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Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 6:37 pm
by Richard H. Evans
Leo Niehorster wrote:The divisional headquarters escorts company (Begleitkompanie einer Panzerdivision - KStN 126, dated 1.03.44) is also available on mircofiche.

Grossdeutschland, of course, had had its own divisional headquarters escort company KStN much earlier, as of 12.01.43. Even so, by mid-1943 all Panzer divisions were already authorized to create their own headquarters escort companies using platoons (TE) KStN already published, or even extracting platoon organizations from full KStN companies. These companies were very similar to the GD organization.

Cheers
Leo
Leo,

Thanks for the info. From the OB I got from the Nafziger Collection, I am assumimg that the function "Escort Company" was a HQ protection or guard unit? By the way, I have all but the new revised "grey books" and have thoroughly enjoyed them - keep up the great work!

Richard

Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 6:39 pm
by Richard H. Evans
Leo Niehorster wrote:The divisional headquarters escorts company (Begleitkompanie einer Panzerdivision - KStN 126, dated 1.03.44) is also available on mircofiche.

Grossdeutschland, of course, had had its own divisional headquarters escort company KStN much earlier, as of 12.01.43. Even so, by mid-1943 all Panzer divisions were already authorized to create their own headquarters escort companies using platoons (TE) KStN already published, or even extracting platoon organizations from full KStN companies. These companies were very similar to the GD organization.

Cheers
Leo
Leo,

Thanks for the info. From the OB I got from the Nafziger Collection, I am assumimg that the function "Escort Company" was a HQ protection or guard unit? By the way, I have all but the new revised "grey books" and have thoroughly enjoyed them - keep up the great work!

Richard

Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 12:59 am
by Leo Niehorster
I am assumimg that the function "Escort Company" was a HQ protection or guard unit?
Correct. The panzer division escort companies consisted of infantry, antitank, antiaircraft, light infantry gun, and motorcycle infantry platoons. Note that there were some variations between the various divisions.

By the way, I have all but the new revised "grey books" and have thoroughly enjoyed them - keep up the great work!
:D :D :D

Cheers
Leo

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 5:35 pm
by Richard H. Evans
Christoph,

As per your post (Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:22 pm) about searching the archives - I would like to take you up on your offer if it is not inconvient? I would appreciate any data on the following KSTN's mentioned.

51 Kdo. Pz. Div., Kdo. Pz. Gren. Div. 01.07.44
51a Kdo. Pz. Div. mit Div. Begl. Kp., Kdo. Pz. Gren. Div. mit Div. Begl.Kp. 01.12.43
126 Begleitkompanie einer Panzerdivision, 1.03.44

Thank you very much in advance for what ever you can find.

Regards,

Richard

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 2:42 pm
by Richard H. Evans
Leo Niehorster wrote:The divisional headquarters escorts company (Begleitkompanie einer Panzerdivision - KStN 126, dated 1.03.44) is also available on mircofiche.

Grossdeutschland, of course, had had its own divisional headquarters escort company KStN much earlier, as of 12.01.43. Even so, by mid-1943 all Panzer divisions were already authorized to create their own headquarters escort companies using platoons (TE) KStN already published, or even extracting platoon organizations from full KStN companies. These companies were very similar to the GD organization.

Cheers
Leo
Leo,

I am still confused! I have several references listing the K.St.N. 126 of feb 1944 as the correct one for the PD44. However, above you state there is a Mar 44 K.St.N.? Could this be a typo or are there two a month apart?

Richard

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 2:47 pm
by Richard H. Evans
Roger Griffiths wrote:ESCORT COMPANY

Just out of interest, when I was accumulating KStN's for PD44, all I could find was KStN 126 1Feb44. It's upstairs but off the top og my head it included sPak Platoon. Deleting that brought the unit personnel to correct figure for PD44. 3 Officers, 32 NCO's, 153 Men (Incl. 9 Hiwis), Total 188.

Roger
Roger,

Would it be possible for you to post the KSTN 126, 1 Feb 44 as you ntoed above?

Richard

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:05 pm
by Leo Niehorster
Richard H. Evans wrote:
I am still confused! I have several references listing the K.St.N. 126 of feb 1944 as the correct one for the PD44. However, above you state there is a Mar 44 K.St.N.? Could this be a typo or are there two a month apart?
:oops:
Should read 1 February 1944 - not March. Sorry about that.

Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2004 8:12 am
by Roger Griffiths
This is the guts of the Escort Company (KStN 126 1 Feb 44)

3 Offs., 32 NCO's, 153 Men (Incl. 9 Hiwis) Total 188
56 Pistols, 118 Rifles, 14 MP's, 12 lmg's, 2 hmg's, 2 8,1cm mortars, 3 Ofenrohr (Panzershreck).

Group Leader
1 VW, 2 lt. Mot. cycles, 3 Motor cycle combis.

1 (Rifle) Platoon
2 VW, 6 2t. cross country trucks (1 for hmg's, 2 for mortars).

2 (Heavy AT) Platoon Deleted in PD44.

3 (AA) Platoon
1 VW, 1 Kettenkrad, 4 SdKfz 10/4 + SdAnh 51, 2 SdKfz 10/4 less guns as ammo carriers.

4 (Scout) Platoon
2 VW, 21 motor cycle combis.

Combat Train
1 VW, 3 3t cross country trucks (2 for fuel, 1 as kitchen).

Vehicle Maintenance Troop
1 Motor cycle combi., 1 2t. cross country truck as 2/40

Rations Train
1 3t commercial truck

Note: 118 rifles include 1 with telescopic sight and 3 SLR (G41)

Roger

Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:47 pm
by Richard H. Evans
Roger,

Thank you for the Escort Company posting - much appreciated.

You listed 3 Panzershreck; One other quasi-OB I have list a Panzerbuchse 54 in each of the 3 rifle platoon squads - does this match your data?

Richard

Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2004 1:29 pm
by Piet Duits
Richard,

Panzerschreck = Panzerbüchse 54

The data is correct.