"Panther" in "Zitadelle"

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Re: "Panther" in "Zitadelle"

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; the story follows...................................

The course of the battle - July 09, 1943. Actions.

At 0010 on 9 July the div received orders to commence its attack to capture the N part of Werchopenje by 0400. However the div did not jump off until 0530. According to a radio message the Panther Reg did not plan to jump off until 0800. The Pz Regt, supported by assault guns, jumped off from the MTS and advanced toward the N part of Werchopenje, but the attack made little progress because of heavy flanking fire from the W. At 0720 tanks of the Panther Reg were still in their assembly areas.

By 0840 the Panther Reg had finally attacked and penetrated into the N part of Werchopenje, and the Recon Bn and Assault Gun Bn had reached the road from Werchopenje to 242.1 on the highway. The Panther Reg was ordered to immediately move all its tanks not already committed in Werchopenje to Hill 260.8. At 0910 it was reported that the Panthers moving toward 260.8 were making little progress through the open terrain W of the road because of strong Soviet tank forces.

After a bit of regrouping GD got its attack going by 0930 with both the Pz Regt and the Panther Reg moving briskly toward 260.8. The leading panzers reached Hill 260.8 about 1000, with the infantry following. The continuing attack met with dug-in tanks S of Nowosselowka and strong Soviet counterattacks from the NW and NE hit the advancing Panther Reg at the same time.

By 1300 the GD Pz Regt, advancing now at a good pace, had broken Soviet resistance at Nowosselowka and captured the town, destroying many Soviet tanks. The Regt continued to advance N and at 1400 reached the road fork 3 km N of Nowosselowka, and was scouting toward 232.8. At 1450 the Corps ordered GD to turn off immediately to the SW toward the road fork at 258.5, with objective of Dolgij and the hills N of it, in order to block retreating Soviet forces. At 1545 the Pz Regt reached 244.8, N of Hf at the road fork. At 1600 the Panther Reg was ordered to advance via Nowosselowka S of Kalinowka toward Hill 258.5.

Obst: Large minefield 1 km S of 237.6. Thick minefield in front of 234.8. "Well-constructed" emplacements in the W part of Beresowka. Bunkers on the S edge of Beresowka.

Sources: http://www.panther1944.de/index.php/de/ ... uppenteile
Panzer Tactics – German Small-Units Armor Tactics in WWII.
U.S. War Department "Handbook On German Military Forces" (Mar'45) TM-E 30-451
Kursk – The German View
MINE AND COUNTERMINE OPERATIONS IN THE BATTLE OF KURSK. Mr. Andrew Remson and Ms. Debbie Anderson.
Scorched Earth-Hitler’s War on Russia. Vol 2.
http://www.military-info.de/wk2/wk2.htm
A MEASURE OF THE REAL-WORLD VALUE OF MIXED MINE SYSTEMS. Dupuy Institute
http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthrea ... 859&page=2
KOSAVE

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
Assembly area of Pz Abt 52 - Kursk 1943........................................
Assembly area of Pz Abt 52 - Kursk 1943........................................
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Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: "Panther" in "Zitadelle"

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; the story follows...................................

The course of the battle - July 10, 1943. Actions.

At 03:30 hours GD attacked toward Hill 258.5. The Panther Reg went first. Shortly after starting out the lead Panthers encountered strong Soviet tank forces at 243.0. Because of this situation only the Panther Reg had been able to turn to the SW, and SW of Nowosselowka the unit encountered Soviet tanks. At 07:00 hours the Panzer Bde had already destroyed 7 Russian tanks N of 243.0 and hoped to gain ground to the SW, the objective being 258.5. Col. Strachwitz, commander of the Bde, injured his arm on a tank gun and had to be evacuated; his place was taken by Col Decker.

Despite a promising start, by 09:00 hours GD had gained little ground. A tank battle was raging around 243.0; more than 20 Soviet tanks were claimed destroyed. GD reported that it was impossible to advance further toward the SW until flanking fire from 232.8 and Kalinowka was eliminated. At 12:30 hours GD was ordered to mop up the W bank of the Pena at Werchopenje while the 3d PzD advanced across the highway, passing S of Werchopenje toward the ridge to the S. At 13:00 hours the Panzer Bde started toward 258.5.

