Grumble -> (11/20/2001 11:07:00 PM)
|
From about 1936 until late 1940, the most common German AFVs were PzI, and PzII. The Czech vehicles Pz35t/Pz38t were used primarily in only two divisions. The PzIII/PzIV series were less common-the fact of slow production for these designs was the reason behind using the Czech vehicles rather than converting the factories to German designed tanks. From late 1940 through 1943, the PzIII in its many variants was what would be called now the "Main Battle Tank" of the armored forces. PzIVs were still in the support role,and the PzI/IIs either withdrawn, rebuilt or used for recce. The ongoing problem with dealing with Russian T34 and KV AFVs, led to the demise of the PzIII; as it couldn't be upgunned. The PzIV had the room for a larger weapon and took the place of the PzIII as the MBT from 1943-45. PzIII chassis were used to build the "STurmGeschutze" assault gun/tank destroyers, which were used as independent units or assigned to PzGrenadier divisions. The Panther was specifically designed to best the T34 series, and handle any Western Allied vehicle. Production of it started in 1943, and continued for the rest of the war. Ideally, by early '44, Panzer Divisions had one battalion of PzIVs and one of Panthers, but slow production seldom gave units their full allotment (Waffen SS units fared somewhat better in this regard). The Tiger series should be considered very rare (only 1250 TigerIs were built and some 900 TigerIIs). From mid-war on, consider the JagdPanzers probably more common than tanks, with the StuG series the most common as mentioned above. For halftracks, these were relatively rare, with only one battalion in a Panzer Division so equipped. Everyone else used trucks, or horse-drawn wagons.
|
|
|
|