Armor in the Desert

8/4/2019 Armor in the Desert

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British Infantry Tank Mk IIA JlMATILDA IVII


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British Infantry Tank Mk IIA JlMATILDA IVII


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ARMOR SERIES VOL.8

A R M O R in t h e W e s t e r n D e s e r t ~\

byWalter J. Spie'lbergerandUwe Feist

.i:tuu.: :FALLBROOK,CAUFORNIA9202 8

JSF71-/.j7""'I,


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ARMOR IN THE WESTERN DESERT(A GERMAN VI EWPOI NT)

byWALTER J. SPIELBERGER

After Italy's entry into the wa r against France and England in 1940, it became obvious that the nextconfrontation between the adversaries was most likely to ha ppen in North Africo. Everybody was awarethat the dominion of the Mediterranean was of utmost importance, and even decisive for a successfulconclusion of hostilities. The British Army was responsible for the defense of Egypt, while strong Italianforces were concentrated in Libya. After considero ble preparations, Italian troops under General Grazi-ani crossed the border into Egypt on September 9, 1940. After some initial successes, they were haltedand driven bock deep into their own territory. This first confrontation of armored forces revealed ratherquickly the poor condition of the Italian armored vehicles. Used mainly in small numbers 'for direct in-fantry su pport, these Lj3 and M/ 11 to nks proved to be an almost torol failure. By February, 1941,. an im-proved version of the Mill, the M/13, appeared, having finally the main armament, a 47 mm gun, in atu Ily-rotati ng tu rret. Durin g th is time, th e 6ritis h Farces were equ ippe d with Va lenti neon d Mati Id a in-fantry tanks, some Mark I (A.9) and Mark II(A 10) cruiser tanks which were supposed to be replaced byMk_ IV, the Govenanter. This vehicle, however, proved to be mas' unreliable; thus, the main equipmentwithin the cruiser series become the Mk. VI, or Crusader, which was used in numbers until the end of thecampaign in 1943.

Italy's defeat forced upon the German High Command the necessity to support the faltering Italianforces by means of an expeditionary corps. Both the 5th Light and the 15th Panzer division were electedto go to North Africa under the command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Immediately upon his arrivaland without waiting for reinforcements, Rommel started his offensive cqoinst the British forces and hadrecaptured Libya within two weeks. Avail'able to the German troops were limited numbers of all fourmo.kes of tanks. namely the Panzer I., I I, III and IV. Again, it soon proved to be not the numerical su peri-ority but the tactical application of tanks which brought about stunning successes. The final victory inNorth Africa, everybody was aware, was mainly determined by the availability of sufficient supplies: andBritish attempts to thoroughly interru pt Axis commu nication lines. in the Mediterranean were finaHy re-sponsible for the collapse o-f the Axis powers in Tunisia in May of 1943.

November,1941, sow a new British offensive in on orternpt to recaptu re Libya.. In some of the greatesttank battles of the wor, fought around Sollum, almost 800 Britis h ronks were destroyed or captured.Despite initio I British successes, Rommel's counter-attacks hod soon estobllshed a balance again andby the beginning of February, 1942, both sides remained stationary in their positions. By spring of 1942,continued su pplies accounted for the following distribution of armored vehicles:

(MAY 26, 1942)GERMANPunz.er IIPonzer IIIPanzer III Sp.Panzer IV

RESERVES BRITISH50 pzKw II 10 Grant 167223 Pz. III 36 Stuort 14919 Pl. III Sp. 19 Crusader 25740 Pz. IV Valentine 166

Pz. IV Sp. 9 Matilda 110332 ----- 849 \,-77

RESERVES228 Grant 75560 Stuart 70

145

ITALIANMI3/40,14/41

Despite these facts, Rommel decided to attock on the 26th of May, 1942. For the first time, American M3"Ge nero I Gra nt" tonks appo sed the Germ an forc es and infl icte d heavy casu aIties. The continued Germ anadvance resulted finally in the capture of Tobruk, With his remaining 80 tcnks, Rommel pressed intoEgypt until his exha us+edtroop s, stripped of supplies, hodto stop in order to regene rote the i r depletedronks. Only 50 Germa n Panzers were still in operation at this time.


