German Equipment in N.Afrika 1941-2

[David W]

I want to compile a list of German vehicles & guns that were used in N.A in 1941 & 1942.

I have divided it into 5 categories. Panzer, Artillerie, Aufklaerung, PaK & FlaK.

The list does not include soft skinned vehicles, equipment captured & reused in-theatre, nor does it take in Tunisia or 1943. Artillerie/PaK & FlaK tractors have been listed with Artillerie.

The list is quite comprehensive, but not exhaustive. The idea is that forum members add to it, until it is complete.

Here goes....


PANZER

Pzkpfw I ausf A
PzKpfw I ausf A (Flam)
PzKpfw I ausf B
Kl pz Bef Wg
Ladungsleger auf Pzkpfw I B
Pzkpfw II ausf C
Pzkpfw II ausf F
Pzkpfw III ausf E/F
Pzkpfw III ausf G
Pzkpfw III ausf H
Pzkpfw III ausf J ( L/42 )
Pzkpfw III ausf J ( L/60 )
Pzkpfw III ausf L
Pzkpfw IV ausf D
Pzkpfw IV ausf E
Pzkpfw IV ausf F
Pzkpfw IV ausf G
PzBfWg III ausf E
PzBfWg III ausf H.



ARTILLERIE

StuG III ausf D
SiG 33 (auf PzKpfw II)
Sdkfz 135/1 Lorraine
7.5cmI/G L/11
7.62cm ( r )
10.0cm K18
10.5cm LeF/H L/28
10.5cm LG2 K & Rh
15.0cm SF/H 18 L/30
15.0cm SiG L/11
155mm Gpft L/38 (k419 f )
17.0cm L/49
210mm MRS18

Sdkfz 7
Sdkfz 10
Sdkfz 11
NSU Kettenkrad
Sdkfz 8
SdKfz 9




AUFKLAERUNG


Sdkfz 221
SdKfz 221 auf 2.8cm PaK.
Sdkfz 222
Sdkfz 223 ( fu )
SdKfz 231
SdKfz 232 (fu)
SdKfz 247 (4 Rad)?
SdKfz 250/1
Sdkfz 250/3
Sdkfz 250/5
SdKfz 250/10
SdKfz 250/11
SdKfz 251/1
SdKfz 251/3 (fu)
SdKfz 251/6
SdKfz 251/8 (Kr)
SdKfz 251/10
SdKfz 252
SdKfz 253
SdKfz 254
SdKfz 261 (fu)
SdKfz 263 (fu)
Land-Wasser Schlepper



PaK

2.8cm PzB41
PaK 36
PaK 38
Panzerjaeger IB
7.62cm PaK36 ( r )
Sdkfz 6 ( Diana )
Marder III ( Sdkfz 139 )
Pz sf II auf Fgst m Zgkw 5t ( PaK 40 )
SdkFz 231 auf PaK 38.




FlaK

20mm FlaK 30/38
Kfz 81 m FlaK 30/38
2cm Flakvierling 38
Sdkfz 10/4 m 20mm FlaK
37mm FlaK 36
88mm FlaK 18/36

[Grzesio]

... and 8,8 cm Flak 41 of course.

Regards

Grzesiu

PS It would be better if you used correct German names for artillery pieces. What is e.g. "15,0 cm L/30"? Do I really have to check in books for a barrel lenght to determine if it's the 15 cm K 18, 15 cm sFH 18 or whatever else? What is 7,62 cm (r)? Soviets had at least 7 common guns of different purpose in that calibre.

[David W]

PS It would be better if you used correct German names for artillery pieces. What is e.g. "15,0 cm L/30"? Do I really have to check in books for a barrel lenght to determine if it's the 15 cm K 18, 15 cm sFH 18 or whatever else? .

OOh Err Who rattled your cage?

(Hope you approve of the edits. )

What is 7,62 cm (r)? Soviets had at least 7 common guns of different purpose in that calibre.

How about, It's the one the Germans used in N.Afrika as an anti - tank gun. I don't know its freakin' designation I'm an Africa nut, not an Ostfront freak.

Thanks for your input anyway.

Btw? what's the difference between the FlaK 18/36 & the 41?

Dave.

[C.GILLONO]

Btw? what's the difference between the FlaK 18/36 & the 41?
Dave.

The barrel length at first (L/73 compared to L/56) but it was really a different model.
HTH

[David W]

Do you know when the 41 was supplied to FlaK units in N.A ?

Do you know how many, and to which FlaK units?

Thanks.

Dave.

[C.GILLONO]

1) Do you know when the 41 was supplied to FlaK units in N.A ?

2) Do you know how many, and to which FlaK units?

Thanks.

Dave.

1) around Alamein (the well known photo is reported as such IIRC)

2) sorry, no, but not much (only used by the WL for Flak business I suppose as it was brand bew at the time)

[David W]

Thanks anyway.

Perhaps someone else reading this thread can come up with the answers?

[Panzermeyer]

Hello,

Your 15.5cm (f) is most probably the 155mm GPFT French guns used by the DAK. I have 1-2 photos of this gun in the DAK.

