Concord - 7060 - Armor At War Series - Panzer Vor! 3 1939-45-0CR

Th,s pz Bel Wg.lll A!Jsr H 1$ mounted on a ,a,1 car lor movement 10. trom. Of along Itwl

bailie IranI Germany s Panzer we,e ell hm'led In w,dlh, vnl,llhe advell! o! 1M Tiger

I and T,ger II, ,n order to lit Within me standard European ra,1 gage. Railroads were vilaito lhe war ello'l not only \of theIr ability to move massIve amounts of supj)II8S al'ld troops bul for lheir ability 10 ~lT\)t wear on combal vehICles by moving them over Qfeal dlSlances ThIs 3.JSerie groBel' PanzerbeJehlsw~n IS 1dentdled as an Aus' H (nol 10 be c:onlused WIth lhe Slandard gutltank ill$o deSignaled AIls' HI by th830mm ZUsatlpaoz8l1Jl'lg (~ ¥1TlOf) seen anach8d 10 the superstructure fronl plale It also mounts the cupola II"Iltoduc«l on 1M Ialer AIls! F and ALtsf.G. whtdl dllle'enllall' 11 from 1M pz Bel Wg III Aus' E TI'Ie sianda.d RahmenanlenM· (Irame antennaJ as wei as Ot* 01 lhe !'NO 'od iIIlt8l'\Oae, ale also ...n In th" pholograph FInal..... It .5 'armed" WlIh • OOIfWfl)' Scm [(wI( wtuch Will ret.o Itlled 10 replace the dummy 3 Jan [(wI< O/Ig,nally leen on Ihese

.......

seen on Panzer III the eombatzone

•

I· "

, •

.'

..

An Sd Klz 711 mounl,ng a 2cm F1&kvl8{l,ng 38leacls a group 01 Hofch Ktz.15 and Kfz 17 medtwn standard CIl)$S-cotlfllry car, and some ()pel Shu 3-100 Iomes along a sandy trade on t!loe Ostfronl The wheeled vehode types lOdicale lhallhos.s a N;lChnchlcn (communoealll)(1sj UfII1 The Panzer ,s a pz Kptw III Aus! J as ondocated by the Kvgelblende 50 (maelllne-gun ball mounl!o< 50mm armof). whK:h was lust seen on Ihf$ mod&! The Pan«tf mounts the scm KwK anc has several S6CllOnS ol spale Hack ,,"ached 10 ,.s Ironl end as added prolechon The t>eav"V·5Iawed engine oe<:k 1$ tUflher embellished with 11 large

&ha.'

Siorage locI
Th 5 Pi Kefw 11\ AuS! J clearly shows anOlher dlSMIIUIShlH1/

lealu,e 01 m,s mooel 1M hull sodes extended lind drollcd out 10 form lOW shackle po,nts at trle lion! Note 81$0 the SlubslO<

m
weIl.slhe covel O'ffl' the ,adlO ()pef~s MG34 gun billie! An ~'1

stowage bin has been

maunIe<:!

on

the

po,l 51de

-....,.. wt1lIt' Ih4t $~fboard'500e ~ ........ to have been f~ed...-aI M<:boO fA I,ead~ noll !hi d 'Ie.eno:.e lf1 •......",.e ~ yTlllII nll'lS Ind 'rI'NI

~ ",~",e

~A'"

."eoo»

10 the

,

ThIs Panzerbelehlswagen mIt SCm KWK U42 (P~ Kpfwll1 Ausf Jj, 'S from an un·k!llnl,liltd umt on thO DIlllonl poss'llIy durong the sp"ng or summer 01 1943. Rather than contInue 10 produce sp&CI4I,zed command tanks, the declsoon was made 10 use ·oll-the-shelf" Panzer /01 \his purpose In ll'l S Cilse the pz Kptw III Ausf J ThIs allowed Iof any ParQet' to be COIl\Iefted ., the held by the f!!mOY1l1 01 certain nlem. ~ems $UCh as ammo racks and the f3dIo operalO(s Mel' Thos also allowed lheH Panlet' 10 be armed WJItl 1M &landilr<;l guo. lhe 5cm Kwk U"2, whlch enabled lhem !of

the first lime. to light as a standard gun-tank. TIn Panzer II r'l\Ishe
1943 (see the color pl,lIe sechOn in th,s book). ConSIS1Jng of a base of Ounkelgelb RAL 7026 with a mottle pattern 01 Ohvgrun AAL 6003 arod Aotbraun RAL 6017 The Tae numt:ler. A02. lI'ldicales a regll'l'Mlnt-1eve1 commarod PanZI!f II I' black.. wlth a whole oulltne and IS seen on lhe IumII Schurzen sodes. bul not on the rllt A blac:k/>irrhIM

8alkenkreuz nabOnal lOS.IgI'lIoll

1$

seen on lhe hUll $ctII.oInt\

,"Ie$. note how !here IS an unusual bend ., !he plate 8th Panzer's rei!

The rare pz 8e1.Wg.IU Aus/.K. (only 50 were buIlt) came
/endef) 80lh Panzer also haw $W'IQIe-peee haldIlds en'" No!: _ .. thl$ _ (~ II ~ tJI the large slowiogeo Ioc:kel) .. the I"TIO'ecl pol .-d rtNiJIfI# tor the newty-inttoduc:ed $terNlnterne (5111 II"\MIMIoI was lIIled on !til rear cklc:k 1lu$ replaced IhI Aahmenanlenna (111Ime antennal. The l8fMonono ~ ~ thl tl&lfl are pz Kptw IVa Pfobf,bIy 'It. AaSI Gs 01 " " Ausl.Hs

commande(t cupola

A Panzefbefehlswagen mIl 5cm KwK U42 (Pz.Kpw III Ausl J) leads a pz Kplw II Ausl F (nole Ille edge 01 the tront sUpllf$truchlre plate) alorlg a duSlY road on tile Osllront The Belehlspanz&r (command tank) is identIfied iIS an Ausl.J by the eonfiguratlon of tile rear superstructure plate. and the R;lhmenantenne (Irame antenna) on Ihe engIne de<;k. Note the heavilystowed &rlgif\e deck behInd the antenna; while earlier command 18r1ks had IhEm lurrets h.ed on piece, Ihls particular type was bu,11 hom a standard gun· tank and Iherelore the turrel could traverse to a IImiled degree.

A mixeelur8 and hull sides. as well as lurrel s,des and rear plales or later pz.Kp1w.lIls were usually 30mm Ihick. while Ihe SOviel weapoos could in theory only penetrale 25mm at 500 meters. at close, ranges Ihey were a distinct dange,. whICh Is why the more heilYiIy armored Parllher also required $chOrzen 10 protect lIs yulroertlblellull sides. Th,s prola<:bve measure was I'lOt deYeloped to counl,r Ih, ,h.ped..c:ha,ge warhead of Ille US Army's 2 36'lf>Ch Rockel Launcher MI or M9 (Bazooka) as 1$ commonty lhoughl

011 Ille open sleppes of

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11 group 04 Soviet pnsoners move past what is 8IIMI a lale Pz.Kpfw.11I Ausf.J or an ealfy AuSf L• ....tlile smolle moYeS across the background. ThIs Panzer IS ldent,fled as such by the onef'ltallon (1or&.lo-alt) 01 the armored cowls OYer Ihe engine air cooling loulters. The engine deck access halch lid ilrrilngemerlt WillS elsO chal'llled. the two large halches Just behind tile lurret were chan<]ed hom a spht·l+(! design thaI opened lowards Ihe hont and rear. 10 a s,nole lid that opened towards the Ironl. ThiS arrange mel'll could also be seen on Ihe lalef Ausl Js, WhICh nalurally lurlher contuses the Issue of lderll,lk;ahon

Ths lIPiIunold PZ Kplw.1I1 AustJ IS marlled as belonging 10 the 14 PanzerdiYislOf'l. nole lhe unil's devICe Iocaled JUSI abOve Ihe IWO upper flvel5 thai s&Cured the y'5lOfl porI assembly 10 the tntellor watl ot the hlffel Since this Panzer lacks two ot the miUn leatures or Ihe Ausr.L (spaced armor arrays and frames on Ihe superslructure and turrEll Ironls). illS prohably an A"Sf J re·armed wllh the SCm KwK39 U60 AI 500 melers uSing Pzgl"39 ammunlt,on, Ihis gun could penetlate 57mm 01 armor al3Q'degrees hom the YertlCill, while the earlier KwK38 U42 couid only penelrate 46mm at the same angla USlr'lg Simlial ammunilJOll.

WhaIIS pl'obabt'I' a P, Kj)/'W III AusI J f3lSM a cloud at \he Iof'IgeI scm Kw1<39l..15O mall'l gIIIl, whlch was commorolV rella-I,lIed 10 lhe Ausl J ThIs P;lInl" also lacks the 20mtn VoIp;IInzar (spacedarmotla'la'J' Of'l lhe ~slrUCIUle Ironl as __ as the lrame lor ""me on I'" gun maf'll\e (comr1'lOI1lY I,l*! kllhe Ausl L). lurtheflAgltle case ltIallhls IS an up-gooned J Nole thallht Nolek black-oul dnYlng head Iamp.s _ l e d WI pkw:e oIlhe COIMlflbonal head·lamp on \he pori Side 01 \he g~ I*te. ~"'-' \he CO¥IIIor lhe bI.kes cooIII'lg all venls and \he Iend&I

Au"

17

,,/'1",

It'" '" .' ..... tiM 1,·.. 'I"'l,·."h c.UI he ""'ntlIlf'<,l .li ~lQ iI .' "'''\\ III AllSll due l'dgf> O. lhe "1',1('1'<1 ,I'ITIOI pa.llC on Ihp 9O'l manlle. ...tlilCh '·"n be _ p'Olrudlng r<.~t the \o
h' Irw

I

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The pcl5l1JOtl of !hIS Panzer makes II wtualy impo$sibIe 10 detemwoe "'11$ a Pz Kpfw.lll Ausf.J or Austl. bullhe Wpe of lhe lear superstructure pIale makes II cartaln thalli IS one or the other There as a huge amounl of slorage on lhe an91O. deck. making .1 lIkely Ihill theSIl Panzer lire not heilded rmmedllliely IOto combal, as they shellel 'rom enemy Observation among a smal' wooded area There IS what appears to be a playrng card InSignia vIsible on lhe rear superstrUClure plale, a spade In black with 8 while bordel. thiS w(Wl(l generally indicate which Kompanle (company) a glVEln Panzer was aS5lgfl8o to.

ThI!I Pz Kptw III belonl}s to II Abletlung. PIInzenegwnent 6 01 3 PanzerdMslon. whlch ody had one Abteilung 01 Panzer dunog !he summer 01 1943. presumably when this mage was crealed Note the "eerl", ee"," un-olflClal diVlslOfl InStgnoa as weN 05 lhe ollrcral one. an IOve,tC!d "Y" With two VIl,llcal strokeS. on lhe rear superslructure plate, 10 the lell 0' the BaJkenkreuz nallonal Inslgm1l The Panze, IS an AUg' J 0' L, bul Irom Ih,s angle 'I is almoSllmOOSSIb!e 10 be sure; only lhe ,el)! superslfucture plale ldenl
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1M

These pz Kptw III Aust La pallS" whl'" P+Or\Ifl'Iruppefl (comb;ll engineers) Pfepa,e a way through an enemy barrie, Thtlmefl Ifill lightly clothed and eQUlpPlld, wtuch Is /Ust as well sInce they must work ext!emely qulCkty In the hoI SLHl, whIk1 &IHVIf'lg 10 c:ompIele the" task belofcl _my 1I1tdle weilrs slung over thI bad< tor onstanl ;lCCe$S on case lhe enemy mOlkes lIfl appearance The Panzer lI'e idenlrlllKl as AIlsl.Ls by thI lrilmes tor lhe spaced a.fT1Of arrays on the gun mantleS as wei as \tlose on the supetsUUClUfe 'ront plates The ~ and second Panzer also IliMl IUfl" 8fICl hull Sch.Kzen, while the ttwcl don 1'10I..... are 3fmed WlIIl the long Scm K"';39 LJ60 maUl gun.

These Inleresllng vehIcles a,e pz Kptw III Aus! Ms convened to PionietpanzetW:lg9fl au' FahrgesleU Pz.Kptw III to carry engonee' brIdge equopmenl The base changed 10 the more wel-knoWn -Char9'"9 Mounled ~ _ 505 was 0fllIIniIIY oudll\ld YnIh. total 0118 (Of 25 1S(ll,lf('Al$ vary) pz KpIw III AIls! Ms (IIgaIn SOUfee.a v"Y lL5 to $pl!CIflc model. but pholos conhrm them a.s AusI Us) when InlhaJy tormed on hAarch 01 1943. ThUs. !he.e was certaonly a. .eady source WIthin the ul'llt tor such

""""""" A group of pz Kptw III Ausf ls 101ierS below the crest ot a small tenaln featu,e, whIle on the honzon other Panze, move 'orward Nole lhe peculia, traIls lell In the local vegetaIJon by the Panzel Thai these are pl"ooably Aus'Ls can be del.. moned by ...mat ilIPP8l11S to 01 shadows

on Ihe

1UNe!