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The balcl1I,ce of po,wer during 'this time h od sh in ed in ' fa.vo,r Q , f th e AUles since the Un' i i ,ed S~'Clt,esenteredthe, w'or. On October 2,3", 1:9421 the British counter-ettocked with Qiverwl'lelll l1mn ,g force. The following, tonks.tren gth w o,s lO!vaili:.cwbleo the lB'riNsh ( '9~23-A,2) :170 Gronts2,5 :2 Shermans: 21 ,6 ,C ru sa de rs 'I and u78 Crusaders III

1 1 1'9'Stuarts19A , Vo,lenfinest or a grcmd totolof

102 '9 ' t c rnk sThe new Sherrnon tanks especiollv proved to be quite' on improvement over previous 'tank designs.Ag,cinst this orrnored force, the Germans Gould muster:85 Ponzer I'll L / A , 2, B 8 , P a n z e r 1 : 1 1 1l60B Ponzer IV ,l/24

30 Ponzer IIV 1:./43.Reserv,e,shardly existed.Only Germnn ontl-rcnk gluns w'ere promin,e,rrwly'8'ngage,d Clnd they kept dellra~dng the British forces wh~'chsoon penetroted ,andour-flenked the German end Italian defenders.Without supplies and air 'c,ov~r" the Axis, powers r,etr,eafed and estcblished at flnol foothoid near Age,~doble by ,the middleef November.lin the mermfirne, Arnerlcon forces nad Illanded 0111 the 8th 0 ' " November, 1'942.1 in MOlrocCOr and Algiers"[l'esp~:~ethe hopeless sltucfion, H[thn decided to throw t 1 d d m t i o n C 1 ~ ' troops lrrro North Afr'ic:a in a finclIOltt,empt to stoblllze the front ond to rncintoin his grip on this, vlrol port of Af:ri(:o. IEven a "Tiqer" outfit;the Panzer e'OjUaUoJI. 501, was 'transferred to Tunisia" lit was a~1 In vain. a , Y i l t ' h e end o f' Jonuorv, 1943'1 'Genero] Eisenh,crwer attacked with 15 .B,ritish cUl,d ,5Arnencon divisions. The end ccrne on May 112',,1943;when! cpproxlmctelv 2,50,.000 German and Holian soldiers surrendered ~nTunlsie, The,war in Afriica wasover. North AfrkOi W,OlS lost by fine Axis powers and t~e whole soft underbell~yof Europe lay open 10 em ya:iiack the Allies choseto mount.In vie'wing the firepcwer ofthe armored' fitghting vehicles used 'in this desert wort, one con come +o renherlnrerestlnq comparisons. Dlsrega:rdirlg the- vehicles e'qu:~pped ofl.!ywi'1th machine glmsl nornelv tha : l tolkHDL/3. the German Panzer I and also the Panzer II, w'ith its 2 em gun, ond the British l'ight 'tank Mk VI, the'vari'e1y'of weapons used on al'l other vehicles reflected, to a lar'ge' degree, th,e military thin'k]ng of eachone of' the ncrtlons [nvo,lved. Ualy~s Mil '1was '0 three-men It-ton vehicle, with !t) 37 mm .gtuoin limitedtraverser which was mounted in the ri'ght front plote of th e vehicle, Two .MG1's , were carried in a ful~y~rotctinq turret, rirs successor; the ,M/l3, had most of its predecessor's hcmdlcaps eliminated flnd rncurrredo 47 mm gun iii i('l twc-rnun turret The,Mj42f on improved verslon, corried aloll1ge,r47 mmgun but wasalmost identicol wi'th the M n a . , F]nail,ly~but already too late, their P l 4 , O , r a 25-:wonfour-men tank, appearedin 1943. It came le'qo'ippe:d w~th a rnedium-velocitv turret-mounted 75 mm gun. Britain even used upsome of their olldMedilJ't'llI Mk IL equipped with a 47 mm '9U l I 1 ond six rnoehlne guns 'at the be'9Ii'nn'llf1'9 ofthe camp,oig n. Since these vehicles dated bock to 1'924. they we're ruther qukkly pho sed out and re,-ploced with the Cruiser tonks M,k I and II., Both vehicles ccrrled a 4,0mm gunl. The Cruis;ers .Mk ilill and IVfCD I~owed t sNU ca~rryi.l'1gtJe same main errnornerrt, The Crusoderseriea s,tarte,d 'w~lh the Mk VII./I and 11"still mountlnq 0 40. rnrn weapon, while the third velr'si'olnnnClUy 'carried CI S7 mm gun. lt represented theheovlest weapons mounted O r1 a Briti:s.hbettie tonk used j'n Af rurce, l,h,'eir inf,ontrr 'y tanks "'Matilda"ond"Volentine" o ri'g inaH y a lso had the 40 mrn gun, considered inadequate ag ,omns, t contempororv Germanvehicles. A.s of .~943, the .Amerkan tank production by far exceeded Br'i~]sh I~opabi'li'ties. Americonvehicles in substcnrlol numbers found their way into British t(lnlk outf its and as 10 matter of foct~ the'Amerlcon M 4 "Sherrncn" tonk become tile pdndple tem!k of 1he' Ro,'Vol' Tonk Corps, The first U.S. tank'issued to Brifish units In I'erge quonfifies was the light tank M : 3 and iis Improved versio'f 'i !~ th,e M 5. Bothvehietes were equipped with a 3:7 mm gun and had a four-man crew, CClIlied "Stuort" by the British I italso had the nicknorne "Honey," They served both B,ri:t~shend u.s..forces throughout the wor, The medium


