DAK kampfstaffel order of battle

[Eduard]

Does anybody posses any information about the order of battle of DAK kampfstaffel from May 1942 onwards.

Dd it include captured british tanks?

Thanks

Eduard

[Martin Block]

There were 2 'Kampfstaffeln' established in North Africa:

A. On 12.2.1942 Obkdo. Pz.Armee Afrika issued an order to immediately begin formation of the 'Kampfstaffel des Oberbefehlshabers der Pz.Armee Afrika' with:

- Gruppe Führer
1 le.Pz.Späh-Wagen mit Funk
5 Volkswagen
5 m.gel.Pkw. (medium cars with cross-country capability)

- Panzerbefehlsstaffel
3 Pzkpfw. III mit Funk
2 Pz.Späh-Wagen mit Funk
5 SPW

- Panzerkompanie
5 Pzkpfw. III und IV
3 s.Pz.Späh-Wagen mit Funk
8 Beutekampfwagen

- Pak/Flak-Kompanie
3 russ. 7,62 cm Kanonen (Sfl.) [i.e. 7,62 cm FK 36 (r) auf Zgkw. 5t]
6 2 cm Flak (Sfl.)
6 engl. Beute 4 cm (Sfl.) oder 6 5 cm Pak
10 Volkswagen
12 m.gel.Pkw.

- Tross
1 m.gel.Pkw.
28 m.gel.Pkw.

- Instandsetzungs-Staffel

Personnel and equipment were to be taken from from 1./Fla-Btl. 606, Pz.Rgt. 5 and 8, Pz.A.A. 3 and 33.

On 8.3.1942 Obkdo. Pz.Armee Afrika issued an order that the 3 7,62 cm FK 36 (r) auf Zgkw. 5t of the Pak/Flak-Kompanie were to be handed over to 90. le.Div./Pz.Jg.Abt. 605 and replaced by 2 Pz.Sfl. II - 7,5 cm Kanone L/41 auf Zgkw. 5t (HKP 902).

On 16.3.1942 Obkdo. Pz.Armee Afrika ordered Kpfgr. Burckhardt to hand over 3 British 4 cm guns mounted on trucks to the Kampfstaffel O.B. Pz.Armee Afrika.

On 19.3.1942 the 'Kampfstaffel des Oberbefehlshabers der Pz.Armee Afrika' was officially authorized by OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt.

28.3.1942 According to Obkdo. Pz.Armee Afrika the A.O.K./O.Qu. (quartermaster general) had prepared the Beutepanzer for the Panzerkompanie from his stocks of captured British equipment.
(Unfortunately the document doesn't say how many and what types.)

In August a 'Beutebatterie' with 6 captured British 25 Pounder guns was added.

In April 1943 the remnants of the Kampfstaffel were incorporated into Pz.A.A. 33 of the 15. Pz.Div.


B. On 14.4.1942 Obkdo. Pz.Armee Afrika asked OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt. to authorize formation of the 'Kampfstaffel des D.A.K.' using:

- 2./Fla-Btl. 606
- 1 platoon 5 cm towed a/t guns from Pz.Jg.Abt. 39
- 1 platoon with 5 Pzkpfw. III
- 1 platoon from 1./Pi.Btl. 33
- 1 armored recce platoon from Pz.A.A. 3

Haven't found more on this one, but according to the available OoB of D.A.K. the 'Kampfstaffel D.A.K.' seems to have existed at least until mid October 1942 although apparently without the engineer platoon.


Martin Block

[David W]

Martin.

That was an excellent reply.

What were your sources? (Not that I doubt them, but I want them )

[bradhunter]

There were 2 'Kampfstaffeln' established in North Africa:

A. On 12.2.1942 Obkdo. Pz.Armee Afrika issued an order to immediately begin formation of the 'Kampfstaffel des Oberbefehlshabers der Pz.Armee Afrika' with:

- Gruppe Führer
1 le.Pz.Späh-Wagen mit Funk
5 Volkswagen
5 m.gel.Pkw. (medium cars with cross-country capability)

- Panzerbefehlsstaffel
3 Pzkpfw. III mit Funk
2 Pz.Späh-Wagen mit Funk
5 SPW

- Panzerkompanie
5 Pzkpfw. III und IV
3 s.Pz.Späh-Wagen mit Funk
8 Beutekampfwagen

- Pak/Flak-Kompanie
3 russ. 7,62 cm Kanonen (Sfl.) [i.e. 7,62 cm FK 36 (r) auf Zgkw. 5t]
6 2 cm Flak (Sfl.)
6 engl. Beute 4 cm (Sfl.) oder 6 5 cm Pak
10 Volkswagen
12 m.gel.Pkw.