"on! ends

(partJQ.Ilatfy the Panz'" ...-flOUl ¥IY Schurzenl. wtloc:tI may ondIc.al. the

I," "ll 01 thl SPICed arfT'o()t affllYS

c.on1UWd

PI Kpfw 6~

rv

[""Iy

WIth the at &4.ICh a the SUII

l'IIa", 01 odoIntrly,f'IO ........ P, Kpl... llls we !hi 5.of load """'" 01 the s.ut.pl~1Qf1

'fM"'l _ _ herl

I"

~ Ihos Ianlaknng '"'-lIe Wh

ur'l~ kamed on lhIs rnaronlH

bf ltle llhot~

It\e Pal'ller can

sill tle ldentlll9d as a Pl Kptw.IV "usf 0 becallse the
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The PzKpIw IV Aus! 0 (seen here) rnlroduced the st6?P6d SUPC'Slruelure "0<11 p1<'1tc and MG34 m a Kugelblerrde 30 (MG baH OlOllfllkN' 3Old c.rew memoe, 01 iI Pa"'ll!f', (Iflll usually cons'sted ollhe name i1nd dilre or de.llh ollhe lfldMdu.ll A Ul'eEldogol whrle oulhne rae I1Uf'I'lbef \111\1$ ....., lhtl ~,dtI of the lrmtll wl1lll!;] l)Iad<./wtllle e ..lk.onkraul natIonal 'ns!Qf'lI(I can 00 selin onlhe supe,slrliClulIl Sido c"",lId over 10 tho rod anlerm" slorage ",~r Tt'fl Pa""l" (,rorwmen wea, IIIe 1>landard bladl M t934 unrlorms wrth M 1935 feldmullll (hek! caps) ThIS pholog,aph was lake" early,,, the Heglmonl S "''''''.'......nr .. ~ rt"" ,-,~w g.... (I <:OOK S lou< 01 'he" Pafll9f 10 local rnhilllolaniS

was also rE/tamed on IhE/ laref Aus! E The raised !mlll dflvtl accoss h,lICh Irds we'll also:l Icalu'll 01 Ina AuS! O. wilich was

"'

A group of motor vehICles. tod by a Krupp Kfz 69 hauling a 3.7cm PaK35136 (note the ammo storage lockels on the tractol and tM gun's wneel JUS! VI5Itile all of the rear lender) wlllt on a road-side whole a p~ Kpfw IV Ausf.E passes on its way to the front Comparing this photo to lhe previOUs one of the Ausf 0 Wilt re~eat Sevi:lfal featu,es seen !lrst on the Ausf.E. These Ir.clude' bolted'(l(1 Vorpanzer (spaced ;'Irmor) on the superstrucfure IrOnl plate as wei as ZusalZpanzerung (applique ;'Irmor) on the superstructure side plates. Also new for Ihls model (an.d ~,s,ble In this photo) was an exlemal mantle for the 7 5cI"I KwK flush·f,IlIng bnal drrve access hatch hds. and a new commander's cupola Changes not v's,b1e 'n this View ,r.cluded a turret rear lace w,thout a ~ bulge lor the commander's cupola and a reYlsed drIVe sprocket rrng.

Th,S s,de VieW 01 a PZ Kplw IV AuS! e iIIustrales the naw tonfiguration 01 tho drl~e Splocket ring as well 11.1 lhe newer style 01 rOlld.w~ ""~~~ Vorpan~er (spaced armor) on the superslrllCture fronl and lhe Zusatzpan~arung(appllqu6 armor) on the supef$,rUCIule Side plates a.lso lljen~'" T~ lurrel allO has''''' new commandor's copllia (110m the 6R.W chassis. or PI Kpfw UI Ausf Gl and the laler $lyle 01 bump. lor SIdt ~ kdl The tf~ haslashoooed II .,or-age lad< on the near·slde lende,. just ah 01 t~ ."nor-ad COWl 0Yll1 the Itghlll'lg tOn1pfI,~:':nt ~

...

u

1'1'1<$ PI "'plw tV Ausl E shOWS _ a l ot 'IS ml,n ldenllfylng _lu.., 'S w.~ OIS some

......slJi'lV 0811.1$

II

has an

:wftIl ,..". to< lIS 7 Scm KwK• ... ~1y-lnll'OCluctd C
while !tie outlll'le a Tilc numbe. can be partIally see
The Cfew of \his pz KpIw IV Ausl E slllnd at al1ent,on as Genersloberst (ColonetGene.all Heinl G"delli!n Genaralmspektew dc. Panze.t.uppen strides past them The details 01 Ihe rede$lgned lUrret can be pia lilly saan in thIS vIew. note the lack ot sapilmtll bulged plate bet....>d the new commander"s cOJ1)Ola on the turret raa. In a conhnued quesl ror slanOardozatoon components trom the Iaiesl Panic, we,e madE' onl(l.changeable Thus lhe COfTlf1\ClI"ld' s cupola newly onllOduced on !he 612 W (pz KpIw III AlAI Gl_s also _ on the pz KpIw IV-setIflS begltwwIg W11to the Ausl E There IS a sma' yeIow Tac ~ (posSIbly 311) on the large Iendef mounted stowage loc:I
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A pz Kplw IV AuSf F belong,ng 10 Rommel $ Deulsches Afrika Korps (OAK) moves past a group of ,nl/lnlrymen as they work to ImPfoYe their rock~ f,ghl,ng poSll,on. Malor thaoges on the Aus! F 'flCh,ldet;l the Inl.oductlon 50mm·based armor 'ncludH'.Q a straight tront superstructure plate thai was SOmm

lh'ck. which 'ncorporated a new Fatuersehklappe 50 (drlvefs vision pollIO' 50mm arma!) and a Kugolblende 50 (maCh,", gun ball mount lor SOmm armor) These laslilems were adapted from the p~ Kptw III AuSI

J Dished drive sprockets wefO I,tted to accommodate wlder 40Cm tracks. as wefll WIder road-wheels

These wefEl hned to lessen the ground pressure that resulted Irom the ,ncreilse ,n the overall WIIOlliot the more neav,ly-armored paOllf The lurret IIsO fKetved new two-Pilf' side hatch lids fust sun on the 4 fl.W (pz KpIw.lll Ausl E) enaSSIs This panzer 1$ InISSlng the second road-wheel on the Iif,! bog" sprong possibly due 10 a Iadu.e of the rubOe< bre rIm. a common ocalrrence ,"the heal 01 the deWft note lhe spar~ on lhe SICle oIlhe eng.ne dec:lc Tht lurtel urnes a Ihfee-d91 Tac numbef possobly 422, on liS sode. lhe
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ThIS Pl Kplw IV IS probilbly a ,rl.l8" Aust G (as opposed 10 an \J9'gunned F2). since i' mounts a Bosch b1ac;k·out dllVlf'Ig head·lamp on bolh ~S II ... lhe long 7 Scm KwK U4a bul otherwise lhe remillmng featu,es afe standard lor ltle earlier Au~Gs They Include a Il""Ollng rod arltervla and lIS ~ slotage tfough on fhrt slarl:loa'dsode and a spilt IlaICh lid 3t1'angllmenl on lhe COfTlfTl.uloer'S cupola Other leatu'es .re an armored cowl ~ IN 101 1M bral
:H

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A group of pz Kptw,IV AustGs pause outside 01 a talrly large lown The nearest Panzer can be idenhflod as an Ausf.G (although the U48 gun tube's obscured] by the gun cleaOlflQ stalls and bore swab (four, ,nstead of two rods 10' the longer tube), and the rack for stonng two road-wheels on the teode, Tn,s Panzer is also appillently a "true" Ausf G since thele is a 80sch black Oul drIvIng head·lamp maunie
A pa,r of Panzer OrIEl 01 which is a pz KpJw IV Aust G, makes their wa~ into on the Osltronl Tile neal Panze' !s certainly an Ausl G as can be r:letermlOtid by the d,sl16d dMe sprocllel and the muzzle brake otthe long 7 Srfll KwK40 U48 gun Note the small nul at the lOp mar 01 the muzzle brlll'.EI whldl acted as a set $Crew 10 keep II plop&rly attached to Ihe 1tlf...
a aly

""del lUll above the mud !lap

ThiS photograph 01 a pz Kplw IV Ausl G shows several onterestlng delalls 01 the lurrel '001 Fo,emost is the commande,·s cupola wllh lhe ea,ly pallern two pll!ce halch lids, nOlI! how Ihe a,mo,ed cove's lor lha V'IlW Shl sllda upwa'ds, as weli as the small drainage holes a'ound the rom BelOW me cupola IS a c,rcular bulle1ilragmenl splash plale. WhICh prole<:llld ItS base I'om enemy h,e Thl!m are brackels 10 hang SChllrzen boiled to lho 1001 plale Fmally. notll how lh,n Ihe COVIl' plale 10' IIle ,ool·mounted vent Illilis Ih,s was lale, Ih'ckenlld, as was the lea' 01 the tu"et '001 plata

fhtS ,lppOllll"tly lill'l I'/YpINI" ~I/-, 'l SlMlli'lllOIl!\,I'O'l "hteh ""ilf Ind.u.l" It IJI ~ .. ' , d Vf)fY I;IIIlly Av!>1 t/ fh/t p"m8'y leawr lo-.... 1I'IIt. lhal II would appeal Ihal lhe S... pelsl'>JCI~'e ..." IIonl plalllS alll based on 80!T'm a."'I(,f ' . tMn 50mm pI;lIes w,lll 30mm lusar.lPllner.. !ilPP"qutl almorl Olhel Ausl H leatlKes I slfl9Ie Bosch blacl'.ool dfl'N'9 head \aI'rsl ir ne~1 to II Late Aus' G featules !hal were SlarIdt 00 the Ausl H also ,flOCIVde the Stngle PI8ee haIf;tl 00 lhe commande, s cupola anc:lthe rnour:'"'iI r; It rod antenna on a f!e~oI)le lubber base at It. PQf side leal comet of the superStrUClUfe The 0'1 map feature on thos PaIllOi thaI IIldicales • COIJ be an Ausl G IS Ihe d"ve sprockel ard ~ aSSOCIaled Imal d/lYe hoos,tl9 Howeve. ear' Ausl Hs were budt WIth UlllS assemtJly ~ ~ <5 • posSltlle thatlhls was a replacemellllTlOUrJed bt Ironl-.ne WOf1l$I'IOp uM at when the ~ wa relVIne
' '<.ll

ar,

,lin

By March 1944 BoIoafla acquire
These two pholographs dep,cl a line 01 Bulganan Maybach T·IVs (AusI.G al'ld HI mow"O In column dum19 the same pa.adll on Sol18 The Panzef afe all in lha" emglnal Gelman pa;nt hnish, oVllrali Ounkelgelb RAL 1028, and although lhe angle 01 lhe lighl washeS lhem QUI lhere ilfe black SI Af1drew'S Closses on Ihe SIdes and lear of lhe lurrlll Schurzlln The lilS! Panzer has lhe '81nlorce
26

Thos pall' of pholograph$ allow Iof I'l1O diI1efent views of ttle same palf 01 Bulganan Maybadl T-Ws, one WIth Ieatures of Ihe Ausl.G the other WIth Ieaturn of Ihe Ausf H In the lirSt phofo, the tnilflungs ate reacily VISible on these Dunkelgell RAL 7028-palOled PaIlle!. They tncIuOe black aosses 04 SI ArtOfew as wei as names 0/ famous ballles Wfitten In Cyrilic characters III vanous ploce5. The near Panz.8f WI thIS photo has features lypocal 01 the AostG oncludlflQ.the Of'9'nal drwe sprocke"IInal drrve comblflabon, rubber-hrad return rollers, and the bolted-on 30mm Zusat~Piln~erung (applique allnor) on the superstructure tron' NOle ,he Bosch head-lamp mounted In an u"lli!oUill poSlllOn. centrally 0I'l the glilClS. Note also how the stowage 0' the I'l1O ·C- 'shaped tow hooks dillers on the two Pan~ar, With the lar pair (behind the Bosch head-lamp In the r.ormal poSItion) beulQ m the upnght POSition. In the second photograph. the Ausf.H can be identified by Ihe drive sprock&1J'mal drive comb,nallon (It has the later all'steel return rollers) as well as the s''''9le 600101 armor plat' on the superstructure 'ron1. It also has the Fil~baIO!lller (edernal cylindrical air Mers) mounled on the starboard-Side lender. as well as mounting haOles Tor tha miSSing hull $<:hurzan. 80lh Pan~er have turret-moun1ed SchOllen as well as the later single-poece hatch lid on the commailOer"s cupola.

r-

,• I

.• 27

a; til" ~111'~lIl\n M.lyllaCh llV 1l1S0 hIlS rallhJ'es ot bolh tI,o Pl Kplw IV '\usl t) lmd Aus! II II hils Iha remlo"~ad r'nAI d,tv8 hous,ngs ar>d the,r ,I '''''~ltlMl dllve :illrockelt, 115 wel"o ttltl YO/tlCa' stowage or the "C"-sIlaped I 'w h
I

, ,I ,

,

,

, Th,S Maybach T-IV has fealures 01 borh tho PzKpfwlV Al.lSfG

~---

and Ausl H Although lt1e elr..... splockets cannot be seen, !he lelnfo,ced "nal droves first seen on the Ausr H, are mounted a5 can be seen by the style of \heir covers, wh,ch ale v,s,ble between the tracks and !he ..... Sides The verucal slowtlge d

tho 'C'-shaped row hookS ~ also lfademarks or \tie /w$f H The bolted-on :Jl)'m'lI Zusatzpanzerull9 (a~,q'" armor) can be seen Of! ... superstructure Ironl u ts tile bow Nole ho'W fle p.sePJIfiUeS around the ~ operator's MG34 mou"Il TheSI 'fe lealures assOCtate
r
mOUlll5

FIIeve
,.