At 13:20 hours the Panzer Bde was 2 km W of 243.0, engaged in hard combat with Soviet tanks and AT guns from the N and W. Fierce fighting in the GD sector continued at 16:30 hours in the Kalinowka area and NE of 258.5. At 18:45 hours the GD Pz Bde captured Hill 258.5 after destroying 5 Russian tanks. The Bde immediately began organizing an all-around defense just N of the hill. Because of the heavy combat, GD reported still operational only six Panthers, three Tigers, and about eleven Mk IIIs and Mk IVs (long).

At 20:00 hours the GD Pz Bde, in its hedgehog defense N of 258.5, began taking extremely heavy fire from the Tolstoye Woods, where some 50 Soviet tanks were said to be hidden.

Supported by the efforts of the Luftwaffe the "Gross Deutschland" made a highly successful advance; heights 243.0 and 247.0 were taken, and Russian infantry and armor fled before the panzers and sought refuge in the wood north of Beresowka.

The 10th Tank Corps was already arriving opposite the XLVIII Panzer Corps along the Oboyan road. In addition, the 204th and 184th Rifle Divisions, a tank brigade, three tank destroyer regiments, and four rocket launcher regiments were transferred from the Voronezh Front reserve to the Oboyan road sector.

After the thundershowers on July 4 and 5, the weather had been hot and dry on the southern face of the salient. On July 10, however, there was a sharp change -- the weather was cloudy with frequent heavy thunderstorms. The roads were muddy and mostly impassable except for horses and tracked vehicles. The muddy conditions slowed activity on the ground, and the clouds and rain reduced the activity in the air.

In the evening, the strength of Pz.Rgt. v Lauchert initially reported as follows:

10 Panther ready
25 Panther total loss
165 Panther in the J-services (including about 40 already repaired again and on the march to the front).

A second report at 24:00 reported some other numbers:

38 Panther ready (including 2 Pz.Bef.Wg.)
31 total loss
131 Panther in the J-services (including 8 Pz.Bef.Wg.)
4 Panther without tower (recovery) ready
2 Sd.Kfz. 250/1 ready
4 Sd.Kfz. 251/8 ready

Sources: http://www.panther1944.de/index.php/de/ ... uppenteile
Panzer Tactics – German Small-Units Armor Tactics in WWII.
U.S. War Department "Handbook On German Military Forces" (Mar'45) TM-E 30-451
Kursk – The German View
MINE AND COUNTERMINE OPERATIONS IN THE BATTLE OF KURSK. Mr. Andrew Remson and Ms. Debbie Anderson.
Scorched Earth-Hitler’s War on Russia. Vol 2.
http://www.military-info.de/wk2/wk2.htm
A MEASURE OF THE REAL-WORLD VALUE OF MIXED MINE SYSTEMS. Dupuy Institute
http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthrea ... 859&page=2
KOSAVE

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
A mixed armored column of the GD Pz Brig. In the picture some Pz Kw III and a Pz Kw V "Panther" among others vehicles...................
A mixed armored column of the GD Pz Brig. In the picture some Pz Kw III and a Pz Kw V "Panther" among others vehicles...................
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Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: "Panther" in "Zitadelle"

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; the story follows...................................

The course of the battle - July 11, 1943. Actions.

The weather forecast for July 11 predicted better weather, and the Germans hoped for better air support. However, the day began with heavy rains that grounded most aircraft, turned the roads into mud, and made movement virtually impossible except for tracked vehicles. The Panzergrenadier Division Grossdeutschland and the 3rd Panzer Division spent most of the day clearing up resistance in the Verchopenoye-Berezovka area. This heavily mined and fortified area was serving as a base from which the Soviet 5th, 10th, and 6th Tank Corps could launch attacks on the west flank of the penetration.

The main force of the div attacked at 0600 according to plan. At the same time the Panther Bde pushed S from 258.5 and inflicted heavy casualties on Soviet troops retreating W from Beresovka. A secondary attack from the woods SE of 258.5 was
repulsed.

