Panzer-Zerstörer-Batallion

[Hansen]

Hello,

I would like to know, if there is any information on the so-called Panzer-Zerstörer-Batallione.
A Google-search and Nafziger pointed out, that these Batallions should have a Stab and 4 Kompanien, but apparently, this was only in theory, as i.e. Pz.-Zerst.Btl.474 had only a Stab and 2 Kompanien.

About the strenght in weapons, I have nothing except, that these units were Infanterie with a lot of Raketenbuchse (Panzerschreck)

So, can anyone add more to the info above, as i.e. a Gliederung and/or what these units exactly had on weapons ?? Also, were they motorised ??

Many thanks,
Hansen

[Jan-Hendrik]

Here you can find info on the example of PzZerstKp. 480 :

http://forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic ... highlight=

Jan-Hendrik

[Martin Block]

Some info about Pz.Zerstörer-Bataillone:

On 8.9.1943 OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt. issued an order to the army groups on the Eastern Front to form a total of 10 Pz.Zerstörer-Bataillone. Personnel was to be taken from Pz.Jg. units of infantry divisions that could not be refitted with a/t guns in the forseeable time due to production shortages. These battalions were to be equipped with the new 8,8 cm Raketenbüchse 43 "Ofenrohr" which would become available in larger quantities during September and October 1943.
H.Gr. A had to form 1 Pz.Zerst.Btl.
H.Gr. Süd, Mitte and Nord each had to form 3 Pz.Zerst.Btl.

A Pz.Zerst.Btl. was to consist of a battalion staff and 3 companies. Each company should have had a total of 54 'Ofenrohre' with 540 rounds of ammunition available. Another 54 'Ofenrohre' plus 540 rounds of ammo were kept as reserve by the 'Gerät- und Munitionsstaffel' with the battalion staff.
Motorization of these battalions was not planned. Means of transport had to be provided by the higher command it was tactically subordinated to. For short distance movement each company had 12 horses for pulling so called 'Infanterie-Karren (Jf 8)' modified to carry 'Ofenrohre' plus ammo.

On 5.10.1943 OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt. determined the final designations for the battalions as:
H.Gr. A: Pz.Zerst.Btl. 470
H.Gr. Süd: Pz.Zerst.Btl. 471, 472, 473
H.Gr. Mitte: Pz.Zerst.Btl. 474, 475, 476
H.Gr. Nord: Pz.Zerst.Btl. 477, 478, 479

Production delays and other problems hampered the formation of the battalions and by 30.11.1943 the overall situation looked like this:

H.Gr. A:
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 470: Formation currently not possible due to lack of personnel [Was later cancelled]
In lieu of that OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt. had already ordered the formation of Pz.Zerst.Kp. 480 and 481 back in the 'Reich'

H.Gr. Süd:
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 471: Ready by 10.12.1943, 25 'Ofenrohre' and 190 'Panzerfaust' available
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 472: Formation completed, 25 'Ofenrohre' and 500 'Panzerfaust' available
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 473: Stab and 1. Kp. ready, 84 'Ofenrohre' and 140 'Panzerfaust' available
[Note: Looks like H.Gr. Süd supplied some means of transport since 471 is later shown as (mot.) and 472, 473 as (teilmot.)]

H.Gr. Mitte:
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 474: Not ready, no a/t weapons available
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 475: Not ready, no a/t weapons available
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 476: Not ready, no a/t weapons available

H.Gr. Nord
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 477: Formation completed, 30 'Ofenrohre' available, unit also has Pak mot.Z. [7,62 cm Pak 36]
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 478: Formation completed, 30 'Ofenrohre' available, unit also has Pak mot.Z. [7,62 cm Pak 36 and 7,5 cm Pak 40]
[Note: By order of H.Gr. Nord these two battalions consisted of 4 instead of only 3 companies.]
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 479: Formation currently not possible due to lack of personnel [Was later cancelled]

In addition to the Pak mot.Z. the Pz.Zerst.Btl. 477 received 8 Pak 40/4 auf RSO sometime between 20.2. and 20.3.1944. Battalion was disbanded in early April 1944. Pak 40/4 auf RSO were handed over to Armee-Pz.Jg.Abt. 752.
In addition to the Pak mot.Z. the Pz.Zerst. Btl. 478 received 30 Pak 40/4 auf RSO sometime between 10.2. and 20.2.1944. 5 lost during last decade of April 1944. Battalion disbanded in mid May 1944. No records about fate of the Pak 40/4 auf RSO found yet, but the surviving ones were probably returned to an ordnance depot because of poor performance.

Don't have the time to go into more detail about the fate of the battalions. Most were disbanded during the course of 1944.
One more battalion (486) was formed with 4 companies in Oct 1944 and served on the Western Front.
Pz.Zerst.Kp. 482, 483 and 484 were formed in Dec 1943 and sent to H.Gr. Süd
Pz.Zerst.Kp. 485 was formed by AOK 1 in July 1944
Pz.Zerst.Kp. 487 was formed by H.Gr. H in Jan 1945


Data compiled from various records obtained from BA/MA Freiburg and NARA Washington.

Martin Block

[BobM]

H.Gr. Nord
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 477: Formation completed, 30 'Ofenrohre' available, unit also has Pak mot.Z. [7,62 cm Pak 36]
Pz.Zerst.Btl. 478: Formation completed, 30 'Ofenrohre' available, unit also has Pak mot.Z. [7,62 cm Pak 36 and 7,5 cm Pak 40]
[Note: By order of H.Gr. Nord these two battalions consisted of 4 instead of only 3 companies.]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but....

Does that mean one PaK or a company of PaKs?

Cheers

Bob

[Martin Block]

Reports from December 1943 show that both battalions had about a dozen Pak mot.Z. available. In case of the Pz.Zerst.Btl. 477 they were distributed among the companies. I'm not exactly sure if this was different with Pz.Zerst.Btl. 478.

Martin Block

[BobM]

Thanks Martin - exactly what I wanted to know

[Jan-Hendrik]

In addition to the Pak mot.Z. the Pz.Zerst.Btl. 477 received 8 Pak 40/4 auf RSO sometime between 20.2. and 20.3.1944. Battalion was disbanded in early April 1944. Pak 40/4 auf RSO were handed over to Armee-Pz.Jg.Abt. 752.

KTB Armee.Abt. Narwa, 19.4.44:

4.)Pz.Zerst.Btl. 477 aufgelöst, 3 Kpn. zur Umrüstung auf Sturmgeschütze verladebereit.



Jan-Hendrik

[andrus]

In addition to the Pak mot.Z. the Pz.Zerst.Btl. 477 received 8 Pak 40/4 auf RSO sometime between 20.2. and 20.3.1944.

Meldung from 1.3.1944 already shows 8 Pak 40/4 auf RSO. They were most probably sent to Tapa (Taps) railway station. While driving to unit, 3 of them fell out (Meldung shows them in short repair). Beside these vehicles unit has 2 s.Pak 7,62 (36) and 4 3,7 cm Pak.

source: NARA T314/764.

[Panzervernichtung]

This is an old thread, but i was wondering if anyone had any info for Panzer-Zerstörer-kompanie 484.
Martin Block mentions that it was created on December 1943 under H.Gr.Süd.
I know that it was attached to the 371.ID in September 1944 (don't know for how long?).