ThIs Maybach T-IV has lea lures of bolh lhe pz Kplw IV AuslG and Ausl H II mounlS Ihe drive sprockets and the reinlorced linal drives tirsl seen on lhe Ausl H The -Co_shaped low hooks are also Slowed In lhe verllCill position and there IS only one Bosch helld-lamp (seen here wIthout 'IS COlIer). whICh all! also trademarks of the Ausl H The bolted-on 30mm Zusa.tzpanzerung (apploq~ armor) can be seen on Ihe superstructure !ront, bill the bow appealS to be • S'"9le 8Omm-1hJc:k plate (also note the partrally m,sssng lOW shaelde on the port·sode) ThIS photo also oilers a good VIew of the b
T-I'Y from pafade sequencll d'splays InJures 01 both!l'le pz Kptw IV Ausl G and Ausl H The commander's cupola mounts thll FIollQlIrbeschut'lgerat (a ...ll-aorcratl mau... t fOl an MG34) and has a SIngle prece Iod 101 the halch. The supers1ruclure tlonl platt has boiled-on 30mm Zusat/:pa1\lenJng (apptiqU4! armol) ot the A.,I$l G but shadows obseuf8 whal type of af"lOf IS on the bow ptate The final drIVe and dl'..... 5pfodod'I ~y leooo;nl lor thos tppIof"" Ool!efeoce Ot the gun woe could be Flo! RAL 8012 ptme, lta Fr'-I"" ~ lhI Sl AI'dI_S CI0S4 pawlted '"" .......11 ~ irIcl
me

SiITHl

"""*'

-c--

""'"'*' . ,

.!
Th.. 13'1 pho'o 04

~ ..

MiJYbadl T IVI ~ ., 50tta shoW. Iel more 0( ... ~ r.aluf.' of fYolk" Both have 1St .. 'Plx:l...l fO
m.se "

lusallpanzefung r ~ armorl of !he Aml G n. ~ PanLel' IS .. Skoda LT 'tl 3S lIgt!l tank called pz 1Cp/'l¥ 3S1' ", Ger~" 5eMCe ¥Id l-11 lIIf the Bu1g¥~ns It IS ~ ", an OWl green tDlor and , . Tac numDefS {521 and the

$1 Andrew $ C'1;l$$

1ft

wIWe on

the lu"e' $ides u~ . . Panzet' 1$ equrppecl W'lh Itle laler J 7cm mam gun lKanDn Skoda A7} ~ seen on !he ltll 'l8l'1oCles 01 ihJs type 0I'g.t\a1y buill for e~port to AlghalliSWl bul confiscated by Germilny and laler sold to Bulganil

•

This Bulganan Maybacti T·N IS seen lf1 a smaI lown, With members ot the crew and some olNlS POSIng lor the photographer. This Panzer Qlltubl15 II 01 the 'ealures seen on Ihese Bulgarian vetue:leS Includmg

boiled-on

(appliQu~ arlllor) 01

30mm Zusatlpanz~rung the Aus! G and ttle dr,ve

sprockeVfinaJ drive combUlillion or Ihe Ausl H

ThIs YefY un-duItered Maybach T-IV stands"- ill move out as 01. Cfew fIWMS ordIn A$odII lJDI"l IypocaIleatures of theM Bulgaflan hnl:'" ~ \W'I also has 'rames tor hul-mounled SCf'lurt*' """ ar" no spttoal matlullg. VISIble _lIMy' - " ' : tuwe been used '" Itle SotIII Pilla<», no ~ $\ 0&0<11"I e,. Hen enyw'*- on If\lS l.W Panz.-r

~vNch T_I\I c-.. be $loci to be • Pt ~ 1\1 ..&.usl H NoI. thaI the ~lt\lCtl,l.. lront plale 'S a s'ngle ptale and lhat lhe 8Qmm·th ,""",~ alSo mounls lhe dllYC ~ and ~ filial dnvoI ~ on Ihlt Ausf H II has Ihe songle-poeCl 1'1<11<:1'1 lId on ltle ~s C\>POla and the rod anteonl\ IS mounted on the "e~,b1o rubbe. b4lse at lha rear comer 01 roe supf!f$lru<:lu.e, on lhe pof!. $G S10wage Il'ldudes
Thts

8u9'nM

'ruct-

(M1ltY 11'1 IhI$ photograph) 10 storc !hi -CO·shaped lOW hool<$ ,n the upnghl pos'tlon. a lray to sto.e two road·wheels on llle lender, e slngte 80sch head-lamp on the render, III'ld brackets 10 slore SllYeIl spa,e Irad< Ionlls ()I'I Ihe glacis plate Thts Panter '5 ma.ked W'lh lhe $1 Nldrews CJ"OS$ ,n lyptcal pos'tlons (mcluding the commander's cupola /'laId! bll) and also has a r.lllroad s/lIppIng data plate stenciled on the _-SlOe 1Ull"e1 Sd'Iurzen. 11'1 black. It IS Ihe sub/eCl of a color pIclte In

..........

""#w

_le,

QhoIo olltlls depoc;bng Bulganan Mayt>a<:h T-IVs _ see a Pantll' thaI has been 'e-PlIlnled on an oWe green color and had ~ posl h.,.., ~nment f'fIaf1ung$ The ~ 5eef'I hell on Ihe $UpIIrslrUC1ur. I.Qnl plale and lhe IUJlel Schurr.... IS t;OIortd. l.om lop-Io-boltom whole ll"'lIe'l and

1ft

•..., r.... Pafln, has ~ combonabon or

fea/ulllS sean on allot lhese 6uloamm HVs, onclUdlng 'Il,nforced IInal d,.... and 'Is assoc:... ted d..... spro<:kellrom

... A..1tl H boI\4od on 30mm ZU$llllpantefUng jappllqu(l IIrmor) on Ihe superstlucturc and bow tronl plaleS, smgle-plote haleh hd on lhe coAlmandcf& ~ ~ 'od IfltenrnJ on .1le~obIe rubbe. Inse al Ihe rear come. 01 the port s'de sliperslrllClllle (!eRllIllIs Inlloducea OI,late. Au,/Os) Unique among all ~ hw 1MfDal:t' T-Ns lhot PiON'e, atlO has a coal"'O 04 Zunmefll applltld 10 to..... SUr/acIlS 10 p'~l allachntel'll 04 magnetIC anlllan~ mlflflS

B..oloafllfl

II

WhIle in'anlry take a break under some to~.. a lug !p!a\(lOn, ol PI Kplw IVs (prob
A group 01 Heel' (Armyl o~ c;onwi\ 'Mth eactl othet pnor 10 an ooeraIo' They sland next 10 a PI KpIw V Pilnthef while IUS! beIW'd tnem
ThiS pz Kp'w IV Aus' H be~S to I Ablellung Panzerreglment 6, 3 PanZer(!I~ISIOn, and Is seen on lhe Ost!fonl probably aUllflg the $pf'no 0119« . , . Tac marlungs (113) dOSlQnallng It as a command Panler ot Ihe I AblBllung, and also wears the Belhn Bear unoll,c'ai d'~ISlOn InS1QnIA on thlllUl~ both In wMe Th" Panzer, hke the Bulgallan vehICles prevIOusly seen. also e~hlblls teatures 0' both a lale Aust G and eally Aus! H the most f'()/>..-.ablt0l"Cl lhe r..nlorted hnal alive and dllve sprD(lo.el The hull 5<;hllllen has the earlier style ot hangIng hames l'"st seen on lhe Aus' G 1ft lnld,943 ""~ ~ 'JifQIII!'¥9U1ar hooks This Panier IS the subtect 01 a color plate In thIS book

Sc""'"

l2

Pl.Kpfw.1I Ausf.A, 8 or C of the 8. Panzerbrigade, 5. Panzerdivislon, Germany, early 1940 Thls Ponzer corrles the 01flc1Ol hsignio of lhe dlvlsion. on inverted -y' with 0 single dot In yellow panl on the supel'111UCIUflil 1ldes orod on lhe dr'ven plole "comes the Toe numbers. 212. of Panze, number 2, I lug. 2. Komponle on lhomboid plates olloehed to lroe fenders on either SlOe, os wer os whot Is Pi'obobly the Inslgnio of Ponleneglmenl 15. (opparenlly 0 Ion). on lhe IUfrel sides In yeIow There IJ 0 blodl/While 801lr:enlueuz notiof'lollnslgnio on the superSlIVCture S1des.jvsl Oil of lhe VleW-pofI. Colofs Ofe lhe Iwo-Ione system of Du'lkelgfou Nt 46 (\O'Ier the cooe was cnoooed 10 RAL 7021) This was OIIet·SP'oyed wllh Dunkelbfoun Nr 45 (lOIe, RAl. 7017) in patches. $0 II covered 10JfTI/Y JJ3 Of the

"em being pointed

..

R02

+

Ponzerbefehlswogen mit Scm KwK L/42 (Pl.Kpfw.1II Ausf.J), un-identified unit, Ostfronl. possibly spring or summer of 1943 11'111 Ponzer IS f,ntShed 10 The Ihree-lone scheme Introduced in Februory of lQ<13.eonils!lng 01 a base of CNnkeJgeib RAL 7D2B wIth 0 motTle ponem

of Ol,vlJrun nAl6C03 cnd Rotbroun RAL 6017 11'10 loc number. R02.lndlcoles a ,eg,ment-leveI6efehtspomer (common<:llonk). Ills block W'lh a wl'l,le outhne and ,$ seen on the turret Schufzon sides, but not on Ihe reOl A bloCk/whllo 60lkankreuz nohonal INlgniO a seen on the I'I
SCnUl2en OIares

Mayboch T.IV H (P'z.Kpfw.lV Ausf.H). BUlgarian lsi Armored Brigode, 1st Armored Reglmenl, Sollo, December 1944

1M PonHJI ~ POWlIec!ln rhe ~lo!"\dOfd bose colof 01 Dunkelgolb RAL 7028 and ha$ the 51 Andrew s Cross painted in black on bOrn lrde$ !J.' """ O~ '''0 rooror the turrol Sch\Jflon.oo the superShl,lClure Ironl plote end on Ine t1otct11ld 01 the commonde(s cUpolo ThkS PaNer haS INtO' COfl'f
:n'"

1(",IlrIl""J by fJ ftve digit numtMll. which n this c
I.'

to 1lOOO47 MllIOS

Pl.Kptw.IV Ausf.G late version, Panzerregiment 25, 7. Panzerdivision, Osnront, summer/autumn 1944 Trus Ponzer ~ polnled In a bose color of Dun~elgelb RAL 7028 wlfh stripes and blotches alone or both secondary colors.Olivgrun RAL 6(X)J and ROlbroun RAL 8017 A block/while 80lkenkleuz is pointed on lhe turret Schurzen. on lhe forward-mosl parlkln. wilh 0 lac number. 22. behind II. proboOIy fn bloc~. bul possibly In red (Oolh versions are offered here) A small white-outline Ponzer rhombok:lls stenciled on the superstructure fronl plale. above Ihe duval's vlwr: towards the cenler of the plate is Ihe dlvislon's Insignia. on upright 'Y'. also pointed In white

Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf,H, I. Abteilung, panzerreglment 6, 3. Panzerdivision, OsHront, spring 1944 c "'~'I F-.osf H $POfls 0 bo~ color of OI.Jnkelgo1b RAL 7026 Wltrl ~otch6S and strlp(ls or lho secooaory colors. Rotbroun r~AL 6017 (lIlet Ollvg,url "..... ' 'UJJ ff hen It'!ft foc mar:.-trlgs tOt a commorxt POn1.er or lhe I Ab'ellung.11J, and Ihe Berlin I)oor unOlllclo1 c!lvls!onollnslgnlo on me IUlltlt 'l' 1
Pl.Kpfw.V Ausf.A, 2. Komponie, I. Abteilung, Ponzerregiment 4, Italy, summer, 1944 1h1s eoIly P10duC11Ot'l Ponttlet AusI A IS covered In ZinYneul onlt-rr'lOgOehC mne po$le. wtw;h ho5 been over-ponIed wtth ClI.ri:elgeb lML 7028 The 10c I'll.nlbers.214 denote 0 Panlher of the I Abl~." Kompor-..e. 1 lug. Ponzct- numbef 4. They ore In red. outlned In while Ofl The SIOe$ of the t...,et

Pt.Kptw.VI Tiger I, Heer (Army) s.PI.Abt.501, Tunisia, early 1943 I"" 1KW1't' producllOO Itgel' Au$I E s l'n$hed 1'1 the 0Cood version 01 the so-caled "!lopen" (lrOfXol) color 5Cheme which ~.~ (;I Ml20 Oi tll8 bme w1ttl pol<;hes 01 Grou RAt 70'27 coverlog the fernoi'wlg 1/3 of tho Ponler The Joe nu'nbefs !Of 0 , KOfTIPO"IG (;~I of Iofge. while oolll'le ~"". 141. W'lth lhe cenler leN Irl lhe vehicle bose Colon An Ove<-~Od 8oI~enk>...., no11QOOl ~ 01 'l t.ltY-1t cenler WI!n whle 111m con be ~ on Ina wperslrucl...e side plaIa ~"t above Ina tlf!tl fOOd W"'&el SIOll()n

5'("""""

:11>

Pl.Kpfw.VI Tiger I, Heer (Army) s.Pz.Abt.502, Os"ront, Autumn 1943 ThoI Tooer AlJsf e i$ ~ .... a bow colaf 01 Du1kelget) RAt 1028. Wllh hond-painled boncb of RolbfOlTl 1?Al. 8011 and OIiYgrUn RAL. 6003 ~ .... a rattler unusual pattern on the hIA. WITh b!oodef bands on the t,-"et The Toe f'unbeu, 323.ore In lYe pkJ!;;1:ft. wl'1ICh W01 typoc:allor IT'le 3 Kamporie They ore low on file Iorword edge at l'he lI.net. on the supentrucue side.juI;I at! 01 The centef. and ce....tered on Iho nnet buli'le s'owooe bln The bk:JO(fwhole 8aIl:enlcteuz- notlonof inslgnia Is at Ihe OWlrSlred sIyIe and is pIoced lelotively tor bock on !he wpelSlfuctll"8 5ode. OpprOD'T"lOI~ at It\e dMsiorl belwgen !he lost twa SIde sI
Pz.Kptw.VI Tiger Ilote production version, III./Panzerregiment "GraBdeutschland", 05"ron', July 1944 Ie d,,,~n was 'he only Heel :I'ffeg.menl ThIs untl 01<,0 used 0 unlque loe number system 10 deslgnote the companies within Ihe bottollon lI'Ilhls case A 101 the 1 'r'l$

01 It\8

The oINt! lwo

com~ weroB'

ond .C'. whlie

t~

Ihree bOltolk>n heodquorll!lS Tiger!> hod on '5' prehl( ·SOI 507· Ofld '503 These were Jorge- and pau'lled ............ '",'el 5IdM OS wei OS llie bustle stowage l,)In Il'l $IEtndef sold block choroctefs The blockjwtule BalkOl'llu~ nohonolln5lgnoo wos !he ow.... Avo S11. ana W(» pkx.ed Of\!he supelJ"uclll"e &Ide plale.jUSt tOl'WOfd 01 ,he lear end at the 5OCond SIde slurt These Iole prOduchon IQ8r _ . ~&d til ~ 4 ana ~ ..... OVGfall Dun~eIgeb RAl 1028. WIth 0 vely light OYeUPlOV 01 the M1CondofY colols ()IIvO'un RAJ. 1.(rJ:) QI'l(l ~o...on llAt MIl ;fCJl""lPOl"l8

(oct\

rwo COf"POI"l'f h9Odquorten TlQOu was proftxed by the company leiter, fof example,' MI· ond 'AO?