Canon de 155 mm GPF L/38 (Grande Puissance FILLIOUX)
Type : field gun
Crew : 10 men
Caliber : 155mm
Weight in action : 11200 kg
Elevation : 0° to +36°
Traverse : 60°
Ready to fire in 30 minutes
Rate of fire : 2-3 rpm
HE Shell
Maximum range : 18600-19300 m
Projectile weight : 43 kg
V° : 735 m/s

Canon de 155 mm GPFT L/38 (Grande Puissance FILLIOUX – Touzard carriage)
Type : field gun
Crew : 10 men
Caliber : 155mm
Weight in action : 12200 kg
Elevation : 0° to +39°
Traverse : 60°
Rate of fire : 2-3 rpm
HE Shell
Maximum range : 21000 m
Projectile weight : 43 - 45 kg
V° : 735 m/s

The 155mm GPF was adopted by the US Army as the 155mm M1917/1918 and it is the direct ancestor of the 155mm gun M1 'Long Tom'. It was also the gun used to design the 155mm GMC M12 self-propelled gun. The Germans used it under the name 15.5cm K418/419(f).
The Original 155mm GPF was rather slow to move generally about 8 km/h using Latil TAR or Latil TARH2 trucks in France in 1940. These guns were mostly present in the ALCA (artillerie lourde de corps d'armée = army corps heavy artillery) and in the general reserves with 352 guns mobilised in May 1940.
The 155mpm GPFT (Touzard carriage = version with 4 pneumatics) was one of the most modern French guns in 1940 with the 105mm L Schneider Mle1936, but only 24 of them were in service in 1940. This gun was towed at 25-30 km/h by the Laffly S35T truck. The Germans used the 155mm GPFT in the Deutsche Afrika Korps.


Regards,

David

[Panzermeyer]

Concerning the Lorraine 37L conversions :

Lorraine 37L(f) Schlepper
• Gefechtsfeld-Versorgungsfahrzeug Lorraine 37L (f)
• Großer Funk- & Beobachtungspanzer Lorraine (f) (30 produced)
• 4.7cm Pak181(f) auf Geschützwagen Lorraine (this is a French production in fact, not a German conversion)
• Munitionstransportkraftwagen auf Lorraine Schlepper
• 7.5cm Pak40/1 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine "Marder I (SdKfz 135)" (170 produced)
• 10.5cm leFH18 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine (24 produced), Wespe-equivalent based on Lorraine 37L
• 12.2cm Kanone (r) auf Geschützwagen Lorraine (f) (1 produced)
• 15cm sFH13/1 auf Geschützwagen Lorraine (102 produced), Hummel-equivalent based on Lorraine 37L

I know the 15cm and perhaps the 7.5cm version served in North Africa. The signal/observation vehicle was only used in 1944 in Normandy AFAIK.

Regards,

David

[David W]

I know the 15cm and perhaps the 7.5cm version served in North Africa.

A.F.A.I.K It was only the 15cm.

[Grzesio]

David,

As far as 8,8 cm Flak 41 in Africa is concerned, 44 guns of the initial series were sent in early 1943 on Rommel's request for high performance antitank guns from August 1942. Some half of these guns was lost in the sea, but the rest reached Africa. By the way, the 8,8 cm Flak 41 was a completely different gun than the earlier 8,8 cm Flak L/56 (i.e. 18, 36 and 37), designed from the begining around new high performance ammunition.

These Soviet 7,62 cm AT guns were, as I remember pictures, so called divisional guns of the F-22 or F-22USV types, but I'd have to check at home for their German designations.

By the way, correct "20mm Quad FlaK 30/38" to 2 cm Flakvierling 38 please, as the 2 cm Flak 30 was not used in a quadruple set.

Regards

Grzesiu

[David W]

Thank you.

That puts the FlaK 41 outside my timeframe.

Will alter quad name now!

[Grzesio]

I think your timeframe is too narrow!

The soviet 7,62 cm gun used in Africa by Germans was the 7,62 cm Pak 36(r) or "76 mm pushka obr. 36" aka F-22.

Regards

Grzesiu

[krise madsen]

The Soviet 7.62mm AT gun was also mounted on a slightly modified SdKfz 6 Zgkw 5t halftrack. It was open-topped, but had armour plating on the sides. A.F.A.I.K. the drivers cabin and engine compartment remained un-armoured. Presumably, the driver left his seat before the gun was fired! (Is this the "SdKfz 6 Diana"?)

There was also a 15cm sIG33 auf GW PzKpfw II, i.e. the 15cm sIG33 mounted on a PzKpfw II chassis. The chassis was lenghened (with an extra road wheel on each side) and the gun mounted in an open fighting compartment, much like the later version based on the PzKpfw 38(t), though it was mounted somewhat lower. Apparently, engine cooling was a problem and these vechiles often operated with the top engine hatches left open. Only a small number (12 I think) were made, and they all served in North Africa.

[David W]

Yes to SdKfz 6 "Diana" & to SiG 33. They both appear in the original list.