By 0900 the Pz Bde encountered a large minefield about 1 km S of 237.6. (The div's front line was 1.5 km S of contour line 230.) This minefield was cleared by 0915, and its lead units reached Pt 1.5 W of Beresowka. Another thick minefield delayed a further thrust over Hill 234.8 toward Rakovo.

Soviet resistance was increasing in the Tolstoye Woods W of 258.5. There were not enough troops available to clean out the Tolstoye Woods. By 1610 the difficult mopping-up operations of GD and the 3d PzD in the Beresovka area were completed. They used Panthers and shock troops of the Fusilier Regt to capture the bunkers on the S edge of the town, whose defenders offered fierce resistance to the last, and from the area on both sides of the highway.

By the same time, the GD Pz Regt had captured Hill 243.8 and barely cleared the minefield S of it, and combat recon toward Tschapayev was in progress. At 2000 the div received orders to clear out the Tolstoye Woods during the night of 11/12 July.

On July 11, 1943 the XXXXVIII Pz Korps issued orders for the units of the GD to be relieved by the 3. Pz during the night; GD was to assemble astride the road south of Height 260.8 and stand by for an advance to the north. In view of the breakdown of the Model's attack, a successful advance on this part of the front offered the only hope of a victory.

Sources: http://www.panther1944.de/index.php/de/ ... uppenteile
Panzer Tactics – German Small-Units Armor Tactics in WWII.
U.S. War Department "Handbook On German Military Forces" (Mar'45) TM-E 30-451
Kursk – The German View
MINE AND COUNTERMINE OPERATIONS IN THE BATTLE OF KURSK. Mr. Andrew Remson and Ms. Debbie Anderson.
Scorched Earth-Hitler’s War on Russia. Vol 2.
http://www.military-info.de/wk2/wk2.htm
A MEASURE OF THE REAL-WORLD VALUE OF MIXED MINE SYSTEMS. Dupuy Institute
http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthrea ... 859&page=2
KOSAVE

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
image010.png
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Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: "Panther" in "Zitadelle"

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; the story follows...................................

The course of the battle - July 12, 1943. Actions.

On the night of July 11 to 12, 1943 the Units of the GD were relieved by the 3. Pz according to the plan. On the morning of July 12, 1943 GD was assembled and concentrated astride the road south of Nowosselowka, waiting to launch the decisive thrust to the north at first light on July 13, 1943. This would be they first day without fighting.

But on July 12 the Soviet Voronezh Front launched a massive, Front level counteroffensive. the main effort was by the 5th Guards Tank Army southwest of the agricultural town of Prokorovka (which was also called Alexandrovka). The mission of 5th Guards Tank Army was to attack to the southwest, destroy the German II SS Panzer Corps, and seize Krasnaya Dubrava and Yakovlevo. If successful, this attack would also cut the line of supply to XXXXVIII Panzer Corps and force 4th Panzer Army to withdraw.

In the sector of XXXXVIII Pz K the 3rd Soviet Mechanized Corps and the 31st Tank Corps hit the 3rd Panzer Division with an attack toward Novoselovki. Further to the south the 10th Tank Corps and the 204th and 309th Rifle Divisions attacked southwest of Kalinovka. Therefore instead of attacking to the north, the remainder of the Grossdeutschland Division spent the day beating off attacks on both sides of the Oboyan Road by the 204th and the 309th Soviet Rifle Divisions supported by tanks.

A massive Soviet attack struck XXXXVIII PzK about 14:30 hours, breaking through the 3. Pz defenses at 258.5 near Verchopenye. At 14:50 hours Corps ordered GD to send its Pz Bde SW immediately, in the direction of 258.5. Heavy Soviet concentrations were reported at Kalinovka at 15:00 hours.

At 20:30 hours the Panther Reg launched a counterattack against Hill 258.5 and the woods W of it. By 21:00 hours the situation had eased somewhat, and Corps began replanning the attack that had been scheduled for 12 July. GD had eliminated the penetration at Kalinovka, destroying 12 Soviet tanks near that village. However, units on the left wing of the Gren Regt suffered heavy casualties. The GD Panzer Bde regrouped during the night.

The GD reported to have operational at the end of the period 20 Mk IIIs and Mk IVs, 2 Tigers, and 25 Panthers, plus 24 assault guns, 17 heavy 75mm SP AT guns, and 20 heavy towed AT guns.