"Praga" light tank (Pz.Kpfw.38(t) Ausf.E, F or G), Bulgarian 1st Armored Brigade, 1sf Armored Regiment, 3rd Ba"alion, 9th Company, Sofia, December 1944 Tr'I's IOICr'lter Panzer ,~ conllgured os 0 Befer'llsponzor. so II he> 0 circulor plole ol'er rhe superslruClure IranI plalo lhol 'ormorly mounted a mochll'le gun It is po,nled ,n DUI'1~olgelb RAL 7028 WIth the Toc number OS, In white 00 the tunet sides these Ponzers were numbered Irom 59 1008 Ihe notrOl"\Ol iN'gn,a 0 SI Andrew's Cross,!s pointed in block wr!h a white bofder 00 The superSlruclure frool plole and also on the rurreT roes,OIT 01 IrI€ lac numbel The legend 9 PaTA ks po,nlad 00 the lOWer bow p1ate.pt'obcbly In yeloW

StuG.l1I Ausf.C/D, 2./SluG.Abt.192, Os"ronl, 1941

guns WItt> 0 dlSHnclr1'9 IhSlgnIO Jfl Ih,s case 0 Slde pI(I10s If, colO< «(01 • bolle!. lIow) oenotod lho porl,cular bollery WIlt'l1fl the bollollOfl A vur'llcte loe number In thIS cme J.4 '" Wh 10 Wl'IS ~ Y va t pIo1 .....01 as on lha onol porllon Of lhe sUpe1strucluro sIdM A block/whllf! BaI~onl"BUl nOI , ... I

1M ballobOn uke many early Sturmgeschutl UOIIS, oOofned 115 ossoull

=dr~1I0n~li~wperSltl,lCh)reslOeplotcs rI'lbOUQUllgunwos~adll'love'ol[), 1M

nl

1"

Al

0

Maybach T·III (StuG.1II Ausf.G), Bulgarian 1st Assault Gun Battalion, Yugoslavia, October 1944 "-"oS ~ gu'l CQfr.e, 0 reg/$1.ollOll pIole Irl while WIlt!

c black outline en the slClboord 11001 supeTstrucTUle plole, wrItl the numbef. B60537, .....

second one WOl.*:l be seen on The rear wperslluclUfe ploTe. some ot These AFVs hod odf I
$cl'JUf'2e" pIOfG os __ os on the

tcor SllpGl'slrUClUfe plote Towords lhe pofI $ide The vehoc;:le IS ponTed on OYercl Ounll:elgelb RAl 7028

Geschutzwagen III/IV fur s.FH18/1 (51.) "Hummel" lale production, Panzerarfillierieregiment 119, 11. Panzerdivision, Western Fronl, 1945 ThIS late-productiOn sell·prOPeIled how1t.zer Is Iif'llshed ~ Dunkelgelb RAl 7028 With fine SQlJIggly lines sproved on uSU'g the secondory colof1 of Ollvgrun RAl Wl3 ond Rotbroun RAl8017 Note thor the spore trocks O!'l rl'llillower bow plate were also over-sprayed oslndlcoled rn the phorOi m.s artwork Is bosed 0 .... 1he Ghost Division's' un-olflclollnslgnro Is slenc~ed In whrte poInt on both srdes 011he superstructure ouxlUory plates On Ihe pori SIde only, Ihe gun'~ place wrlhln !he bottery Is denoted by 0 large whrte D The srandard block/white Bolkenkreuz nollonolll'1$lg'loCl b op~ed hlgh up On the superstrucrure SIde plates

M.223 light armored reconnaissance cor (Ieichler ~anzersp~hwogen (Fu) Sd.Kfz.223 Aust.B), BUlgarian Armored Reconnaissance Company, SofIa, Bulgaria, December 1944

'ovr

1M ~ghr ormOfod radio cor IS I\nlshed In ovoroll ohve grelEln and corr~ a white reglslroroon plole '" pas,1ION tro. fltlr" J'OVfllhe reolWQIIon plale Its ~nlnconc.ls curre n 'ly unknown, bulls pos.slbly a relult ot BUlgorlQS CuilUfo! onct e<:~ , IIMh ~ronce doling bOCk to me 19lh-e9nlury

.a

'*""

10

flVo, Ill"-, SCNfty pz Kplw IV Alist H. and a comPllnlon. ~ the Ofdtlf to .avance willie they 511 e.poS8!l In Ille flIlld TM No" P"nzel has lealure5 ot the III. "usl G ~ IlIUch hd on the oommander', ctlp(lkl, rod . . - - on 1Iel<1t;q ,ubbe,l).;lse Iocaled "tthe rea. COiner of N port $IOe SUj)etltlUClure. and huI SdIOrzen on lIMI ......... s.Iyle of haf19Ul9 '",me AgaJfl the lellure ll\al would f"I4 ll'loS.n Au$! H 'he Ia'er (jriye 5plodIIt«I finor,l dnve houSIng are 11$0 seen

The crew 01 wtlat appears to be a pz Kpfw.IV Ausf H have taken great pains to disguise their Parlzcr .unong some trccs as lhcy Sll ,n ambush aloog the Side road. While there IS obvmusly "something Ihere", In enemy mlghl be conlused mlo believing ills a stn.lCture and nOI a deadly adversary deception IS a part of camou!lage This Panzer displays the drive sprackCI seen 0<1 Ihe Aust H and also wears a full sel of SchUfzen

at I

A Pll' of Sovlet lanker, e"alTHf"le a thoroughly destrovee! Pl "-pi .... IV Ausl J Note lhe penetra1JOll on the Iowor hoi t<1e Dt1'Wef:!n the two return rollers arldthe bUfnl condl1lOfl t:I seYetal of1he road.wheels Thts Panzel has later teiI'ures Nc;7l I i the odIer wheel al,sleel retulO roIers arod hnal 'tpII! of hub cap on !he road-wheels Nole the Illangular ~ tIooIl.& on the haogong ra. lor the huI mounled Scr- ..'len al'lCl the base al the corner of Ihlt porl-$Ide ....j".oerilructufe The Ialter mouoted a lIelilble rubber ns... or (probaDly dMtr&fed by !he same life lhal DUffled ~ ...,!PIe rut!De. on !he load..meelsjlol Ihe rod anl8lllla A~ """or AusI Js _'e budt With Ihlt Ialer IWIII FlIor'lfr>_rvJJl., {flamedarnpel\lngJ e.ohauSI pipes Ihos ...... "'
c.",

... ,

•

,.

A US ArfTJ'l S11" Sergeanl (threo chevrons and one 'rocker") e_am'rles Ihe Infantryman's nlghtmjue a P trapped along a hedgerow and hIlS been cor(lOnod·Otl so as to pfll\l8nt any InJUIiOS 10 lhe curious hO l Kplw V Ausl A This Panther luis t.eO"" wmb,nallon 0' casl PnsmenSPlogelkuppet (commander's cupola with peflScopes) on ItS lurret IllS ldonl1fled as lin Nrtv AMJs' A tol oN lor In. radiO opefalor'. MG34 Nole Ihalllle gun mllrlUI has a rain guard wllded over Ihl box opening on thl stafboard s>de 01'" 10" .... rllC.. lurlacn olltte lurrel (,ncludlng the man lie) and the hull Ironl, superSlfuctuII SIdes s SIght aperlure and thllt Zornmeflt I\fIS bM'ft MWJ'I 8oId1 heildlamp on lI1I glIICIl plale whefeaslltl PfIYlOUS ver!llOn, thl Aus' 0 mounled two IS welll The AuSt A at:w • o m ont onliar each SoOe

and'~ ~.~raps o~lr

~"I

~~:Ir

r;::ably!he

42

someno-

fttIC".

~

A pa', Of Panthers along w,th a lug (pla1oon) ot T,ge, Is. awa,t Ihe order 10 mO\ftl forward ,n an IlllllCk These Panze,. although obv,ously Qperil.llrlQ together 818 not from the same unit Panthers were lyplcally seer! in Ihe I. Abtellung of a Panzerd,v'Slo,"l'$ Panzemlg,menl. WhIle T'gers were \armed ,nlO Independent sctl.... ere Panze,ablel)ungen (!leavy lank batlahons\ Tl'Iesll sPz.Abl were usually relalned at Ko
slfenglhen the oelenses of a lllrealened seelor Although ditfievlt 10 vers,ons while tile Panthers appear to be Au" As

de!efml~

In tn.s phOtograph the Tigers appeal to be the so·ca11edm>d·produchon

troops l,om Il'le PuIk" Paneerny Skorpoon (4m Soorpoon Armored Re9lment) 8:>.llITWle a PI Kpfw V Ausf A from <1 Kompanot. I AbINlng PanzerregllTlf!nl 4 _ III Italy dunng lhe somrne< 01 1944 ThIs early produC1lOfl Pantnet Au5l A IS (CM!.ed III Z...n melll ,mil· magnetIC mone p"ste and hn 50me stowage boxes ~

toned 10 115 engone ded< II has callaont)' seen bene. days ~nce II appears lO be hall-burl8(l an:l abandoned Panzerregunenl 4 was among seve
~""''VWa pno!OOfapl'l oepocts a pz KplwV Ausl A ~ Iftted ~'I$1 ilf\ Amencan rner Ausl A 1$ a Ialef produf;lIOO

'-'!IQ> as ... ~ bY' the Kugelblitrde (ba1 mounll ..... lie .oJdoO O9ll'alQf s MG3A It 's fully tlQUIPPe
..........

"

S~e.al

LI.....

,....moe'~

'.om

produd>Of\ PI Kp'.... " Au\~ A ~ ....... V4llrf,

Tt>eof PO'nl,,*. deon"ed as a 1Ir.. M'''er, Kuoe bIef'de billi mou"l lor..... ~

lhe

008'0'10< $ t.lG3A """ocll ~ ~ on the ~

pial. " U$ ng to $I.ady t>o. 1 SiIl'1(;loO'!lC mod 'oeat>Ol\ Clff«l 0Ul 01\ IS S

Iu""

Deen welded ." l)IaOI .... Of.... 10 Clf'
UIlCOI

n~$

Note lhe pe"SC008 ""ad W

a,morecl OUiIlfd on lhe """'.001 to ..... ..., r:I man !>'n ng

01\

the goos Olaf.

~

•.........,.,

pliIlC:e l.om !he P''''ous liIl'" A.I$I A .. sec.ond peflscope .... hoc:h WOuld Nwt ~ liMO behond !he sealed ffWlnj WiIl$ de""*d ....

the

new t.lG mount was ""taIoed

pa" 01 very well-QImouflageG pz Kplw" Ausl Gs move uvough I village somewhe'e In France A

Allhough moSI 01 thell' fealUfe5 II\! h>Clden beneath lhe tolJilge ~ neilr Panlher show$ the Bosdl black oul dnvlng head-lamp OIl \Ill! pori-side lender, an ,defl1l fy rig leature 01 lhe Ausl G FlIftMf"'0f8 lhe rotating P8roSGOl)8 aboVe \hi

dnve'$ Slilbon 's i11so V\SotII8

()I

"'*

11'1. weslefn Ironl omnipresence ot AI ell jac\0I a'rpower seve/ely ho.-.:we<) mo'o'E!mefll 01 mechiln,zed .b'tti making Cilmouf1illge d sc p ne I

prOOf,ry

1 In II"" I/lICl< 01 bl!Illle this p, Kplw V Au~t G ~ round~ dOwn lotlJ9l:l agalnSllhe enemy NcMe Ihe iIT>olI shell t;ls.ngs 1y"'O on 1"" !l"ound 00Il1 10 the ~ $)'$lem the '",rei rear ~ hard! r$ open 10 ~l(! meor cteCbOn From Itn angle !he """,;om; oj odetl"ty ng !hi!. P,IO!her IilS an Au!.! G IS Ihe conlogurabOn oIlhe supe,Slruclu.e $Ide . ' ' ' plate (one eonlonuoos aogle from lrenlro-,ear). Ihe rnountong ..... Style 10< ,he Schurte
,.owel

These two

pz Kplw V

a lJesuoyeo oo",ned ,)$ a

phologr~ depocl

Ausl G

Pilnzerbetehlswagen (command tan~1 Note the f\exJbIe rubber b;lse lor lhe roc! anterna 01\ tho turret fool .It 01 the cupola on the ',rst photograph The dcbns on the eogll1e deck mukC$ ,t O,!!t<:uh to determ,ne ,f Ihe armored pol and porcela,n ,nsulal0r 1o, the

Sternanlenne (star antenOil) .5 present It would also lIppcal Ihat the pull lOt the coaXIal MG34 on the manUe IS openel:l

,ndlCaltng lnat th,s ,s pon'bly a held COOYI!f!,!Ofl II $hOUld be plugged The eng""" deck Iealu'es lhe raISed tan 10'0\"41' 10< lhe KamplraumhCHluog (cr~ oompanrnenl healer, Thos sys.lem onc:tuOe<:l so poe-fiohapId melal plales thai could be Irtted Oller the Ian tOWer opetwlQ as well as slalS on the lwO rect:mgula, !l'dl. (only on the sta,boar
., • f-""'ll' 'S 'llcnt'!,ed as a liller Aus1 G by the locatlQO 01 the li'q ......,"C'z" ,." ot the 'r"flIl! whoth ~!!Ord5 a V'CW o! the wblle 011 SCI 01 lIle gun '"1/<' f) '~'i1tc1 to lhe t"""t "OPlt plate Thoro,~ a sheOf melal ra"'ll"i'I,d over If'; g.' " ..,,'Ie 'lIld .. (,!QW c.Cd 10 1ly out 'I •#. '"'' "I lhe hmet , lOa 't nole lflal 0<' It .r, nghl N' the phoIo IUS! al:love ~ .,. vi , e ~u rea' st(h'<';WJCJ ~r IS a sma_ rectarJ9Ula• ...S it U Sf' pP.d "'Ofaqe or~11or O
topf:,,,,,,

,.

