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German heavy tank battalion

January 01, 1970

A German heavy tank battalion (German: "schwere Panzerabteilung", short: "s PzAbt") was a battalion-sized World War II tank unit of the German Army (1935–1945), equipped with Tiger I, and later Tiger II, heavy tanks. Originally intended to fight on the offensive during breakthrough operations, the German late-war realities required it to be used in a defensive posture by providing heavy fire support and counter-attacking enemy armored breakthroughs, often organised into ad hoc Kampfgruppen.

German schwere Panzabteilung 1943
— s PzAbt —

Active1943
Country Germany
BranchGerman Heer
TypePanzer
RoleArmoured warfare
SizeBattalion, up to 45 tanks
Part of Wehrmacht
EngagementsWorld War II

The German heavy tank battalions destroyed a total of 9,850 enemy tanks for the loss of only 1,715 of their own, a kill/loss ratio of 5.74. The 1,715 German losses also include non-combat tank write-offs.[1]

Tiger I in France.

Formation edit

Early formation units experimented to find the correct combination of heavy Tiger tanks supported by either medium Panzer III tanks or reconnaissance elements. In 1942 this consisted of 20 Tigers and 16 Panzer IIIs,[verification needed] composed of two companies, each with four platoons of two Tigers and two Panzer IIIs. Each company commander would have an additional Tiger, and battalion command would have another two.[2]

Later formations had a standard organization of 45 Tiger Tanks, composed of three companies of 14 Tigers each, plus three command vehicles. Maintenance troubles and the mechanical unreliability of the Tigers posed a continuous problem, so often the units would field a smaller number of combat-ready tanks.[2]

The limited number of these heavy tanks, plus their specialized role in either offensive or defensive missions, meant they were rarely permanently assigned to a single division or corps, but shuffled around according to war circumstances.

In addition to tanks, each battalion planned to include the following:[3]
Vehicle vehicle type  1 July 1943   1 January 1945 
Flakpanzer IV Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun 0 8
Sd.Kfz. 7/1 8 ton 4 x 2 cm Flak Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun 6 3
Sd.Kfz. 251 Schützenpanzerwagen Armoured half-track 10 11
Bergepanther Armoured recovery vehicle 0 5
Sd.Kfz. 9 18 ton Zugkraftwagen Half-track prime mover 8 7
Sd.Kfz. 10 1 ton Zugkraftwagen Light half-track 8 13
Sd.Kfz. 2 Kettenkrad Gun tractor 0 14
Beiwagenkrad Motorcycle with sidecar, e.g. BMW R75 25 0
Solokrad Motorcycle 17 6
Kübelwagen Personenkraftwagen Staff car 64 38
Personenkraftwagen, zivil Civilian car 2 1
Lastkraftwagen Truck, e.g. Opel Blitz 111 84
Lastkraftwagen, zivil Civilian truck 24 34
Maultier Half-track truck 0 6
Kran-Kraftfahrzeug Mobile crane 3 3
Total 278 233

Organisation structure edit

The organisation structure of a German heavy Panzer battalion in 1943, on example of the schwere Panzerabteilung 508, was as follows.[4]

  • staff / German: Stab
  • staff company (three tanks) / Stabskompanie
  • 1st – 3rd Panzer company (14 tanks each) / 1. – 3. Panzerkompanie
    • company detachment (two tanks) / Kompanietrupp
    • 1st – 3rd Panzer platoon (four tanks each) / 1. – 3. Panzerzug
    • medical service / Sanitätsdienst
    • vehicle repair detachment / Kfz. Instandsetzungstrupp
    • combat train I / Gefechtstross I
    • combat train II / Gefechtstross II
    • baggage train / Gepäcktross
  • workshop company / Werkstattkompanie
    • 1st and 2nd workshop platoon / 1. and 2. Werkstattzug
    • recovery platoon / Bergezug
    • armorer detachment / Waffenmeisterei
    • communications detachment / Funkmeisterei
    • spare part detachment / Ersatzteiltrupp

Army units edit

By the end of the war, the following heavy panzer detachments had been created. Early units were re-built several times by the end of the war.