Sources: http://www.panther1944.de/index.php/de/ ... uppenteile
Panzer Tactics – German Small-Units Armor Tactics in WWII.
U.S. War Department "Handbook On German Military Forces" (Mar'45) TM-E 30-451
Kursk – The German View
MINE AND COUNTERMINE OPERATIONS IN THE BATTLE OF KURSK. Mr. Andrew Remson and Ms. Debbie Anderson.
Scorched Earth-Hitler’s War on Russia. Vol 2.
http://www.military-info.de/wk2/wk2.htm
A MEASURE OF THE REAL-WORLD VALUE OF MIXED MINE SYSTEMS. Dupuy Institute
http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthrea ... 859&page=2
KOSAVE
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/me ... Kursk+1943

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
On alert waiting for a new breakthrough ........................................<br />Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther D Panzer 1943 Südliches Russland panzer foto Wehrmacht
On alert waiting for a new breakthrough ........................................
Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther D Panzer 1943 Südliches Russland panzer foto Wehrmacht
image010.png (391.07 KiB) Viewed 3199 times
A Pz Kw V &quot;Panther&quot; Ausf. D of the Recce Pl of PR 39...................................
A Pz Kw V "Panther" Ausf. D of the Recce Pl of PR 39...................................
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Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: "Panther" in "Zitadelle"

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; the story follows...................................

The course of the battle - July 13, 1943. Actions.

On July 13, the commanders of both German Army Groups were summoned to a conference at Hitler's Headquarters in East Prussia. Hitler opened the conference by announcing that the Allies had landed in Sicily, and the situation there was already serious. Field Marshal von Manstein, however, recommended continuing the offensive.

XXXXVIII Panzer Corps orders for both July 13 and 14 were the same: "To defend the line of its northern front and destroy the armored forces opposite its western front by an enveloping attack." The GD Div began receiving heavy artillery fire directed at its defensive positions at Kalinovka at 04:15 hours. During the night the Tolstoye Woods filled with Russian troops. A dispute developed between the GD Panther Reg and the Pz Reg of 3d PzD. Both claimed to have gone on the attack and to be fighting alone against heavy AT forces and 100 Russian tanks.

The GD Pz Regt (other report says the Panther Bde) became engaged with Soviet tanks and AT guns just NE of Hill 258.5 and in the woods to the W around 06:00 hours. At 06:45 hours a Corps observer, accompanying the panzer group in an armored troop carrier, reported that the Panther Bde had not yet started its attack.

The Panther Bde commander reported to the division that there was no way the attack could be made as planned. The Soviets had taken up favorable positions, and were waiting for the Germans to attack so they could be destroyed "one by one."

By 09:00 hours it was clear that the Soviets had used the Tolstoye Woods as a staging area for a large attack to recapture Verchopenye and Beresovka. By 10:00 hours 3d PzD was calling for GD to cut off the approach roads from Kruglik and Novenkoye by attacking to the W, to prevent the Soviets from receiving reinforcements. At 10:10 hours GD was slowly approaching Hill 258.5, and scouting the N portion of the Tolstoye Woods.

On the afternoon, the Corps Commander, General von Knobelsdorff, appeared at the GD's battle HQ and gave orders which left no hope for any advance to the north, in fact the division was again to attack westwards.

The Corps directed that the GD Pz Bde move SE of the forest via Beresowka. After concentrating behind the 332. ID it was to attack from the area between Beresovka and Tschapayev to the N or NW. This was to take place by 15:00 hours. The GD Panther Bde began assembling at 12:00 hours. By 14:00 hours, however, it had not yet passed through Werchopenje and was taking a disproportionately long time for preparation. The Bde CO, Oberst Decker, was told that speed was of the essence; he replied that it would be impossible to start before 16:00 hours.

At 16:25 hours the Panther Bde arrived in Beresovka, having been requested by the 332. ID to help resist a Soviet attack on the town, but arrived after the attack was over. The brigade assembled in the center of Beresovka for a limited objective attack in order to allow the 332. ID to regain its position. Rain further delayed the bde's advance. The division had still not started its attack at the end of the period.