1hl~ Ifll"'tlStIIlO group 01 plKllllQl,ll'hS dO,)ldS Illl t1r'O,ne "'l,mQil oolllg carue
the FlllleI

3Jf

!he l!1haust

Ioreoround

'.ter sy$l.em

~

and

shlfIlds ., the

and the bottles of

whal IS probably engine luoncanl on the ground r'Ielll 10 the T~r's roII(l-wheels tn 'nil IIna, photo, wolh !he JOC al hand apparently compIele
These twO pI'I01os show an Upeoto IS a bit more Clela"1!'d i1f'Cl show!; ~'allflteresl,ogleatu,es On the lu'relt!le'e ale spa,e I'ack ~nks and Irve Slee! helmets StO,ed OIl lhe so6es Detllnd the lac number '2341 located Delle3th the Nebe1wurlgelatlsmokll candle dIschargers) Note also the Felfel all hlle. system all the hull leIlr and the 5 M,nellwerle'ISMI1'\8 dlSCNIfQ4J1, OIl rhe eoge a! the hull.oaf lust belQw lhe gUll mallue

at H s pz Ab1

A pM of early·produClJon TJQer Is p.oceed Ihrough thOfoughly desolated leUilory pilSl w.ecked Sov,el tanks ,nclud,ng II KV 1 at left and a T 26 at rght The qual'ly of lhe or~mal pholog.aph makes II d,!!!(ult 10 dele,m,ne wha! speClal Matules lIt any) these veh,cles may possess Nl!\lertheless Dot'" Toger Iii have the ea,lie. drum-shaped commanders eupoIa tull WiOIh food ng muCI gua.ds and lull lende.s The Ileal T!Qe' I has the olten seen arge shOYel stOted on "5 glaos plate and featlJfes Nebelwurlgerat (SfTl()Io.e candle d
O'1~<:1>O' f'1 tofplfl VI loge< I 01 Htte< 'Almyt P, AW S02 'S 5eef1 ondc''JOI''9 nI.IU""f1.I'"'' on V"" Os,r'onl on \1", A..J:U'1"H" e< lilt.' loll II~ ""l'UI< It", m"... loId It'.l' all." ".., ,,, thlo • ... .. t",?"..w"~·'menl~'paS ,.. , N" "<:t' ....... f' I I,ll' Tn 3 Komp;If'''' !>d, ..., 1f'1 J>aflll!f lIlt'a", tankllcalll'~ N,'Oe!Wllrll)l',.tl 1~11()1w c.,.ldIt· (Jo,.. I'J'~' on II' . " """ < I I ' " ,fry", 01' .!toll '- . ,~" "", . , ....., ..... "" •• Nole Ihe Iubf, .•, II eCl()l! 01 the h...1 fOol I" t 111 01 Ih,· lit , ..... IUllbo. I ,I""·" .... t., " 011 "l' '0 (/ '(;CJ'" I OI'f'O",kt " ... 'VY" . . r, <)/, !",
,

•

to'

,,

,

.1·,·~

"

" "

••

,

,"

ThIS early-Pfoduction T.ger Ausl E uses a local structure 10 COI'lCeal its posltion 'rom enemy observation II fealufllS Nebelwurfger.' (smoke candle dlschargers) on the IImel along WIth the early oNm·s!yle commaf'lde(s cupola. The Fe,1el all' Mler system is still relalned on lhls wmle.-whltewashed example A targe "un·Oitcl'l,ng·1og (used to help ,n extl3ct'"9.;11 bogged·down Panzer) is SlOWed on the hull superstruclule side along With some 01 the crews sleel helmets. Nole 011$0 thai sever..1 load-wheels have lost their rubber oms, a I3IMI

common failure on SUCh a heavy vehicle.

This close-up of an early-produCllon PzKptw VI $I\OW$ some details allhe gun manl1e to good effe<:! Nole the twin ope~ lor the gunner's T Z FOb blnoculilf sighl and lhe Iado: 01 remlorc,ng armor over them Also v'Slble ere lI'>e Nebelw\lrfge,at (smoll" ....ndfe dlschalge(5) on the turret,_ 01 ,,,. e.ndles have been tUed Just below them 01'1 eadl $ICMI ot the gun's uunnlons, lUI! Shlds lhal were used, along ... ,1/'1. thilO one posll'on&d al the turret's rear (between II and ". busde slowage loclgs _ ..,. Ileavy and IeaYlOQ IhlH'll loose _eo s.enous lI"fU'Y. n.. ... opefator's MG34 mount has the rwo small honged ~l;lgIl nSllmtlloes that ~f' used to secuf, • (IMp wadtI'lSl $HI • 1af9" shoYel (Lale. deleted) 1$ stOl*t on !he glacl$ Jll* ..... SlICIIOtl 01 spIof' lfil(:k links ... hoog on 1M bow pUt.

4"

Anolher early-producl10n Tiger I shows many of Ihe same fealures seen in the prev,ous pholog,aph. These onctude the lWO small hinged wlng-nutlboll assemblies lhal were used to secure a deep wading seal over the 'adkl operatOr"s MG34 mount. a large shovel slored on Ihe glacIs pia Ie, and a section 01 spa,e track links 0f1 lhe bow plale It does not haV(! Nebelwurfgerat (smoke candle dischargers) mounted on the lurrel, Out does have S-Mlnenwerter (S·Mlne dlsdlargers) 0f11he edge of lhe hull roof althe front and rear oorners: Bosch black-ovl driVing head-lamps are mounled in both slandard posItions al the lrom corners 011he superstructure rool The gun manll£! also features tWin openings for Ihe gunner"s T.Z F9b binocular slghl. wllhoul a sInD 01 remlorcong armor easl Into It over the weakened area

--. I

~ ~0Up

Q/ what are apparenlly W"lIen,SS Inlaolryrnen move lowards what IS p,obal>ly an eatly ptodllChOl1 TIj)e' 1 somewhNO 011 Iho O~It":lI1t In ,1 : ... I.l')raph remtr\'5CIIn1 01 the masSMl aetl()(l known as Ihe 6allie ollhe Kursk 5,,11001 I111s phOIO IlIust'lltes Ihu 0llCn cOllnhy 1~I)Ielll ot so lllUl'h nl till' So, 1,'1 '" Nhere ltW Tlgf;11 with 'IS powerlul oog-rang"'ll fl8crn KwK woold Illign ~"I"e",e 11 only lor n shOll l"nQ

'"

ThIS photograph well-iluslrates several ot the Improvements to the tU"et ot the Ttgef I, which made II a "l'l'IId-prodUClJOn"type The pr8YlOUS drum-$IIap« commander s cupola has been replaced Wllh lhe cast Pnsmensptllgelkuppe! (commander'S cupola wllh periscopes). and an Improved MPStopf8f1 (ma<:h~ p.stol port wllh armored plug) has been flUed 10 the near Side of the turret, between the spartl track IInl<.$ and Ihe bustle stowage lockel The storage otl"" Imks themselves were now ollie, ally sanct,oned, Wllh five on the near Side, and two more on Ihe opposne side 11 is unusual lor a Tiger I With the new lurr to slill relaln Ihe Fellel a'r filter system as Ihls while-washed e~ample obvIously does_ Note fhe un-ditching Jog and the long, thin cable l.Ised 10 change Ira stored on Ihe supersl'UClure side plate, as well as the S-Mlnenwerfer (S-MiI'l9 dISChargers) on the edge ot the hull roof allhe 'ront and rear corners

AsIde kom the _ casl PIl$lTl8'f\SPl999Ikuppe1 (comman(le{s eupoIa Wllh penscopes). this mld-prOOuctIOll T'O&' I also r_als lnot"- ~ 10 ....... ltIe rlllocatlOfl 01 \he Ifltemal e~hausllan \(IllS _ po5JbOn on the cenler ollhe ,oor pIale (1llO¥'ed lrom the fll3l edge) The gun manN ~ 1NfIA~ openong, lor the gumers TZ F9b binocular s.ght. but now I stnp 01 re,nlorClng armor IS ClSllfl10 It to COYer lhe area ~ b'{ ttle fWD ~ penelraloOfll {}Hj)It.,tS heavy allnDr ltlls roger Is Clew IS laking no ch-aAeIll$ slonng links on lhe bow the WpefSllUC!...... kont and tune! s.oes. the cha!109d conhgu.a~on 01 the hull-Side e~lenSlons where lhe 'U'-shaped low c1I1VlSIIS are SIO.ed, the CUI out Ifill allowed more IrHdom ot ~

NoII_

dUflflg r9COVflry operatlo",

A 11''0 01 mod· Of late·productJon T!Qe. ts lord a snatlow spot of a flWI somewhefe on the OslltOlIl FtOm tru$ dIStance '15 OoltlCU'l to tle ce-!a,fI OUt SOf"lI 01 t'Ie'l\ appear to have Ihe mounl lor a Slf\gle Bosch headfamp locate
r,.

A !Xl" 01 lale productl()l'l T198' Is n.lV'9ate a llooo..O ,,,eJ prob.lb'" muCh 10 Ihe COrlslernat'On 01 tlle,l CIl:!W~ ~llcl. h{!,lVy lao~s (l,0 not I~'!' "",tlon "U~I, Icu",1\ The mi1ll1 "'Sible laic IC,lh,llt' 's the Gumnll\lcfcderll' SI ••lll1olulroll.,n (lubber cushIOned steell'.eO 'O.lel wl1C'\11s1 Thl:!, l' t ,gl'l Is Il,l"{l Ihe s "q l' Bosch black Oul 0""'"9 h';>.Id l.l'llp mOunteD ,n Ihe ccrltl'r <" '.' >o.'So!' .l"'l'~"'­ IIlOUlll€d lJl)e'f~IIOCI"'.·,001 pl.:'I,· T!'''"' ..~'" 111<;)1)' wnGlgo"d d II><.' lur'lIt wh lr,"Wt!fSl'l;l.ll modd....IloQr' at ...ISI OOt' , II' "1 Abl 50 1 ".Ill e peel.'1ly nlOOo".>d nlOUnt 11,.1 I~.I< ..., ,'.1< " ,., ,., :,,,, Ii\n,ps al C'lh., I lIO 01 the Supl'f'I">rhH· Ironl 1~.1I<

tam af photoo,aph shows an SO 1<11 251 Ausl 0 1.;lrlsteHing rOUnelS 10' ,... 811cm KwII36 L/56 maio 9U" 10 a T.ger I hom H s P; Alll 501 Th,s p,ullII.. iJod Wlt ~ l:IuWti stow"?"J lQdo.ijl lnos wOUld tM. almosl procrsely llelOw .... tI4lfIt, ~ .rta of the I ',"ne.,t Notutne lQC.ahon 00lf allhe two ';. ~ :0" hOfj" 'Ihe o"~r w"" on Ihe Iorwd«l p.lrl O. the '.iII:'~-e,ool.,.;IIlhedf'o'&f,"al(;h.o, Ih.. s1loJ1P8o/l"eo~ """ _/ h h.. """ ......,.e 1t1f1 U ~ toN cJt:v>s 15 mouo'l.'d ..od I"" ~ ~ taol 1iI"'P A S(I pt.k 'h,(,1(/ odgOO!ll wh,te

0'

"'..0

.1

Th.s paw

at ~Oepom

be'Ofl9'~

a .I~ r~

III "b1e tu"V P""le
5M"e"""

four 01 lheM orldM
50fM

oews 01 ..". Fnes

CTaI'le . . . . . . . . ~ of .... same T~ I ~ 1\1If1afTO'* lransportIIf1on trad.s 50 .....

along .... ,th the trorlt

IS _"1"151 ll'le ooulO f>t .... tIWllhe 'MdItl ,.l~ at fie E~'" IJyIJtem I ~ Ioul;:tles I!'le plallronn -s ~ no...G "'115 63-725. 130 aoH-
a,..

1Inli. tne SlOe IieflOef'S h

I'ef"lCl'4G .... outIO' ~ d

!tie I'lUd ""'" a,.. alSO liobl!d Y(l '0 flt nfle ~ held on place .. ttl dlocks II'd 1"'- . -

1$

_tiappotIg

C\IShoOne(l

G",",,"~ . .~""~ st.·\lred ro.ad- .. ' - b l - " ~ .....