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f1cmJ~~evelopment had started in 1'9'3,8,creating the Medium M2, havingl a 37' mm gun mounted in the'turret! while ,ei~Jihtmcchine glJns were clso Instolled, By August- of 1940, o. 75 mm tank gun wos de-rmatlldedf I cmd i t h e M, :3 me,diuwn tonk was created, It 'was, [0 27~ton vehlcle, with 075 mm gUnI1 mountedlin ,01sponsen on the right front portion of the, hull, In ocldifion 0 37 rnrn glun was installed 'in the turret,Celled j~Gel1eral Lace l' cmd ,1'Genera! GrantU by 'th,e Brit ish, it prcPiideda ra.Hu~'r noslly surprise f,gt therGermonsin194.2. The lirnlted troverse of the rnoin armament, however; restricted the Useof these ve-hildes ccnsidernbly, end the following rnodeIIf the ,M 4; had the 75 mm ,gun moved to the turret. Befferknown as. "Sherman," this tank was (me of the most-built HghJing vehicles dudngthe war 'and saw oc--,.0[.11~na'lll rheoters. A t tOi[CII ol f ,49,2.34,M 4 vehicles was produced until 1945-.'G,ermolfly,js oppecronce in North Afrlcc brought the tried and proven Panzer III and IV to the bottle-fi,e.lds,. The most numerous of the two, the Porrzer IUI~wos equipped with ,the 5 ern KwlK 39 L/42, a h i [gn-v8,lo,c; i ]y weopon considered quite lo.dequafe olglo:insT e.x~sting Bri'tish vehicles, The' experience in IRussiocilgCl~nst the T : 3 , 4 soon revecled it s shortcominqs Icmd resulted in 10:l[en9fih~n'ilng O 'T the borrel ~o ,3000 mmlin 1941. They ol~ppe(:I,r,ed in Africa for thefirst time tcwerd t~e [end! of the some year" The Ilarger veh ic le"he Pa:rrzer IV~ori'ginally int,ended only [QS '0 support vehicle, mounted for this purpose a [ow-velocitv,shcrt-bcrrelled 75 mm gun. lts inleffective'ness- og!oinst enemy orrner wos soon evident or1,dthe up-qun-[nin[Siprocess started immediaitie~y aft'er its sod experience in Russio...S'tartu'ng in M.cnch of 1942, the firstPornzer IV with the 7. 5, ern KwK 4.0 I l /43 oppeorad on bortle fields, giv1ng the Germans again on OId-'lJQll1tage in fire power. Soon after". ~11,einal version of t:ne gun, an ilj48,was. lin production, It partici:poweddlruril19 the clcsinq , $ ., t' og,e o f the African cQmpaign and was cepoble o lf defe:Clting any exh~ltjngAlliedormor, The, cppeercnce of the 88 rnrn gllJn as, a tank ormcrnent ilnAfrica was brief and insiglillfi:eant. [tscQlunt'er-po:rfr[,. however, the orrti-uirercfr version" u'sed cOll1skier[Q,bly 'far ontiiat-onk purposes, estoblishedits.e,I'f:as, an excallerrr cntl-tonk weopon d .U:dhg w'odd War U olndwlrote 10 chapter in wor h~.doryun-'~ollfglettable 10 onybody who hOld experienced this weopon in oction.in, retrospect, the Af"rl'Con continent ollowed for textbook-like oppllcofion of nrmored forces on eithers,ide" " It became. obvious soon that the Gerrnon concept of armor cpplicotlon was superior to the Brjtishprjndp~e[ of attaching tonk forces toOinfantry units .. Ahi


