only one Panzer Regiment consisting of only two battalions with 90 tanks each, compared with the old divisional complement of two regiments of three battalions each. The 15th Panzer Division was originally meant to have three tank battalions, but this too dropped to two, in part a measure of the low priority granted to the African venture." Panzer Division: The Mailed Fist by Maj. K. J. Macksey.

Not until May 1942 were its two Panzer Divisions given delivery of their fourth company of tanks in each battalion: Panzer Division: The Mailed Fist by Maj. K. J. Macksey.

"the 90th light. It had been formed from the support division Afrika which had fought successfully on the Tobruck front." The Foxes of the Desert by Paul Carell. &-the 164th Light Afrika Division. It had been flown to Africa without its vehicles." The Foxes of the Desert by Paul Carell. I -and by elements of the 164th Infantry Division, who included large numbers of elderly reservists and Inperfectly trained recruits: With Rommel in the Desert by H. W. Schmidt.

"We had received some reinforcements. A third division was created out of a various assortment of troops and named the 90th Light Division." With Rommel in the Desert by H. W. Schmidt.

"Accompanied by his aide, he drove into the attack in his armoured car or in his "recce" truck, Greif: The Foxes of the Desert by Paul Carell. This particular vehicle is shown in color in the Armor Series No. 7: German Halftrack Vehicles.

"At the head of his staff combat group, Rommel had taken part in the decisive break-through by the Afrika Korps. The combat group, a number of which were under Rommel's personal command, was the ideal form of rapid fighting unit which had developed out of the desert war. It had the approximate strength of a battalion and consisted of a tank company, a mixed company of anti-tank artillery and flak, 7.5 self-propelled puns, 5cm and 3.7cm anti-tank guns and 2cm flak. In addition to this column of armored "recce" trucks and radio cars. The Foxes of the Desert by Paul Carell.

"Every defended point must be a complete defensive system in itself". Every weapon must be sited so that it is able to fire in every direction. I visualize the ideal arrangement of such defensive points on these lines:

    One 88mm "flak" gun should be sunk into the ground as deeply as the field of fire permits. From here trenches should radiate in three directions to three points--one a machine-gun position, the second a heavy mortar position, and the third a ligbt 20mm anti-aircraft gun or a 50mm "pak" gun. With Rommel in the Desert by H. W. Schmidt.

    As of 1942 the Rifle regiments consisted of:

    Reg HQ: 193 men, 14 TMG, 31 vehicles
    Armoured Bat

      HQ: 49 men, 6 LMG, 8 vehicles
      Rifle Cos (3) 183 men, 29 LMG, 4 HMG, 2 - 81mm Mtr, 6 A/T guns 25 vehicles
      Weapons Co 101 men, 4 120mm mtrs, 6 A/T guns and 21 vehicles

    Mechanized Bat

      HQ - 42 men 4 LMG, 9 vehicles
      Motor Cos (3) 197 men, 18LMG, 4 HMC, 2-81mm Mtrs, and 24 vehicles
      Weapons Co 104 men, 2LMG, 4 120 mtrs, 6 A/T guns, and 20 vehicles

    When forming your army remember casualties decimated most battalions and they formed with whatever men and equipment they could lay their hands on:

    "My choice fell on the heavy company of the 115th Rifle Regiment of the 15th Panzer Division. This corpany consisted of 50mm anti-tank guns, a 150mm gun, an infantry platoon, an 87mm mortar Platoon, and a platoon of combat engineers." With Rommel in the Desert by H. W. Schmidt.

    "We headed straight for the enemy tanks. I glanced back. Behind me was a fan of our vehicles--a curious assortment of all types -- spread out as far as the eye could see. There were armoured troop carriers, cars of various kinds, caterpillars hauling mobile guns, heavy trucks with infantry, motorized anti-aircraft units. Thus we roared on towards the enemy's barricade." With Rommel in the Desert by H. W. Schmidt.

    Recommended further reading:
    BRAZEN CHARIOTS by Major Robert Crisp
    ALAMEIN AND THE DESERT WAR, ROMMEL THE DESERT FOX by Desmond Young
    HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR various volumes
    ARMOR SERIES by Aero Publishers Inc.

    Note: Humbrol paints now puts out the British and German Desert paint and they are very accurate. It is smooth flowing and does not leave brush marks. It is carried by most of our hobby shops who advertise.

    More Panzer Armee Afrika

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    © Copyright 1969 by Pat Condray
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