. . . . to OQ,I .. Ih than N . ., . , "'~ ~ Ilrll!d ~d "'1'lMls. U'aI none had 10 M ,..nowd *:lit ... lral'\SDOl'l OttMtl'/lllSe ItIIs ~ P1l1U'ef ,~1Ib

Ihluffl normally ..... on Ia,. p.roao....:t"", IS Ihll centrally-located Bosch fINd ,,,,..(\ SUDetSlructu" IrOnl plale and a NIl CC'l't ~" Ihe sUbit'Ct or. color plIIl. '" lhos boo,'\l"

()'ItfIII

This pz KplwVI T!Qe. II also known.1 the 1'O"t Au" 8 along • road WltI1 the reman:lef ollIS uM They 11I1 aI ~ned WIth the nolffOW lI&rlspoCI f1 .5 <:overed Ifl Zwnme'" tho$ WOIlO ~ on Sep!embe< 01 1944 II mounts a oetllllles fIoI'w mot dem La~ (sectIOnal gun lube W1\t1 the longeo' sleeve) 8 8cm KwK43 V71 ITlOIfeS

In the deve!opmem 01 lhe Too,r sertes, lhe VK3001 chassIs Irom Henschel eventually proved to be a dUd-end (alftlovgh, as snn , . . !he lineage IS olMous e:speoaly' on (he area 01 !he roacJ-wtleels) Two redundant l.st·bed chassIs w.re mod,h.d as the 12 Scm S.lbSllahrlaleue U61 lPanzerselbstfahrlalette V) VK3OO1 (H) al'ld shIpped 10 ltle OstllOnl They well ~ned 10 pz Jag-"bl521 (1IOIe the Insognoa. II shield wrth ClOSS. over a stag shead on tile lOupelstruClure IranI, SHle plale), where one MntuaJly lell Inlo SovIet hands, and currently reSIdes ... fle Kubnka collection

A pair 01

StuG Ills prepares lhe way for the lfItant.y NoIe mal !he near one has /Ust fired "s 7 scm StuK. the gun IS on rtlCOll and the dllSl I~ on lhe ground on I.ont 01 II by the muule blast has rei to senle TIlls IS probably an Ausl A SlfICtI II has lhe e:u~e. d"ve sprotl
a

A

..

tolum

~

",

61'1~

S'U'rnve.... "

!hoi Oslf'onI d!..' IM,,.I Sl;lOM Opera\tofl aart.osq The S!~. odeonb1«l as In "-I by the CUII-ilUf or" Ir~

gume(s Sft Z F t9"l

-

A cok.WrVl 01111. 5r~ IUS pauses duIVlg lhe adVance 11110 lne Sovier UnIon dunng the earty Slagol 01 Ope'allon Barbaros.sa The hrsl .~ ..... gun IS ~ A.sl lhfl cuI out III ',onr 01 gunnel'S 511 Z F sigh! ean be _ 81 lhe edge 01 the ol'lginal phoIogriIph II" followed by an Aus' C/O Wllh Sill F' gun $tf/'4. fI'I(l(j,'.ed superSlfuelor" plal" on Ironl 01 d noro also lhe ,eVtSSd eonhgurallon oIlhe supersr,uc:'ur. on the sla'btIcord sldt', aboYe !he ~ 01 511iO AbI '92 Compar8 lhe IOper$r,uc:tu,e lo,ha IoIlDWtng anaull guns. all 01 which a,. Aus' Bs ThIs AIIsl C/O I$,he SI.IbteCt oIa c:oII>i' pIllN

...

SI
A Pill( 01 StuG III Ausf C/Os loiter 10 Ihe stleel ot a SaYlel CIty NOlll the widened now pallEtm duvu SprOdllll. louoduced along wIlh the wtde 40Cm lrad
Thls SluG III Aust F!thoWs two anl8tlMe. tndieilbng Itlat II IS c;cII'Ilf"IaIl vehode II IS ldent,foed as an ~I F clue 10 lhe 0'lI S!ul(IO LIB (here ..... lhoUt • muule brake) and ear\oel ~ 1O'W shaddes on the bow The Ialer F II was based CJ'I \tie 1
--'

While the bailie lor the po$~!01Ofl or Stahngrac! raged H,tlel. III hiS usual way, took a hand In propo&lllg the deSO\iln or im AFV ThIS deSign becafTlll the Slurmm'antellllgeschutz 3J whICh mounted the t5cm s.IG33 ",Iantry gun on re-bulll StuGUI chasSlS A total or 24 w", buIlt and many we,e IoS1 Wllh the Cilp.tula[J()l1 ot the German 6 Alln" al S\ahngr!Kf By ApI,11943. those whICh remained In solVl(:e were ass'Oned 10 Panzelleglment 201 23 Panzerdlv!sior'1. where they lXlmpllse
Ttle mos:l Wldely-produc.
... r"t A..!$l G ol whiCh appro~,mal.ly 7 800 Wilr. bu,ll ~ kom Oecef'llbet' t942 unld HI' end of the W.ll IvlOlCld .... \h I!'Ie long 75c:t1't SluK40 U.S I,k, liS Immedtale ~$Of$ !tie Au~1 f and F B II leatlJfed a complelely ~ s...perstlUCllife and had atmor lIP 10 80mm Thos I II' . . ,. . Q4 The Au!OI G WIt" bolted on 30mm ...... ~"l6'~'lg lapp.qu.t armor) lilted to the SOmm

""'won

.,,, ..., "on! lJ'00\ p"le and IowOf baw plate Nolll .."" flo: ""'-d.,., h,oo/ 'odl GOUld mount Ihe "anda,d ~)4,... '~".>42 lor ~ tit ~ ~ was n.rtoed to Iold 't"_ ad Ityw;ud ......" nol ,r; ......

..

q

A SlurmgeschulZ III AuSf G Supports a group 01 widely-dispersed infantrymen on lhe WIntry steppes 01 Ihe S(Mel UnIOn F"fom th,s d,slar1(:', II can be differentiated trom the earlier AuslF and Fie by Ihe commander'S cupola, WhICh was first Introduced w'lh Ih,s moclel Note the very small Ol)Joct 10 fhe

cupola's

flOnl,

Scherenlolll,ohr

it

15

(scissors

the

commander'S

periscope).

which

provided hIm WIth long·range VISIon hom under protectIOn Th,s Ausf.G 1$ filled With !tIe earlier palloro $churzen. whICh had upper and lower sectIOnS lor the two middle plates and a cilllefent hangIng arranoement. thiS can be dlscemed In thiS pholOgraph due 10 Ina dotlereoce ll'I the colo<' of the

I

l 'I

plates

Although i' is moslly obsculed by Ihe Iloe In the foregrOUnd, what is quite likely a SlurrngeschOtz Itl AusiG makes lIS way past II ruined rural structure 11 mounts lhe long SluK40, and lhe hInged lAG shield In fronl the loader's

hatch can be seen In tfle folded·down position No.e how th,s Aus'.G uses the unclulalloos 01 the terram as well as Ifle 'ence In Ifle near dis'ance to provide concealment 'rom an approactllflg enemy. and how the rural structure masks liS vulnertlble flank 'rom dlrecl enemy ahack. ASIde 'rom

Ifl'antry 5UP90rt In the assault, lhe S'uGIII gam.d a _1-desefVed

,lin

repuuuon as I'.'remely etllCienl lank deSlIOyer; t.... poS<\lOO lhis one curreolly OCC\IpIes IS pari 01' the reason why

Thls SturmgesehulZ III Ausl G lays In waJl. In an orm.rd. usong the trees as cover ThIs lsuull gun has the added 30tnm ZusalZpanzert.ln!l (appllqut armor) bolted-on 10 !he superstructure front, glaCIS pla'e and lower bow pIiIl•. ..tlICh .....lh Ihe base 01' 50mm g.ave II a total 01 80mm 01' protectlOn In lIS frontal arc The dt5~ commander's cupola 1$ VI$lb/e here as IS the .~SldecI welded gun mantle Note lhatlherl IS. larp cOYenl'lQ the mantle. I common IoghtllllCa the area around It (even lhough \tIere wee. batlles to pr_nl Itlllpnel or 6tlot -splash" '(om .nler~ tn. IlQhbng cornpartmenlj - . open ro!he alamanl5. such as heal. cold. dust, 111ft and SfIow No,e th. -C 'Ihapec!tow I\OoIl, ,"acfled to the pori-slIM tow point, whICh ,tsall was PfoduGed by ••••ndlng th. hull side plat. Ind dnlhng. hoT,

A(XIIumn of fNfl Slu.mgesehulZ III .....$I.Gs pause aJong a dusty road folloYted by a Volkswagen Typ 166 $d>wlmmwiIge" IIghl amphobtous car Ot tnIerestl!i lIIatlhe se<:ond and "lth AloIs' Gs ale based on ltle PI Kplwlll AusUA chaSSIS. which WilS opIlffilIed!of deep wading. note ltle ut'lIqI.Ie eJ.haust mulflefs at the lUI ends 01 each of these two assault guns. These assault guns 81 haW! stowage on men lear ~rsllucture plates conslSllng 01 such Ihlngs as helmel$ ilIld walel bolIIes while most have a short sectJOn 01 spare lr.lidl $lored roIe
An assault gun crewman a(lvaroces alonQ WJlh a ')'~ (j ""anlrymen, a group of roac:l-bo\.Ind Sl""""9"tO"JI1 • Ausf Gs In the olfense 01 delenM ~ wu a C/)tr'fflQt' ..... Pfuden'l Pl'ac\JCe lor a vehicle or l.lM tol'rImarQr 10 ~ and 'GCO'Yloder on 1001111 OIde' 10 properly Isseu lhe M.IaIIotI before puthllg his c::ommancllll l'lI,m'~ way AlrMna.. ~ rOUles 01 adVance and rel'en 1I5 as potQnl lor supp<:wbllg elements would be carefully assesS«/ lorne (and ... ,actlCal 5duali0ll) pelmltt."ll 01 .nleresl tS the SoO-alIeod "Ostkenen" (Easl Ifa<;ks) ~"ed 10 !hi bow pliIt, oIlIle lNdng AIlsf G These tracks well~ WIde, lor beolle, lkQtlOf\ on toll grOtXld and somewhal rKflmbled the lIaelo.a .... on T9'" I They ale otten GOIllused With Ihe SIfNIIr 'WonIer%eIIen·l........ tracks). boltl wer, lIlIercnangeable WltIlthe p~ J(p/'lor IV

pa.,

w"

• Along

thl and Olhr seen lfl lIW wrth

P~J(pfw IV.

AFV. serieS

of

booKs

8ul9ana also recervec

Thcs ~ Maybach T-III (St~ III AuSI G) /las some subtle buI unusuaIleall.Jll!S. wt.:h WlII rlMlllllhemseIYes 10 !he sharp-eyed obsefve' Al lor$l gIanGfI_ It wou6d appu,r thaI the ~ and bow places are of 80mm Ihoekness, INs 15 not the case Compa.. lhls pllolograpll 10 the one ~lety~ to It and not. that Cha huI &Ida plate extends pasl the bow plate III INs, buI not the oIher NoIe also thaI the ~'d-sode SUge'rstruetur. 1I0Il1 plat. I'll, bQ/led.a'l 30mm ZUliall:patll:elung I~ armor). ~ 1(10 IS not a $IIlQIa 8lJmfll pial' The porl-pje supetSlructura pllit. alwaY' had the bQ/led.a'l armor, SIllOe II had to be besed on a somm plale This was because the dOYer's V\SOf WillS the Fahr~ 50. which COUk:l onfy be uSfId on a plal. oIl1lal ~, ThIs AuSI G I'lIs ChI. . othe, notable delall$ The t.rst l$ lhe east armor shield welded III I,on! 01 the commander', cupola the ~ 1$ the poslllOll oIltMl MG34 on !he loader's IoidIng $hIeld. it IS III lhe upper-mos. mounllol" use ~Iflll a...cran The third IS the cast TOj)/biendl lpol handle) gun manlle FlOIllty note the BoIganan feO\Slf81H)n pia,. 011 the III/tlollrd.IIOIIUp'.,,,,uclu.e polere the notnbef.$ Ifl thIS s.r... raoged hom 86OS01 10 86055S

SH

SS Slu,mgesdllJtz , Ausf Gs whdl lIle'o deSlgnaled -Maybad'! T-IW These vehideS one of wtuch IS seer here clombong a sma rise equipped Ihe Is' Assaull Gun Banal/oll Nole lhe un,/olms on the vIsible crewmen Which, all hough IMV have a "Gelmanappea/ance. are a till dllferent. especlally Ifl lhe head-gear ThiS AusfG IS bU.h on a I.lle< hull wlHl the $lnOI, 80mm plales on t~ glaCIS and bow: nolf l/le -,eaov-/ol-use" lOW cable anadled b¥ a lOW hook to lhe dnIed !lUI' side e"tenslOllS very p'ronwnenl ~ ~ ptlolOlpapll 1$ IN' Nolell: blKJl-oul or-.g head-lamp "nd IS mount 51l\.lil11!d on -oenl.r of the ~

..

,.

~ ,....r VIfIW at , ~f"" Mlybadl T·m

~IlIllAu$lG)

$I'lO"'S - - I IIlI_lIng ......... a.gorwwog'lll'l!h!he .... ngs ,he paltly' ~ vehM:\tl ~,.!IClft IS

(8605""

I'Il,Imtle'

stenciled .,

. . - efl;ltaele
,he

~ rHfplale.

nstMd of tuck

characters

Ol'l • .tlIIe plate

The St

Nldl"is ClOSS IS pall\led (III III bIeC:I< W11h no baIdeI

pNIlagraDf'l

1l\I$

atso

-'lotdS a

fine ...- 01 Ihe emBUl;1 system dellec1ar ~le as wei as 1I'le ballles on 8l~ 5I()e 01 it From II\Js allQle Ihe m.ltn dentdylng teature of Ih" ~sl

G

the commander's The forward part or lI\e tlalch lid was hinged 5ejlaralely. whICh allowed tor the use of lhe SCIlerenlernrohr (scissors penscope) hom under wIth the prolectJon remaJllde' oIlhe lid closed k$

~.