Independent units attached to the German Army (Heer) were:

SS units edit

Units attached to the Waffen-SS were:

Combat performance edit

Kill and Loss Ratio of the Tiger Battalions (1942–1945):[1]
Unit Losses Destroyed Ratio
501st Heavy Panzer Battalion 120 450 3.75
502nd Heavy Panzer Battalion 107 1,400 13.08
503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion 252 1,700 6.75
504th Heavy Panzer Battalion 109 250 2.29
505th Heavy Panzer Battalion 126 900 7.14
506th Heavy Panzer Battalion 179 400 2.23
507th Heavy Panzer Battalion 104 600 5.77
508th Heavy Panzer Battalion 78 100 1.28
509th Heavy Panzer Battalion 120 500 4.17
510th Heavy Panzer Battalion 65 200 3.08
13./Panzer-Regiment Großdeutschland 6 100 16.67
III./Panzer-Regiment Großdeutschland 98 500 5.10
13./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 42 400 9.52
8./SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 31 250 8.06
9./SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 56 500 8.93
101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 107 500 4.67
102nd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 76 600 7.89
103rd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 39 500 12.82
Total: 1,715 9,850 5.74

Tank losses include losses inflicted other than by enemy tanks. Also, many tanks were abandoned by their crews due to a lack of fuel, ammunition or breakdown, especially at the end of war.[citation needed]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b "Tiger Tank Battalions during WWII - p. 2". The Armor Site!. – citing http://www.alanhamby.com/tiger.html which itself cites Tigers in Combat I by Wolfgang Schneider, Tigers in Combat II by Wolfgang Schneider, Red Army Handbook by Steven Zaloga
  2. ^ a b Schneider 2000, pp. 3–4.
  3. ^ Schneider 2000, p. 2.
  4. ^ Schneider 2004, pp. 13–14, 321
  5. ^ Jentz, pp. 195, 265
  6. ^ Olsson, Thorleif. "Borgward IV- Sd.Kfz.. 301". Achtung Panzer!.

References edit

  • Jentz, Thomas (1996). Panzertruppen 2: The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945. Schiffer. ISBN 978-0-7643-0080-6.
  • Schneider, Wolfgang (2000). Tigers in Combat I. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3171-3.
  • Wilbeck, Christopher (2004). Sledgehammers: Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II. Bedford: Aberjona Press. OCLC 200489614.

