Question on 4. Pz division 's SP gun and tank destroyer

[Vasil]

4. Pz division report on June 1 1944 ( Nevenkin book) had 46 mixed Pak sfl, Pz H ( Wespe and Hummel), and Grille, some one have breakdown in it ?

[Roger Griffiths]

Well, I can certainly add to the confusion.

Establishment of 61 should be 43 Marder for PzJgAbt. 49 (PD43) and 18 SP artillery for II/PzAR103.

Coy/Bttry figures were (incl. Grille):-

9/PGR12 7 Grille
9/PGR33 7 Grille

4/PzAR103 5 W
5/PzAR103 5 W
6/PzAR103 7 H
Note beside says 12 W and 10 H. Diffs. may be ammo carriers.

1/PzJgAbt49 5 Marder
2/PzJgAbt49 7 Marder
3/PzJgAbt49 7 Marder

For a total of 50.

46 shown as runners and 3 in short term repair on Meldung.

Roger

[Martin Block]

Hi Roger,

actually the 'Soll' of 61 AFV grouped together in the 'Pak Sf' column of the 1.6.1944 report were
- 31 Jagdpz. IV L/48 authorized for the Pz.Jg.Abt. (not even delivered but conversion already authorized by OKH order dated 8.5.1944)
- 6 Hummel + 12 Wespe authorized for the Pz.Art.Rgt.
- 12 Grille authorized for the Pz.Gren.Rgter

By 1.8.1944 this had changed to 51 AFVs because the number of authorized Jagdpz. IV had been reduced to 21.

If you look againat the remark added to the Art.Rgt. you find 2 additional Wespe and 2 Hummel listed as under repair with the 'J-Staffel' which brings the total to 12 Wespe and 9 Hummel, making the 'missing' 10th Hummel either a possible Mun.Trager' or just a miscalculation, can't tell.

So there you are at an on hand strength of 12 Wespe + 9 or 10 Hummel + 14 Grille + 19 Marder = 54 or 55 AFVs of which 46 were listed as operational, 3 in short term repair and leaving 5 or 6 in long term repair (which are usually not included in the standard monthly status report).

So where is the confusion

Best regards

Martin Block

[Roger Griffiths]

Alright Martin, I've got things wrong before and no doubt will again.

Anyway very best wishes to you, have not corresponded for a while.

Roger