Thos ~ T·1I1 (Slurmgeschu\Z III Ausl Gl shows the more typocal style of Yehlde reglStrabOn plale Ieatullng black cha'iiCle'5 on a whle '8d.lngle W>\h ill black borcler IllltllS case the number IS B605J7 Thrs ~I G Ieall"'es the cast arrTlOl $hIeld wek:Ied III rroot of \he corTWTI
" lIalll laadCO with SlurmgeKhulZ III Ausl Os 15 seen m a rall·yard Bellmn,ng IYI1h the fragment ot rha Aus! G In the mmed,ale fo'eground lake nOle of the -CIO$s·halch" slyle of Z,mmcnl whICh " tlarely se.n on the forward'moSl edge 01 me superstruelu,ll lronl plale ThIS awull gun also has the welO9d slab· sded gun mamJ. as can be seen by the ;..on lube s sle.... w.th 'IS ~Iollad ~ $CIIW$ The ¥ehocle$ on It".l .... Cllf$ ~ IllIle aI·jl", felUIn rollers

IlIIIlIc:Irong ,os as weM as the ft'.. $pIOCkIl WJIhoul !he hUb caP 10 lJrlI'Id" "m bolls n-. ,;Ills Iof on nch wolh lhe platos ~ _ _ stored on !he engone

..... $IX

"'Il

sa...-l..,

a.o. 10 U

10 conb"m 10 'i1~ ~ AgiIon 00Ie thaI no 1iIIIIy~ ... on ~ 10 secufe ..... IFIJ. 10 h ,a~ ur1I !here a,. '7IIy ""Xlden wedgM. 101. and III filnd P'~ on .... pta,!lOrm Il'l5I08 the ~ 1~.00Il$

lfIr>

f ....... 1I)

~ latel" shlfbog)

--

TIIo' Pw SkH~

?I •

Autl G,

of

are I

.......... h....

fe.lur.. httty lhe

~

"'llMt

OStkfln.... rEas! Iraet.tj tlangtng on bl'ac:k;et5 on tNlr boW plalH ltley

_r

.lso

Ironl

leatur.

coner...

Ihe super$tNelurI

HecU.... fw;ng

fUl~ b7.oII lol:* b' taNl gun) on !hi ~ pI;Ill nert 10 .... ~ ~.OUf dffllng '-d. lamp and the cas! Toprbllnde (pol handll) gun malllle The hangIng 'Ids b' the SchUrzM are 01 h latef style wdll ~ shaped hook$ (tomp;ltl 10 . . . 1'1 Ihe pl'l'O'lOUi phologt'aQh). The litsI "usl G h;Js a large held-applied Slowage locker on thl render ne~t 10 the SupcrstfllCturl aM lhe roldmg shIeld lor the loader's MG

Here v.e see a pholog
" oerna S1W~ III Ausf G tes along tnI SlOe 01 a lOad ~ _ _ debn5 01 war Notatlle 1Nl\.WeS ~ " '

cast Toolblende (pol handltrl 9U" manlle..... hoch has an 0l)EII'0Ir1liI br a eoa~la! MG34 cast atmof SJ'tJlloId welded" ltonl 01 the commaJlde(s eupollI aIlCI Slngle-olece SOfl'lm pIiIte on 1M SII/board-SleHl superslructUf. Itorol pial. nole lhal IIwfI ai'll no ..... mounllng llQ/ls .u _ on thI .....

The gun kIbe 15 I'IP"ll on the ex1et'!deo ~ I....... ""'.... Iodo. Iof """ lil'-"'\l on - .,.. 'S()..3()' Sly$l

_Ie .

~t. nut 10 Ihe ~ Nr;llIo. ~ " SchUrnrn SIN ~ oJ/ Ired< end • 200-... IueI dr\If"I (Of' IhI ground III front of lIlI ~ P

"lI""lP l,lI

StlJ,".~hll\l lVl P""'do b
...... ~ $lyIe

at I'nOl/f'lh"ll raIl,

!of the ScIlU'lOll. whleh featu,e t..anglo

~ llanoong hQoIo.s no plates a'e In IlYith seven ribs All have lhe CllS! Top'blcll(le (pol ~l gun INIIlIIe caS! .'ITIOI shield welded in honl at the COIl'lITIander's ~ and JoIckng shield tor the Ioade(s MG Note that becall$ll ltle eawntle ~ tJom !he SluG III Ausl G sal higher OIl the hull (to allow foI diN<1IIU oYer the Iuel tanks WI the IlghbOg compartmenl 101 the gun ~11he lot Cllf'YWlO two spare road·wheels 1$ moooled 0t'1 brackets

"

_..t...,.

Allotho, group or Stu,mges.chull IV' OIl parade whiCh show the sarno reatures 85 Ihose III

the

prevIOUS

photograph caSI Toprblondo (pot handle) gUll mantle casl armo, sn'eld welded in tlOOI of Ihe eommal'ldels cupola and 1oId'"9 snl8ld lor the Io.ader s MG One Olhe, detail .$ a dla9O"il1 slrlp welded 10 me 5IOpell r,OOI 01 the casemate Just betItnd the dnve,s halch Ihts was 10 drverl til"" wale, "WilY !rom the hatch opeI'Wlg

POpularly

as

kllown

·Sturmpanler·

or

the

more

Ionnally as 'Slu,mgeschUll IV 'l,If \5cm 5tl,l,mhaub'lle 43 (5d Ktz 166)" Ih,s ;lssaull ho""lLe, belong,ng 10 StllfmpanLe'lIble'lung ll6 reSls on an Uahan strelll (nole ttle r'\iIf'lf! P POf1 YefSlOI'l DllSot
'..

."" Slfle oIlTl()o.ll'ltong '11·11

l>-" .... Sa.... o .... Nt'ocf; lealll.e ,.~ ~.aped h.r;gong hool
"I

A deslfOye(t JiIIgdpanler rv IS .,specle
The Jagdpanler IV further evolved nlO rhe Panzer IV(10 M whICh mounted tile ume 7 Scm Ll70 wea~ as did IhlI formidable Pllnlhef medium lank- Also known as (among milny olher nam6f Panlerwagen 604/10 (7 SCm PaK42 (Lf70) (Sd Klz16211). thiS sleek lank destroyer ClImed 60 rounds tor lis eX1femely powerful mam gun Ttlols parllcular vehICle IS hom the later batches as IS I!'o'ldenced by !he presenoe of only lhree (lnSlead 01 rour) rf'IUr1\

tOIlers. whICh a,e oIlhe al-slee! rype

The

tutle-sleel sectIOn de< .,.,. h,st seen with the aovenl of thlI P, Kptw IV Ausl F tlUl"le< ~by' caSI Yef$IOI'l, was f1!-oncror;tuced ~ the end 01 1M war as 1$ II\IldeflII ,... A palr 01 GUfT'mlgeIeOettl!"l ~ (lubber-C1.lshloned st"llled fOlIO' wheels). ano/hef "140 INlUfII _ mCUlled 011 !he tlf$1 bogie INCl The ~lal ~ p6ate ~ .... befW'lCl !he casemale 00- ... fI!"Ii'W COIr\parlJnet\l side .......... bOI> gr&:;abHnl ., It\ls ~ welded

oeslroy.llI the

..... ""'"

subtKt oil (010I ~"

~ Qldef 10 prov>de artnOl'9d salt·p(()pefled rl8ld llll~1efy lor Ihe mobile PanzerdM lui s FHl611 (sq (ScI Ktz 165) "Hummel- (Bumble See). Thi$ mounted a modil:;en (armored OM5I()(IS) GefmarJy dL-¥e1oped lhe GeliChiikwageol1lJ1V 1'>oWI1Zef) OIl a hybfid pz KpIw.IIV1V chaSSIS. The HL 120 TAM 8flOille 01100 pz K ot lhe slafldard 15cm schwere feldhaubolte 18 (heavy field the rear the Zf SSG 77 Ifansmlssiofl and tinal dftve Irom the Pl.KpIw 111 was ~ed wa~~ to the 09l'l1er to provide lor a large guo compartmenl at

'(:S>OfI

mounled to a modified hull. This destroyed vehICle belongs to Panterartillener Im;ntl:' t 11 rom end the SUspeflSIOf1 COmpont'lllS 01 the Pl.KpIw.IV were toWards the war's end It lealures later WIdened drive. arod radio operators I 9'11 Pallte,dlVl5lOfl, and 15 seen somewhe,e the Weslern I,ont final drive hoUSing removed In Ihe Iront view note that the -Ghost Divis'on" n~r .mell!. a ·steel return .00le,s, and has had its porl·sKle dnve sprodcet and umouflage Of! Ihe bow plale ran over to the' spare track IlOk' . I I Ignl8 IS seen on both SIdeS 01 the superstructure afl9led plates arod Ihatthe subjecl of a ,olor plale In \hlS book. 5, thOlr absen<:e shows how the pallern stopped where they we'e pla,ed ThiS venl,le IS the

co';;

AI IifsI gl3floe, these 8ulganan T· It S al seem to be rather non~scrlpl However. the ,irst Ihree, numbe
A ""_ coIufM 01

Bulgarian T·11

(Pl Kptw 3S(1))

andPraga

pz t(ptw 38(1)) ~ PlIlU:9f rnoYe along a "reel on 1 * way 10 a parade "-- !he ItJglSlfabOn plait OIl the near II'ehdI whlch CQMfSI$ 01 bIacI< ~'I8600204' OIl it r«:tangutar WIllIe plate, OIl the hl.&'wpetsb'uclore ... ~ TlIe re., at the VISIble turrets have a 51 Andrew's Closs etvdeIY ~ 'Mlto """"'- pawl! whdfIlhe O'Ifefe~posed photograph has waslWd out ~ mogtll ha.... bMrl on the turret &odes N would appear Illat .... -p,iOQII' o¥tIId1 15 the lhud lurlhesl YehlCle III ~ne 0$ finIShed '" r.....r. 9llI1 RAL. 7028 VIMh the SI AncIrew's CroSS pa",led on black OIl the

mario.,.

....''ll rew pI;IIe

on

A column 01 Bulganall T·l1s (deSlgnaled as the PZ KpIw 35(t) by Germany and LT vI 35 by the Cle<:hs). pauses on an open held Before hailing tl'Sse lohage-camouftaged leichle Panzer have Just lurned trom a hne·abreast formal,on to a column as their track marks Indicate White the commander ot the tl(st T,tl stands walch. a crewmaf! chedl~ Ihe .suspen~lon A lotal 01 36 01 these obsolete light tankS wllrll re·condltroned afld pufchased Ifl tWQ balches frOm Germany durong 1940. They equipped lhe 3rd Company ollne 1st Battat,on and the 6th Company 01 the 2nd Banahon ot the Armored Regiment

""".,....,,----------.-~

This Bulgarian T·ll IS Irom 1he ',rSI batth 01 26 'e-condIlioned pz KpIw 35(1} sold 10 lhem by Germany III 1940 It mounts 1he lTlOfe usual SlIoda A3 37mm '&COIl C)'llnd81 placed oulslCIe the mantle and aboYe lhe gun lube By the lime ollhts photo (December 19") the Cf&w wear stal'llWd German-style bladl Panter Cf&w umforms Wllh Sldecaps 04 a local paltern haYlflg OI5Cilrded the Itahan·Slyie padded helmets. There were very Jew mod,focatlOf'lS came<:! OUI on these ,"*,Ie PllIltel by the Germans the moSI pI'()Il'\Inenl one being the ,eplacemenl ot lhe Of'OlI'lal radio antenna Wllh a lOll anlenna on a "eKo!:lIe base as seen here allhe potl soda COIner of lhe superstructure Ironl p1ale Nole that there ~ an obs<;u'ed Tac number on the SIde III lhe turret (lhese ran 110m 25 10 50 on vehicles a.med WIth lin guf'l. and 'rom 51 10 60 on lhe Second balCh WIth lhe A·7 gun) and Ihat someone has very neatly applied Cyrtille characters 10 tile bow plale as wei. as me superSlrUClUle SlOes

malfl gun WIth lhe

Al'lOther 8ulganan T·l1 takes parI in lhe same OecemblN 1944 parade ThiS Olive green· painted le,cht.r Pantel is marked Wllh a Tac number. 35 In wh'le on Ihe lurret $IOt!S Jusl forward ot the 51 Andrews CroiSS nallonal mS'911
0'

,..COf16t>O"t'd

Pt Kptw 35(1)5 pufcnased!fO"'l Germany Unl "'e Gerfl'l¥! ~ Pant... \tie $,;,odI des>gned IT 'It 35 .I'd IN Ptaga de$lgned IT 't'138 1\10 \heir elf ,vers pos.t>oI'@Q 01' ,.. $larboil,d s
on the pori sodlt

TIl
'ront

.-

A German p~ KpIw.38 (I) makes ilS way towards whal appears 10 be a SovM!I power genl'tatlCHl or dislributlOn station. probably dUrmg Itle WII1ter 01 1941-42 Aw!OKmale!y 625 of lhese reha!:*! " obsoIescel'lllelCtlle Pan~er wefG oorntIlllled to OplIra\lOl'l BafbafOSsa .,.kIne of 1941 The only rTlilrklng of nole IS a whlle-outlnll Ball
~ Garman sold'ers s,I atop thIS Jagdpilfl~er 38 as it travels paS! a supply wagon ThiS crew apparently does /"101 SKp4!ct to IIl'ICOIJnler tI'le enemy, nor lor that maner their own suppty C'l;helon ,t the 2IJO.tter 'uel drum on lhe vehicle's rool ,s an ,ndocator From th,s angle lhe trDe 01 Topfblende (cast, pol'shaped gun mantte) Ifldicates that II '15 a laTer P'OducIlon vehde~ ~ also would 8pp(!ar thaI Ihe Klier wheel'S or the later ilrIWled type WlIl1IouI holes alound .IS Clfcumleren<:e

tw:ne-drawn

A ~ looks off to the SIde I,om Itl8 haldl of thIS ~nzel,age, 38 7 !K:m l$on vehoCIe ~ lhe Flammvetflldlter (ltame.clampennlg eKhausr) on tile .eal (le<;k "-l fie IoopIl welded 10 the IWpe"truclUre SIde lor lhe allactmlent 01 CIn'oouIIege matanill The58 are the tWl) IlIrge ,tems ,n the m,ddle thQ ..,.., ~ along the upper rrm 01 the superslructure afll lor SO(;u"ng a .....A ~ Iarp OVIll tile leaky rool Oltler details 1n<:11J(IQ grab handles t.... ;tt baM palleer bllse r;...'PDM 01 the lSovlce 011 11M lender, 1lI8rsst lhe camera IS LmknoWn 10 . . . . ~)f

hI
or ....