By 18:50 hours the GD Panther Bde still had not started its attack, in spite of urging by Corps for an early attack. Decker responded that this was not possible before 19:30 hours, meaning the attack would have to be at night and the Soviets would receive advance warning of the German intentions. At that, Corps canceled the plans for an attack on 13 July, but ordered that GD must attack on 14 July.

GD reported having operational 8 Pz Kw III long tanks, 12 flamethrower tanks, 13 Pz Kw IV shorts, 19 Pz Kw IV longs, 8 Tigers, 43 Panthers, and 25 assault guns.

Sources: http://www.panther1944.de/index.php/de/ ... uppenteile
Panzer Tactics – German Small-Units Armor Tactics in WWII.
U.S. War Department "Handbook On German Military Forces" (Mar'45) TM-E 30-451
Kursk – The German View
MINE AND COUNTERMINE OPERATIONS IN THE BATTLE OF KURSK. Mr. Andrew Remson and Ms. Debbie Anderson.
Scorched Earth-Hitler’s War on Russia. Vol 2.
http://www.military-info.de/wk2/wk2.htm
A MEASURE OF THE REAL-WORLD VALUE OF MIXED MINE SYSTEMS. Dupuy Institute
http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthrea ... 859&page=2
KOSAVE
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/me ... Kursk+1943

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
Panther Ausf. D, 8. Kompanie, Panzer-Abteilung 52, Panzer-Brigade 10, attached to Panzer-Grenadierdivision &quot;Gross-Deutschland&quot;, Kursk, July 1943...............................................<br />https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/595/21877746994_736058e743_b.jpg
Panther Ausf. D, 8. Kompanie, Panzer-Abteilung 52, Panzer-Brigade 10, attached to Panzer-Grenadierdivision "Gross-Deutschland", Kursk, July 1943...............................................
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/595/21877746994_736058e743_b.jpg
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Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: "Panther" in "Zitadelle"

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; the story follows...................................

The course of the battle - July 14, 1943. Actions.

The GD Pz Bde jumped off punctually at 0400, together with the 677th Gren Regt of the 332d ID, from Pt 1.5 SW of Beresowka toward Hill 233.3. Strong Luftwaffe strikes at Krassnij Usliw brought good results, but the brigade advanced slowly because of
heavy flanking fire from the N and S. At 0550 the Panther Bde CO requested another dive bomber strike at the woods S of 233.3 and at Krassnij Usliw. At 0600 the lead tanks of the Panther Bde approached 233.3. By 0720 the Panther Bde, with the 677th Gren Regt, 332d Recon Bn, 3d Kp/332d Pi Bn, and a platoon of the 332d AT Bn attached, captured 233.3 and then engaged in combat with Russian tanks and artillery N of the hill. At that point the bde halted to let the infantry catch up, while beginning combat recon of Hill 240.2.

Again the Panther Bde requested Luftwaffe support against the W and NW edge of the Tolstoje Woods, and the answering dive bomber groups were directed from the air by Stuka command. At 0815 they bombed the Tolstoje Woods, and another strike was planned for between 1030 and 1100. At 0835 the Panther Bde reported the Soviets withdrawing from the Tolstoje Woods toward Nowenkoje, but the bde was still fighting Russian tanks.

At 0840 Corps sent orders for GD and 3d PzD to begin attacking along the entire front. The Panther Bde was to push ahead at once without awaiting the arrival of the infantry. By 0920 the Panther Bde was l.5 km NW of Krassnij Usliw, advancing to the NE. By 1000, the Panther Bde was having a difficult time holding the ridge between the woods; nevertheless the bde fought its way slowly ahead meter by meter toward the commanding Hil 240.2. As it did so, at 1100 the GD Pz Regt was engaged in a
tank battle N of Hill 258.5, screening the N edges of the Tolstoje Woods in order to prevent the Soviets from escaping.

Then at 1110 strong Soviet forces launched an attack on a broad front from the Corps right wing to the Obojan highway and on to the W. By 1200 the Soviet attacks had shifted westward. At 1230 the Panther Bde was still held up by heavy flanking fire from both sides and hoped that 3d PzD's attack through the Tolstoje Woods would be successful in easing this pressure.