- Tross
1 m.gel.Pkw.
28 m.gel.Pkw.

- Instandsetzungs-Staffel

Personnel and equipment were to be taken from from 1./Fla-Btl. 606, Pz.Rgt. 5 and 8, Pz.A.A. 3 and 33.

On 8.3.1942 Obkdo. Pz.Armee Afrika issued an order that the 3 7,62 cm FK 36 (r) auf Zgkw. 5t of the Pak/Flak-Kompanie were to be handed over to 90. le.Div./Pz.Jg.Abt. 605 and replaced by 2 Pz.Sfl. II - 7,5 cm Kanone L/41 auf Zgkw. 5t (HKP 902).

On 16.3.1942 Obkdo. Pz.Armee Afrika ordered Kpfgr. Burckhardt to hand over 3 British 4 cm guns mounted on trucks to the Kampfstaffel O.B. Pz.Armee Afrika.

On 19.3.1942 the 'Kampfstaffel des Oberbefehlshabers der Pz.Armee Afrika' was officially authorized by OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt.

28.3.1942 According to Obkdo. Pz.Armee Afrika the A.O.K./O.Qu. (quartermaster general) had prepared the Beutepanzer for the Panzerkompanie from his stocks of captured British equipment.
(Unfortunately the document doesn't say how many and what types.)

In August a 'Beutebatterie' with 6 captured British 25 Pounder guns was added.

In April 1943 the remnants of the Kampfstaffel were incorporated into Pz.A.A. 33 of the 15. Pz.Div.


B. On 14.4.1942 Obkdo. Pz.Armee Afrika asked OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt. to authorize formation of the 'Kampfstaffel des D.A.K.' using:

- 2./Fla-Btl. 606
- 1 platoon 5 cm towed a/t guns from Pz.Jg.Abt. 39
- 1 platoon with 5 Pzkpfw. III
- 1 platoon from 1./Pi.Btl. 33
- 1 armored recce platoon from Pz.A.A. 3

Haven't found more on this one, but according to the available OoB of D.A.K. the 'Kampfstaffel D.A.K.' seems to have existed at least until mid October 1942 although apparently without the engineer platoon.


Martin Block

Martin,

Do you have any info on "Kampfgruppe Kiehl?" It is my understanding that this unit performed as the Panzerarmee Afrika Kampfstaffel during the Gazala battles, but details on its composition are sketchy...

Thanks,

Brad

[Martin Block]

Could well be that 'Kampfgruppe Kiehl' and 'Kampfstaffel O.B. Pz.A.O.K. Afrika' denote the same unit. The order dated 12.2.1942 lists Oberleutnant Kiehl, Aufkl.Abt. 3, as the officer in charge of the formation of the 'Kampfstaffel'. I also found an order dated 28.3.1942 which states that Hauptmann Kiehl will take over command of 'Kampfstaffel O.B. Pz.A.O.K. Afrika'. That's all I have at the moment.

Martin Block

[Eduard]

In July 1942 both Kampfgruppen were reinforcing the German-Italian defences in the Area of Tell el eisa and Miteiriya ridges.

Khiel was killed during the Alam Halfa offensive, afaik during an air attack. Any notice if the Kampfstaffel survived and who was its new commander.

Who was Brihel and some of you have any idea of its kampfgruppen composition ?

Thanks

[Commando]

I have read that Kampfstaffel Kiehl did maintain as many as 8 captured 'Honey's' the American Stuart light tank.

Though my source is far from perfect.

[David W]

I've seen photographic evidence of at least 3 or 4.

[Commando]

Anyone else have anything on Kampfstaffel Kiehl?

[Eduard]

From the Australian archives I have found the following interesting informatin about the Kampfstaffel battlegroup just before and during alamein.

[img]

A prisoner informas the next:

The Khiel Group was formed by:
HQ squadron: 4 x 8w Armoured Car, 1x 4w armoured car
1 AA squadron: 4 to 6 20mm AA guns about 60 men
2 Tank squadron: 3 crusaders (no longer running on 23rd october) 17 Stuarts (12 running on 12 october)
an inf patoon with about 20 men and 3 lmg's
3 AT squadron: 4x 50mm, 2x 37mm, 2x 2pdr, and 2-3 25pdr's

All stuarts were hit on the 26 october by RAF (hurricanes with AT guns) but 6 of them were repaired. No subsequent reports of enemy stuarts used by germans did appear after the air attack. ...


of the 12 stuarts 6 were left destroyed, burning, by the "tank busters" the other 6 were repeatedly hit but returned to their lines. one had received 6 hits but had not been knocked out. One hit had gone thrugh the turret from rear to front....


Headquarter Units, 9 division on November 1942
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