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Starting in February of 1941, German Panzer unitswere prepared for their duty in North Africa. Heretank soldiers of the 15th Panzer division are beingbriefed about their final destination. A Panzer IVAusf. E shows preparations for shipment with addi-tional water supply stowed on the turret roof of thevehicle.

Tank destroyer units, shipped to Africa, were ini- ..tially equipped with Panzer I self-propelled mounts,carrying the 47 mm Czech AT gun.

Upon arrival in Libya, a rmored cars are unloadedand made ready for Rommel's first offensive againstBritish forces. Picture shows an Sd. Kfz. 222, a lightGerman reconna issance venicle.


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Used in substantial numbers for towing medium and heavy artillery, German half-track tractors are beingtoken off boats. Vehicle shown is a S-ton medium artillery tractor.

A Panzer IV has just been put on a pier in North Africa. This is an F version of one of the most versatileighting vehicles of the German armored force.

J


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A parade concluded the arrival of the first Germantroops on African soil. Here anF version of the PanzerIII is shown in Tripoli. Note the "reception committee"consists mainly of Italian soldiers and sailors.

Soon the desert was covered with tank tracks, atypical sign of armored warfare demonstrating thechange of military thinking within most nations. Ahighly-sophisticated fighting machine left its foot-prints in the sand and reflected the advanced con-cept of armored warfare as demonstrated in thefollowing month by the late Field Marshal ErwinRommel.


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Italian armor hod mode a rather poor showingduring previous encounters with the British. Here,a column of Italian M 13/40 medium tanks is shownduring a counter-attock.

It was not always the lock of fighting spirit of the Italian soldiers which had determined to a large extentthe outcome of previous battles but the obvious inferiority of Italian equipment. Their tanks were noexception.

Together with the German Afrika Korps, the Ital-ians recaptured most of Libya within two weeks andacqu ired substantial war equ ipment that the Britishhod left behind.


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lit W,QS, put 0 'gllDed use Iby the Ilto~illln5" whohad llosl ICDIn.siderabl'e eqllJipmerrt I { Q I ,the,e,r~ti5lh dur~nlg 'he first B,Ac,ounlers 10'. theW'Dir.

Sp'eJcuiheold i l l i lQl tile G'ermICl'n oldvclnc:e werearmored ca'lrs, ,ofth _ F,iffh Uglhl ' C l l r l d l t,he'1 1S ~ h l 'CHIMlor d d ivis,io l I iIa. C ' D , n t i I1UOILI 's ff g hf-ilrlgfo1lrced the ' (Iraw' D , f fhls S d l . K,fz~,22210rephJ:ce l it s mQl l in armameifJrt'iI a 2 : em 'gUIil.