.,-.

ThIs paw 04 $lINIlr pt>otographS depict roe ,..... ~ 38 In roe Inl pnoID9"~ _ _ dIMIs PIIOJiIII tIllS type can be _ Now h cIiSt* ..,.. """"' ' - SQ: wound ItS oreumIetence (nslead oj lout - . III ... phok)gfiIph). and 1M 5t-' ,.,.gI tIMId __ fie pensoopes can lUSI be seen past Itle Ial. out T ~ < wped gun manUe, Clo5e eUflWlabOn ..... r...-,j roe ... 01 camounage wt\lCh I!a
~zet'

A pall 04 Jitgdpanter Jas acNilnee across • muddy IICIlclll'l N ~ at a pz Kptw V Pllnltler medlum lank. The neiU8$1 JagdPaflZlII 38 IS I(NInIIICId as a late-produetion vetIIeIe by Its Aarnmvemoc:l\lClf (.......rr0ent9' exhllust mutllet. seen on 1hCI engine del;k be~ two 01 1M ~ troops ThIs partICular JagOpCllUe, WIllS oesogned proouced and Mkted t i ' resull 01 an mterruption In StuG Illlwsf G prOducllOtl oue 10 81'1 on lhe Alkon plant on November 26. 1943 Evenlually.boul 2.650 01 flII5 "slop-gap"veIlICle were produce
AIled--

lhe Plt G.f3

,.u

The JagelparU:ef 38 was very IIghIly arlTlOfec:l. COfl$ISII"O of a 60mm gIacts IlUle and 20mm superstructure sides lhe laltef only prOVIding protoctoon ~ 792nvn arlTlOf'pIel'tw'Ill ntIe or maehine·gur lis Iour-man crew, while the gun's IrllVefse Willi limned to an ~ of only l&-degrees. But, 01 was superior 10 a toWed anti-tank gun such as iI 7 5cm PaK40 because II was lTlOfe moblIe and benef pl"oIeded ThIs partICUlas' ¥eI'IICIe a late-producbon vet_ (and lis eompal'llOll on the oad
fie drlO'&r s periscope

By cornparrog !he SUspensIOn and lender ccnf'll'Ulabon of Ihe later KMm·ll seen here, to tl'l.ll of the KMm-10 on the pl"eonous photOQfap/'l lhe ddlefl!l"lC.eS between lhese varllllll$ oj the Sd I(Iz 7 are readdy apparenl, The 1OAm-11 has one rTIOfe road wheel and the assooaled longer tract< run. wtloIe lhe contours 01 lhe Iron! lender are quote (itllefern espeoaay whe
openng

15cm S FH 18 howJllef

ThiS derelicl lat'-pl"oductlOn Jagdp
S eac;h hiJulong an 8 8em r1a108 LJS6 DOb 1lIlCfJ.t1 gun 1Ji'U5e as SCI Ktz 7 tKMm·10) hal:':~lhe$e IriJClOIw I "us18 IS "'~led as by VIe Sd M 201 limbers and ltMI I
A pw

ol-'Y model rrottlettlf lugkfattwaoen 8'lon

•.,.

wen

"7

A KMm-l1 verslOO 04 the Sd Klz ] hauls a lOcm s KIa gun across a bridge constrllCted oYer a SlM.et river The tractor IS again idenllfiel:las the later velS100 by Ihe lengthened track run and lender. dlllerent lront lendel con'tguratlOll, and size 01 the front wheel and tIre The Ofdnancels a lOcm piece note lIl8 SII ImpreSSIve length of the gun tuoo. although it has been retracted rear·wards 10 shllt the center 01 gravIty and shorten lIs overaU fength lor elSIe transportatIon

1".

A palf of ScI K'z.l Os lakes patI on a parade. each hauling a scm PaKJI anlHank gun Note how !he troops are sealQ(lll'l!M rear compartmer'!t ~ 10811 backs 10 !he outside. and that !here are several metaf bO;
'*'

A 01 50 Kll lOs JOIO$ a group 01 /TVIMle SdlutZenPlIflnrwaqeen SdKll2'5U (AuslA Of Au~81 as wei as 04hef AFVs.s!hey aw,lIl the (ofdef 10 adYarx:. Nota the stOW&ll8 01 /B"Y callS on 'he near Sd Klz 10

wt>ocJl indt>de. bOth the early pattllrn (WIth lhe embOssed ")(1 and the latel ~""fl w,rh the square in the centel 01 the oX"

h"

,(

t A leIchter $(;hOlzenpanzerwaglln Sd.Klz.250 stands idle in a held as Gelman troopS pass on their way to their next assignment. The hall1rack has no cli5Cernabie features, which would say whal sub-type it IS: all that can be seen IS that it IS the earlier Ausf.A because there are no lockers inlegral wllh tile leIlders, The soldiers are wearing various combInatIons 01 the M1942 revelslble. padded two-piece wlnler sUII wIth the Heeres {Almy) stylo of camouflage panern: the breast eagle on Ihe man down In the dItch also is the type worn by members 01 the Hear. Several members of a Sturmge$ChOtzabteilung relax arld have a clgarotte. the slraln of ballie Slill apparenl on the" faces. In lhe center of the poologfaph IS an Sd Kf~_250 Ausf A; it has no features VISIble that would aKI III a.;lermining ils sub·type. The lar SturmgeschiitZlllls an Ausf.G as can be seen by the configuration of its superstructure: Ihe near one IS probably an AuSI G as well. bul no identofylng fealures are readily VISible The soldier at len has a pa'tly obscured cuH-band on hiS fight sleeve; as other uniform details poInt to Ihese men as bemg members 01 the Heer (Army), II can be surmised Ihal they are members 01 the GroBdeutschland Pal'lZergrenadlerdlVlslon, whIch since It was conSIdered to be an ehte JorrnalJOn, had this dIstinction,

.

.. '

,~

~ ~ Sd Kll251/1

AosfC and il p"" of ledUC Funkpanzorwagen Sd

Kll25Of~a

group 01 Infantryman and a 11I6U1C Itom the

SallltMs~oI1lP,ln,,'

~ OOf'I'Ipany note hiS special padl) as Ihey escorl a wt)undod comrade hom tho Ileid 'fhe S5 tit IS lv' hom Ihe summor 01 1942 liS Iho d
1" ""

'lJVr~ 10 S!aJingrad and ,18 oostrUCHon

A pair 01 Pan~ersp:ihwa!ilen AB41 201 (Ij (formorly llahan AB-41 armored ca.s) burns wllh !il.eal intens,ty, as a. group 01 prisone.s are mar~h9d past Numbers 011hesll effcctlve rcconnalssance vehi~les were confiscated a~er Italy repudiated lhelr alliance wllh Germany. They were pul to almo!.l immed,ale use. partIcularly wolh Wallen-55 and Drdnur.gSPOh~el IJf\IIs Manufa~tured by F,al, they were armed wolh a Breda 2cm M35(') au!Ocannon and two 6mm MG36(I) machine-guns le>chler Funkpan~erwagen Sd Kl~ 25013 lrom the 24 lops II SIlndy rise. Whole Il helll')' mol0rcycie comb>n;llbon t.a~els ,n the opposole dnllCtoon on lhe Dsthont, probably dUring lhe SUfTVlllr 01 1942: lhere os a second '250-serles hallllack IUSI in Iront of ,t. ThIs 1S;IIl Ausl.A version 01 lhls hall-lrack as can be seen by the early or Aile (ok!) body style, the Rahmenanlenne (lrame anlenna) aHached to Ihe superstructure ,denl,hes 01 as a 13. All 01 these ~ehodes II'e typoQlly Inundated w'th slowage 'terns. including lhe motorcycle, whICh ,s alSQ m,ssing ,ts f,or'll lender. AnOlher

Pan~erd>~islon

A German soId,er poses lor me phOlographer, perched Or'l lhe glac,S plate 01 II pz Kpfw T-70(1), formerly II Soviet T- 70 Model 1942 hghllan~ TIllS 92·\(>" vehICle was armed With a 45mm 20Km main gun as well as II co-a~laI7 62mm DT maChine-gun II !Q.med lhe baSIS lor the 5U-76and SU76M sell ~ gun (at oyer 12,600 manulachlred, this was Ihe second most Widely-produced SO~lel World War Two-era AFV allor the T-34 series) as~' as the Z$LhJ 11611 propelled 37mm anl;-alrcri\lI gUr'l

70

A group 01 German soldiers hllch a ride on lh,s Pz.Kp!w.747(r), which was a Captured ex-Soviet T-34176 Model 1942. This Beulepanzer (captured, or "booly" lank) was lrequenlly used agalnsl lIS former owners. parhwlarly by Ihe WaKen-SS and Ihe Ordnungspohzel This particular vanallOn has a lurrel Wllh features assoclaled wllh the Zavod 1831ank maf"lu!aclunng plant. as well as hull features mtroduced m 1942 such as. new dllver"s halch and peroscope lay-QUI. modl!ied DT machlne'gun mount with an external mantle. -hammerhead"-slyle low shackles and head·lamp relocated from the glaCIS 10 Ihe port Side 011he superstrUClure plate. 11 has been repaont&d to German slandards wllh a base coat 01 Dunkelgelb RAL 7028. with possibly both supplementary colors (Olivgr()n RAL 6003 and Rotbraun RAL 8017) over-sprayed in broad. ondlstll'lCl blotches. Large, whlte'outline Balkenkreuz national Inslgrlla have been P'l,nled ()1'1 Ihe glaCIS and forward Sides 01 the lurrel. II would nOI be unusual to see Ihese repeated on Ihe supelslrvc1Ure rear plate, turret rear and roof.

Th,s Bulgarian M-223 (Sd,Klz.223 Aus1.8) stands ready, w,lh lIS unit slandard un-turfed, 10 take parlin a parade A number or detaols can be clearly seen, Including the way In which the head-lamps attach to the lower cornel of Ihe superstruclure side plate and how the Notek b1ack-oul driVing head-lamp IS prOlected by a brush g"ard, Note the while-painted bailS on the driver's vehicle Wldlh indlcato, siems and the small towe's beh,nd them Ihat held Ille turning 5,gnal ind,cators. Ihere IS also a peCUlia' "L"-shaped Wire slem Just behind the ncar conventional h-ead·lamp. whose luncllon IS "nknown

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In a phoiograph OIMously laken alfer Ihe Bulgarian sWitch-over Irom bemg aIlloed wrth Germany the occupants of a Volkswagen Typ 82 KUbolwagen (t::>rx:l(:, aM bllflS 'hlltuell,lle, ClIp. the lW{l (/e",,;es on tll8 fJotlrnn edgo J ll", ~ '.If:llln N.nd scroon fire fho mOtOrs !Of 100 w.per blades

A oolumn o! 6ulgallar1 Panze,spahw01gerl (arn,ored SOOul cars) COnSIS1lng ot a pau at M·2235 (SdKlz 223 Aust OJ, and a smglo M·222 (Sd Klz 222 Aus! B). from tho ArnlO,ed O"gade's Reconna,ss.-mcc Company pause un.1 IIlral road 8ul'1aJla lecelved a lol"t 01 20 01 those etlecI,ve seoul vehicles Their ,eglSlriltoon plale Jlumoors ran froll11370001-7Q02Q11l1e I11SI M2231~ numbe,ed 670008) lhese vclnclcs a,e palnled In olive '1lel'n :1I1d ,,,t' marked wI11l a Flou, de lyse lJls+gl1la;lS ViOl! 'C/d lOCout c:us arc Ausf 6s as C{ln l)O Seon 11'/ It,,' 1,1l,'1 slylu o! V,SO'~ cov(llInu ail o! tlie VISIOn \)locks

71

ThIs paIr o. photos depicts a BulgafIClIl 11.1-222 {Sd Klz2'22 Aus! 51 as I Irs! threads Its way between a pall 01 Maybach T·IV G,H (pz Kpfw IV Ausl G ~ and Ihen Slops to make an observallOn, otl a mudenctusled road II ~ Ihatlhrs letchler Panzerspa,hwagen IS less 8Xtensovely mafl<.ed ~ ~ b)I these phoI09"aphs, lhete are no ,eg.sl1abOn plales. F1eur.oe-l)'5e or tOteflodo.ed flflgS on the superstnJClUfe side p1ales and no legt$tfatIOtI ~ on the rea' Thos M222 has a mount /of a rod antenna, whiC/lltSert IS IW;)' IllIed, IndICating thai these pat~Cl.Ilar veh,cles may not have been &qll ppecl wIth a radIO InJllally German IeJchte PanZ8rspahwa98n ScI Klz 22:2 _ , I'(! all equipped WlIh radIOS "tlief 10 thefe IS a p1ecedenl In tile second phoIograph, a do$8-up 01 'he vetMcIe show$ a clear VIeW ollhe 'flSCt'fjllCl' on the ll,lffet SIde, the Cf_ has al$o opened the 5de access aoors 10 .,. engine compartment., orcler 10 beller cooIlhe power p1antltl$lOe

A grOl.lp of iilrmored c.s iII1IlI hOI" tr;td
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