January 01, 1970
german, heavy, tank, battalion, german, schwere, panzerabteilung, short, pzabt, battalion, sized, world, tank, unit, german, army, 1935, 1945, equipped, with, tiger, later, tiger, heavy, tanks, originally, intended, fight, offensive, during, breakthrough, oper. A German heavy tank battalion German schwere Panzerabteilung short s PzAbt was a battalion sized World War II tank unit of the German Army 1935 1945 equipped with Tiger I and later Tiger II heavy tanks Originally intended to fight on the offensive during breakthrough operations the German late war realities required it to be used in a defensive posture by providing heavy fire support and counter attacking enemy armored breakthroughs often organised into ad hoc Kampfgruppen German schwere Panzabteilung 1943 s PzAbt US Army Map Symbol Panzer Battalion Active1943Country GermanyBranchGerman HeerTypePanzerRoleArmoured warfareSizeBattalion up to 45 tanksPart ofWehrmachtEngagementsWorld War II The German heavy tank battalions destroyed a total of 9 850 enemy tanks for the loss of only 1 715 of their own a kill loss ratio of 5 74 The 1 715 German losses also include non combat tank write offs 1 Tiger I in France Contents 1 Formation 1 1 Organisation structure 2 Army units 3 SS units 4 Combat performance 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesFormation editEarly formation units experimented to find the correct combination of heavy Tiger tanks supported by either medium Panzer III tanks or reconnaissance elements In 1942 this consisted of 20 Tigers and 16 Panzer IIIs verification needed composed of two companies each with four platoons of two Tigers and two Panzer IIIs Each company commander would have an additional Tiger and battalion command would have another two 2 Later formations had a standard organization of 45 Tiger Tanks composed of three companies of 14 Tigers each plus three command vehicles Maintenance troubles and the mechanical unreliability of the Tigers posed a continuous problem so often the units would field a smaller number of combat ready tanks 2 The limited number of these heavy tanks plus their specialized role in either offensive or defensive missions meant they were rarely permanently assigned to a single division or corps but shuffled around according to war circumstances In addition to tanks each battalion planned to include the following 3 Vehicle vehicle type 1 July 1943 1 January 1945 Flakpanzer IV Self propelled anti aircraft gun 0 8 Sd Kfz 7 1 8 ton 4 x 2 cm Flak Self propelled anti aircraft gun 6 3 Sd Kfz 251 Schutzenpanzerwagen Armoured half track 10 11 Bergepanther Armoured recovery vehicle 0 5 Sd Kfz 9 18 ton Zugkraftwagen Half track prime mover 8 7 Sd Kfz 10 1 ton Zugkraftwagen Light half track 8 13 Sd Kfz 2 Kettenkrad Gun tractor 0 14 Beiwagenkrad Motorcycle with sidecar e g BMW R75 25 0 Solokrad Motorcycle 17 6 Kubelwagen Personenkraftwagen Staff car 64 38 Personenkraftwagen zivil Civilian car 2 1 Lastkraftwagen Truck e g Opel Blitz 111 84 Lastkraftwagen zivil Civilian truck 24 34 Maultier Half track truck 0 6 Kran Kraftfahrzeug Mobile crane 3 3 Total 278 233 Organisation structure edit The organisation structure of a German heavy Panzer battalion in 1943 on example of the schwere Panzerabteilung 508 was as follows 4 staff German Stab staff company three tanks Stabskompanie communications platoon Nachrichtenzug armoured reconnaissance platoon on IFV gepanzerter Aufklarungszug area reconnaissance platoon Erkundungszug ErkdZug engineer platoon Pionierzug PiZug anti aircraft platoon Fliegerabwehrzug FlakZug 1st 3rd Panzer company 14 tanks each 1 3 Panzerkompanie company detachment two tanks Kompanietrupp 1st 3rd Panzer platoon four tanks each 1 3 Panzerzug medical service Sanitatsdienst vehicle repair detachment Kfz Instandsetzungstrupp combat train I Gefechtstross I combat train II Gefechtstross II baggage train Gepacktross workshop company Werkstattkompanie 1st and 2nd workshop platoon 1 and 2 Werkstattzug recovery platoon Bergezug armorer detachment Waffenmeisterei communications detachment Funkmeisterei spare part detachment ErsatzteiltruppArmy units editBy the end of the war the following heavy panzer detachments had been created Early units were re built several times by the end of the war Independent units attached to the German Army Heer were 501st Heavy Panzer Battalion 502nd Heavy Panzer Battalion 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion 504th Heavy Panzer Battalion 505th Heavy Panzer Battalion 506th Heavy Panzer Battalion 507th Heavy Panzer Battalion 508th Heavy Panzer Battalion 509th Heavy Panzer Battalion 510th Heavy Panzer Battalion 511th Heavy Panzer Battalion 301st Heavy Panzer Battalion radio control 5 6 SS units editUnits attached to the Waffen SS were 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion renamed in 1944 as SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 501 German schwere SS Panzerabteilung 501 part of I SS Panzer Corps 102nd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion renamed in 1944 as SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 502 schwere SS Panzerabteilung 502 part of II SS Panzer Corps 103rd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion renamed in 1944 as SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 503 schwere SS Panzerabteilung 503 part of III Germanic SS Panzer Corps 104th SS Heavy Panzer Battalion schwere SS Panzerabteilung 104 was planned 22 October 1943 for IV SS Panzer Corps but was never formedCombat performance editKill and Loss Ratio of the Tiger Battalions 1942 1945 1 Unit Losses Destroyed Ratio 501st Heavy Panzer Battalion 120 450 3 75 502nd Heavy Panzer Battalion 107 1 400 13 08 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion 252 1 700 6 75 504th Heavy Panzer Battalion 109 250 2 29 505th Heavy Panzer Battalion 126 900 7 14 506th Heavy Panzer Battalion 179 400 2 23 507th Heavy Panzer Battalion 104 600 5 77 508th Heavy Panzer Battalion 78 100 1 28 509th Heavy Panzer Battalion 120 500 4 17 510th Heavy Panzer Battalion 65 200 3 08 13 Panzer Regiment Grossdeutschland 6 100 16 67 III Panzer Regiment Grossdeutschland 98 500 5 10 13 SS Panzer Regiment 1 42 400 9 52 8 SS Panzer Regiment 2 31 250 8 06 9 SS Panzer Regiment 3 56 500 8 93 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 107 500 4 67 102nd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 76 600 7 89 103rd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 39 500 12 82 Total 1 715 9 850 5 74 Tank losses include losses inflicted other than by enemy tanks Also many tanks were abandoned by their crews due to a lack of fuel ammunition or breakdown especially at the end of war citation needed See also editOrganisation of a SS Panzer Division Panzer DivisionNotes edit a b Tiger Tank Battalions during WWII p 2 The Armor Site citing http www alanhamby com tiger html which itself cites Tigers in Combat I by Wolfgang Schneider Tigers in Combat II by Wolfgang Schneider Red Army Handbook by Steven Zaloga a b Schneider 2000 pp 3 4 Schneider 2000 p 2 Schneider 2004 pp 13 14 321 Jentz pp 195 265 Olsson Thorleif Borgward IV Sd Kfz 301 Achtung Panzer References editJentz Thomas 1996 Panzertruppen 2 The Complete Guide to the Creation amp Combat Employment of Germany s Tank Force 1943 1945 Schiffer ISBN 978 0 7643 0080 6 Schneider Wolfgang 2000 Tigers in Combat I Mechanicsburg Stackpole Books ISBN 978 0 8117 3171 3 Wilbeck Christopher 2004 Sledgehammers Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II Bedford Aberjona Press OCLC 200489614 Retrieved from https en 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