By 1700 the Panther Bde was still in combat S of 240.2. Corps orders for the night were that the Panther Bde was to block the N edge of the Tolstoje Woods while the Recon Bn blocked the NE corner, N of 258.5. The div reported as operational 8 Pz Kw III longs, 9 flamethrower tanks, 3 Pz Kw IV shorts, 18 Pz Kw IV longs, and 36 Panthers.

At 2120 14 July the advance of the Panther Bde to the forest NW of the Tolstoje Woods failed because of heavy fire from 30 Soviet tanks from the Ravine just E of Nowenkoje and flanking fire from the Tolstoje Woods. Without waiting for div orders, the Panther Bde CO moved his bde to Hill 237.6 N of Beresowka, in order to replenish his tanks with fuel and ammunition. Unfortunately, this opened a gap in the encirclement of the Tolstoje Woods between the small wooded area and 240.2, and the Russians used this gap to try to break out of the woods during the night. The Panther Bde then assembled in the S part of the Kubasovskij Ravine.

Sources: http://www.panther1944.de/index.php/de/ ... uppenteile
Panzer Tactics – German Small-Units Armor Tactics in WWII.
U.S. War Department "Handbook On German Military Forces" (Mar'45) TM-E 30-451
Kursk – The German View
MINE AND COUNTERMINE OPERATIONS IN THE BATTLE OF KURSK. Mr. Andrew Remson and Ms. Debbie Anderson.
Scorched Earth-Hitler’s War on Russia. Vol 2.
http://www.military-info.de/wk2/wk2.htm
A MEASURE OF THE REAL-WORLD VALUE OF MIXED MINE SYSTEMS. Dupuy Institute
http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthrea ... 859&page=2
KOSAVE
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/me ... Kursk+1943

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
image019.png
image019.png (95.17 KiB) Viewed 3153 times
Pz Kw V “Panther” Ausf. D Nº  434 of Pz.Abt. 51................................................<br />http://warspot.ru/3055-debyut-panter
Pz Kw V “Panther” Ausf. D Nº 434 of Pz.Abt. 51................................................
http://warspot.ru/3055-debyut-panter
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Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: "Panther" in "Zitadelle"

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; the story follows...................................

The course of the battle - July 15, 1943. Actions.

By 0730 the Recon Bn found the N part of the Tolstoje Woods free of Soviets. At 1030 GD received orders to expand and strengthen its positions so that it could turn over a stable defensive line to 3d PzD. After being relieved up to the S edge of Kalinowka at nightfall, GD was to commit its main forces to support the defensive efforts of 11th PzD. On the whole the day was quiet. GD fended off weak Soviet units trying to feel their way forward against the front of the Fus Regt. The von Wietersheim Battalion of the Panther Bde, which was deployed at the small wooded area NW of the Tolstoje Woods in order to screen against Nowenkoje, in a "spirited" attack on a Soviet armored force in the ravine E of Nowenkoje, reportedly destroyed 16 Russian tanks in a few minutes.

At 1910 15 July, GD received new orders to send its relieved elements (after 3d PzD relieved the div up to the S edge of Kalinowka at sunset) to the area Syrtsewo-Beresowka-Alexejewka-Luchanino. The division planned to move the Panther Bde to
Beresowka. The German High Command ended Operation Citadel.

In this operation the "Panzerglocke" (armored bell) replaced the "Panzerkeil" (armored wedge). In the "Panzerglocke" heavy tanks marched in the center with medium tanks to the left and to the right rear, in a wide arc, with light tanks ready to chase behind the center. Commanders, along with observers from all weapons, marched behind the medium tanks and maintained liaison with the aviation support. Engineers marched behind the leading tanks ready to open gaps in the minefields.