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WOI$ ,soon Q C)i)In1nnO'r! si'glrl'f in fhe w,eslern desertsee' 'G,er'mQ'nl SC'fUJ'tcars 'fU,1 reegnnoiter mi5'S:i,on!SI.-, ope'l", ','Ufnl!!t of Ihi 'S, slandcud 'G,erman ~igln't er-cried CIOIII' W,G1S P,nJ,tect,ed by m,e'al1'S, o f i!J w i, re me s,h .

e redle versien of the' Ught armored COif provi'd,tld015'1v'aluClblIe ill'1f'oll'mglion tID' tlhe 'G,erman High COlm-gnld. l'hey we If E I' on dli.l"ty,Cllmost clontinliJous~y,.,

mobile, (Hlnl"lored radto 'stfJltmon sQ'mew'he're inI renfJiC,ol. Without theilf presence, it w,o'ulld nOV'Q" n impossihle '10' gl'fdhelrthe ~n1tenglenc'e fh:lIta, eS5C1ry f 'ow pnJ lper conduc, ef 'rhe war.


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500n some captured vehicles become available forthe Germa n forc es, and they were pu t to good use.This South African Marmon-Herrington armored caris p rovid ing on lrnporro.nt screen around Britishtroops accompanied by German medium and heavystandard military passenger ca rs.

British vehicles and British supplies determ ined 10 alarge degree the outcome of many a bottle, sinceGermany's supply lines were always subject to con-tinuous British attacks.

All of the German vehicles used during this cam-paign hod received basic alterations to make themmore suitable for this theater of war. Cooling fansand air filters were changed and the maintenancecrews trained to cope with the different environ-ments. This German a-wheeled armored car hasprotection for its main armament and shows theadditional armor shield mounted on the bow of thevehicle.


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Engine failures, however, were numerous, since thebasic vehicles had never been designed for this hotclimate.

An armored radio vehicle during a mission. Receivedinformation was quick.ly relayed by car or motor-cycle, seen close to the ormo.red car.

A dry creekbed is negotiated by an armored radiovehicle. One of its most outstanding features wasthe absence of a rotating turret and a rather largeantenna spanning the entire length of the vehicle.


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Duri l l11QIthehl' firs,t ,encounters, a nu'm,be'r o f B'rifsh fi,ght~ngl vehi'l:,les feU i'lnlto Germlon h,o,nds,. PictulI'le,showsa c'Cllp! 'hJlrediBri ti sh f il 'Ma" il do l i' 1 ~nfardr.,tanlkii Qlccompony ing ' l(l Ge'rmol1" l 'P , f lf lZEU" II" a 'Hght vehk:I'e n~v'le'r in -tended tQ be'used o s 10 "figlhtiing vehlcle,

These Iliglht German vehleles soan fen prey to IBrilt ' islh,on,m-ftmk we'CllPonS, and to lendl mines. Thil:svelhidel,a n A us _f~H !'h nn l'g A , D f rh e !P'CU1IZ,e'( I~ wes 110ilt' o ut 'o f 'o c'i'Q ,n b 'y a m ine wlhich IdiJd,coln:side' l"oble' , d , c . n ' l 1 Q l l g e f ,o i~ srunning gear.


