Marders in N.A

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David W
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Marders in N.A

Post by David W »

Whan did 39th PanzerJaeger Abteilung receive deliveries of MarderIII in 1942?
I think the fist few were in late July, but would appreciate more detail.

Ta.
Thanks. Dave.
David W
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Re: Marders in N.A

Post by David W »

Can anyone help me with this query?
Thanks. Dave.
Alanmccoubrey
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Re: Marders in N.A

Post by Alanmccoubrey »

David, I can only foind a mention of deliveries to NA in The Enc of German Tanks and that just says late July. Not even Martin Block has produced any delivery list for 1942.
Alan
Martin Block
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Re: Marders in N.A

Post by Martin Block »

According to Tom Jentz in Panzer Tracts No. 7-2 the following Panzerjaeger 38 fuer 7,62 cm Pak 36 (Sd.Kfz. 139) were sent to North Africa:
24 (chassis number 1527 - 1550) in July 1942
15 (chassis number 1572-1575, 1577-1579, 1581-1585, 1604, and 1612) not before August 1942
9 (chassis number 1551-1555, 1557-1559, 1561) arrived later with 10. Pz.Div.

About those for 15. and 21. Pz.Div. German records show:
According to a report of O.Qu. Rom dated 9.7.1942 16 out of 24 7,62 cm Pak Sfl. (= Sd.Kfz. 139) - allocated by OKH for shipment to North Africa on 19.6.1942 - were on their way to Palermo where they should be loaded on ships between 14.7. and 16.7.1942. Scheduled arrival in Tobruk: 26.7.1942.
The other 8 had already been loaded on or about 29.6.1942 abord the transport ships LERICI, UNIONE, and RAVELLO in Naples. A date of departure to North Africa had not yet been set.
So from this I guess the first 8 Sd.Kfz. 139 did probably arrive in North Africa by mid July 1942 at the earliest, followed by another 16 at the end of the month at the earliest. How exactly these first 24 vehicles were divided between 15. and 21. Pz.Div. is so far not exactly clear to me.

On 19.9.1942 O.Qu. Rom reported that another 4 - 7,62 cm Pak Sfl. (= Sd.Kfz. 139) were en route aboard transport AQUANIA (loaded on 17.9.1942) with another 20 still waiting in Italian harbours aboard transports UNIONE, BARBARO, and SESTRIERE. When exactly they sailed and if all arrived I can't tell.

Finally on 25.1.1943 the O.Qu. Rom reported that 3 - 7,62 cm Pak Sfl. (= Sd.Kfz. 139) had arrived in Tunisia earlier during January 1943.

Don't have transportation records after January 1943 so I can't tell if or how many Sd.Kfz. 139 may have arrived after that.

With the Panzerjaeger 38 fuer 7,5 cm Pak 40/3 (Sd.Kfz. 138) Ausf. H its even more difficult. Tom Jentz in Panzer Tracts No. 7-2 does not give any figures.

Production of these vehicles had just started in November 1942 when on 9.1.1942 the O.Qu. Rom reported that 18 - 7,5 cm Pak 40 Sfl. (= Sd.Kfz. 138) were ready for shipment in Italy plus another 9 already on the way to Italy from Germany.
On 15.1.1942 4 - 7,5 cm Pak 40 Sfl. (= Sd.Kfz. 138) left Naples aboard transport ship ANKARA. These probably were the first Sd.Kfz. 138 shipped to North Africa. How many followed and when I can't tell because as already stated before I don't have transportation records after January 1943.

The 3./Schnelle Abt. 334 (334. I.D.) with 9 Panzerjaeger LrS fuer 7,5 cm Pak 40/1 (Sd.Kfz. 135) was flown from Naples into in Tunisia in Me 323 'Gigant' between 30.12.1942 and 8.1.1943. In March or April 1943 the company received at least 5 Sd.Kfz. 138 as replacements. If these 5 had been among those assembled in Italy during January 1943 I can't tell.

AFAIK no 7,5 cm Pak 40/3 (Sd.Kfz. 138) Ausf. M, Panzerjaeger II fuer 7,62 Pak 36 (Sd.Kfz. 132) nor Panzerjaeger II fuer 7,5 Pak 40/2 (Sd.Kfz. 131) saw any action in North Africa.

Martin Block
Alanmccoubrey
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Re: Marders in N.A

Post by Alanmccoubrey »

Thanks Martin, will you be adding that to your collection on PA ? I have seen a photograph of a destroyed SdKfz 131 supposedly in Tunisia and another of one being unloaded from a Gigant but only the captions say they are Tunisia, they could be anywhere dry !
Alan
David W
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Re: Marders in N.A

Post by David W »

Thanks Martin.

It's the 7.62cm SdKfz 139 I'm interested in. The date of late July looks quite good.

A.F.A.I.K The first 24 all went to 39th PzJag & the second lot of 15 went to 33rd Pz Jag.

I thought that at least as many again were received in 1942, but perhaps not.
Thanks. Dave.
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