Sources: http://www.panther1944.de/index.php/de/ ... uppenteile
Panzer Tactics – German Small-Units Armor Tactics in WWII.
U.S. War Department "Handbook On German Military Forces" (Mar'45) TM-E 30-451
Kursk – The German View
MINE AND COUNTERMINE OPERATIONS IN THE BATTLE OF KURSK. Mr. Andrew Remson and Ms. Debbie Anderson.
Scorched Earth-Hitler’s War on Russia. Vol 2.
http://www.military-info.de/wk2/wk2.htm
A MEASURE OF THE REAL-WORLD VALUE OF MIXED MINE SYSTEMS. Dupuy Institute
http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthrea ... 859&page=2
KOSAVE
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/me ... Kursk+1943
http://www.ebay.de/itm/AJ88-Panzer-V-Pa ... rmvSB=true

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
A Pz Kw V &quot;Panther&quot; and disabled Soviet tanks on the edge of a village - Kursk 1943............................
A Pz Kw V "Panther" and disabled Soviet tanks on the edge of a village - Kursk 1943............................
image024.jpg (69.07 KiB) Viewed 3132 times
Pz Kw V &quot;Panther&quot; Ausf. D RO4 of the Pz.Abt. 52................................................<br />http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Sheeds/firstRO4ofStab39assignedtoPzAbt52.jpg
Pz Kw V "Panther" Ausf. D RO4 of the Pz.Abt. 52................................................
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Sheeds/firstRO4ofStab39assignedtoPzAbt52.jpg
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Re: "Panther" in "Zitadelle"

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; just closing the ring...................................

The course of the battle - 15 till 17 July, 1943.

The OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt. ordered the delivery of all the "Panthers" of the Pz.Abt. 51 to the Pz.Abt. 52. The Pz.Abt. 51 will receive in the coming days a new batch of 96 refurbished "Panthers".

Report sheet at July 18, 1943 at 16:00:

Pz Abt. 51:
33 in service.
32 repair at workshops
31 total loss (2 burned, 29 blasted)

Pz Abt. 52:
28 in service
40 repair at workshops
4 delivered to workshops in the country
24 Total loss (blasted)

Maintenence Services of the two "Panthers" detachments worked very well. The average daily maintenance was about 25. Due to the numerous failures which had taken place, a significant shortage of spare parts occurred. Headquarters helped a lot in moving by air particularly engines and fuel pumps. The situation of spare parts is improving by the quick arrival of the transport of supplies, so that is expected to achieve a short-term repair of most of the vehicles damaged in the maintenance services.

According to a report of the situation of tanks at the Headquarters (20 July 1943) the HQ of Pz.Rgt. 39 and the Pz.Abt. 52 has in total:

142 Pz. V (including 9 Pz.Bef.Wg.) and 4 recovery Pz. V (turret-less)
42 Pz. V and recovery Pz. V in service
104 Pz. V and recovery Pz. V repair short- and long-term
12 new Pz. V are allocated but not arrived yet

It follows that the Pz.Abt. 51 delivered 65 Panthers (07/18/1943 actual stocks) to Pz.Abt. 52:
5 (Pz.Rgt.Stb. 39) + 65 (Pz.Abt. 51) + 68 (Pz.Abt. 52) + 4 Panthers (sent to the country) = 142 Panthers

Sources: http://www.panther1944.de/index.php/de/ ... uppenteile
Panzer Tactics – German Small-Units Armor Tactics in WWII.
U.S. War Department "Handbook On German Military Forces" (Mar'45) TM-E 30-451
Kursk – The German View
MINE AND COUNTERMINE OPERATIONS IN THE BATTLE OF KURSK. Mr. Andrew Remson and Ms. Debbie Anderson.
Scorched Earth-Hitler’s War on Russia. Vol 2.
http://www.military-info.de/wk2/wk2.htm
A MEASURE OF THE REAL-WORLD VALUE OF MIXED MINE SYSTEMS. Dupuy Institute
http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthrea ... 859&page=2
KOSAVE
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/me ... Kursk+1943
http://www.ebay.de/itm/AJ88-Panzer-V-Pa ... rmvSB=true

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
Pz Kw V &quot;Panther&quot; Ausf. D 312 of Pz Abt. 51 rendered useless in the actions around Kursk (rear view) ................................................
Pz Kw V "Panther" Ausf. D 312 of Pz Abt. 51 rendered useless in the actions around Kursk (rear view) ................................................
image069.png (144.57 KiB) Viewed 3075 times
The same Panther seen from the front (it seems one of the tanks referred to as &quot;blasted&quot; in the reports) ................................................................................
The same Panther seen from the front (it seems one of the tanks referred to as "blasted" in the reports) ................................................................................
image071.png (137.58 KiB) Viewed 3075 times
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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