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The Ausfuenru,nlQI B of fhe some vehie,cll[eWClI'&more numerous but could el501 only be used as, [I recon-no'is,sQII"lC,e,v,ei1icle. it f provided th.e B r i f w s n with a lrs inside view in.fo German h:mk des,igns and 0 1 1 1 c[o 'p-tUlI"edlvehieles Well'le' subieae~ to in fe ' l1s iv[e inV'e,stj'gado tu.,

Th 'l! Panz:.er I c h , Q ! s s w s W'(Ui, 011,$0 uSJed '[IS a bOls' ! : : i fOdf fIself-pl l 'o,p,e,U,ed 1 9 1U I 1 ' 1 mounting the Czech .4 1 m rn IQlIlri-t C U 1 k Igun_ If was the' firSf of [0 tong series of s~milcrC'OInvl;" rs ~ n 5 0 "

f'or pi foJornged movements, rnest tiro[ck.ed v e l i 1 w [ d " B Sw,ere' Iloade'd onto flatbed rroilers towe,d l rnc"nll:v' be-hi n d ha I' f .,trClc.k " fClC10 n.


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They plifloivided en'Dugh l b c : u : ' k - u J l I fire power'fair 'G'ell'lfii"llanl i h n f a ' r 1 f I l " V units ond s e r v , e c (Uilimp,or ,ani'f ' rDII,~ in c,heclklng Eng~ish ormora11aclk,s.

T he seil:o nd vehj,d'e' h~ ' the German f i lJnk invf!llltur'y"wos, the Plcmzelf 1 1 1 1 . A Hight 'h:.t'illk with C J creW' of three,it was lfillrmed with one, 20 tnm gun ,and em MG in e~olto'ing turret, Avoi, lc lb i le in SlJbSf('J1fltiioI I",umbers, Ii'hod ph1 Ved 'a n imp-Dn,ont P('III1' Idurh"llig plrevicun~,com-pCl j 'gns. tt ogoli 'n prolVedmoR reliablie' durwngl the'bCllHI!esin Africa.

,AI I '5o,based upon the P',gnZe' f I lelh'Clssitswos this, command vlersion, 'Oinl imlPor' f icuTt 'Vehh:~e t'o p'f'ovide vlitalcomrnunlcofien b,etwe,en fumclII"'ed fcrmetlens. Thi:s runi'.'wes equipped w'th only one Ima,eihilnle'gun.


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led mamn~y un rec'Oll'lnaiISSOrlC.le purpeses,se vehic:lles were' ,abo quite I Q , f i t e : n u'sedlCUJ1'flolt1lk,enemy lU In~t;s. Cilndl ,thus, F r l i t l frici-

- I'e d c 1 on sid 'e ll'lo b ly 'in mllny flI 'G ,e rm ,o n v ic -'Y .

T ha eHret'ts, of land storms in ,t,he Ub'IDndesert een b-, seen on this Panzer III.Paintwas I'' 'emoved lOS quicJdy as, it w'cs oppl ied.An'e:nna, IOfQ,tec:'~[CIir' ls evident Of! ,the ~eftside of tha vet-deiIIB.

I?'flfllze'f' U ready f ai r a c tl i,o " n'l. This, v , e l l 1 i d ' B ' is used by armored le ng irmee'f s m ,o iF 'IIy to detec't enemym~n'e fi,elds" HOlllf~track ve,hide h'l back is a 1-IOIn 'tn:lctot, us,ea f requen. ' . ' ly to tow th e S O mm onti-flank gluln.


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Panzer III Io n fheiJr wryV to Sollum. V~Mdein pictur,e 'i:'CHries the' Reg;m'enl"s doctor.wiho wos g,vc'Uoble wi'th front echelonsd IJIlI ' in,ga I ' l l 1 0 0 nles,

Cont~nlUC;HJI Ibanl'e's, f l ' 0 1 ' 9 . 1 1 1 1 1 9 bae ; ; k ,a nd f,o,rth,ol 'o '1g 'thle M,eait,B!fII'iCU'II&OIll Ic 'o'curt ; I i" IEi 'nderedi lc r gle ' l"lIumlb 'EMI"S ,o f p lI'j;s oner: s Q f w'or ,O n,ei,thelr side,. H e r e ' I I P ia n,lell' II f = i " Q s s ' e s , IcdonQIa grDlulp, , o f IB lr i'tFshsoldiers o n ' I iheir we'f to,eGermlJnl prisoner ,olfwar compo

Altho 'ugh faa Ji,ght tO I engage th e B ritis,h I nfc m try tonks.the, Ponzer 1 1 1 1n Africig p n : l v ~ d e , d Cllde,qu'Qt'efirepower a,golirls~ soft~sk~nned vehides..They were phased our as, bcd- Ie ' tanks bV the end of ]'942.


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l,ntere,still l 'Q I' S ,tlhis JJ'icurie o f a captured Britisn medi-um Me rik lt, Thls '''y,eterarn'' was s'lm in u se' a t the Ibe-g~nning of the ollm'Pc~,gn,~desp'ifE' the f 'Qet 'tnat it solr~9 ~n d,ol1e,d boc k ell S fi g r g" ~9 '26. PI C ss e 119 e r C'I J r inf,olre,groy,nd [s lill 5,t ' ,onda rd medilum steff cer o f theGerme n A' rmy .

These v,einiclies, wer,e, cQlm'plelely ,obs'o'lefe a,gainstthe' Gemmcm tanks but had hel'd their own dluringp,r ,evious e n l C I Q U nrers with the 'Ilia lia ns . N o t,s ,that t h et Q r n : k ImU$'fl hav,e be'Em r e m fire'.

The Iiong series of "Cruiser" tanks enclouinf@red in,Afrh::cl le d b,y,this M r lJ r k II V ' AI a v eh ic le e qu ip ,'p ed l w itha 40 rnrn Igun. TheV were fast bu ~ 'h:H~hnicany no t tooreliable.


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OliJt~lgiUnned by the Gell"m,Qln P',onZlell" In,,h,es,e' vehleles were' ,cQIf=)hJll 'ied in numbersdurin'gthe i 'nrfr~!I]1p,has;es of the North A'frii-eCln c om p"D ig 1'1.

A cOI,I:rturea British : 5 t r e , f f cor reveed,s 'itscentents 'tD 'members of the "Afrika KOrpS/ iVehlicl 'e in back,groundi ls the miHl'ary ver-sion ,of the' 'Va~!k'swQlge'n. used ,(lS, a s,fondl,crrdHgh,t'p la :s sen9, er eer by the Wehrmocht.

Orl"e' ,of 'the m:g"5'~ ' ver rsa l :i~ ,e IB lI 'i lJsh ,otmllo'tedvehlcles 'was, the' "Bren 'Carrier~" used forboth tDwin,g and' S'UPIIlIV purpos.e.s. It servedcs 01 pr~Im,emover 'for onfii-tonk 9,Uln:& ,andprovid -d mflfiantty' wi,th ,arlmor p r - Q 1 f e t : : t i c m .


26/52

Uniform,s and equj'p,ment fo lr the' IGer ,mo lntroops in Af'rtc,Q w'ere ,es'pedo,H~1' pF",eparedfo,t W"CI rfere in t i m e ' d es 'i! 'rt. T h is , S ! ' t ' ( l l 1 1 "1 dla r arnediern pO,5Jsenger cor mounts an M ,'e ; ,3 4,for Ipro'fec:tmon l ogomnst IBlritis,lh,fighter bomb-

The :smalle:sf ,oF'~he Germc:ru1 half-i n:J,ck t rcu:tor:5 used In Africa WCUI the 'l-'ton Z'9kw. ~twas them'Cllin plr;memover fa r anti-tank 'gun.s end ,a ~:so 's'erve,d es 0 ' tn lQP' eerrler.

IGerrnan, an tm- ton ik IQuns helpE! 'd to check IB,ritis,'h t cmka tta c ks ., lH ere SO I mm gun's ere lowe,d r b e'lh in d '1-tonh r a t f - ' t n = u ; : k tll 'ladors, p1repo'r ing fOllr CI,n enlC'OllU'nt,er Wifhe 'ne lm ly' D l rmo , red fo rces .


27/52

The tanl\::whkh did mo,stof the flghtingl IOnd18'German sw,de during the linitiol pnclrses ofthe carnpolign w'as th,e IPclnzer UI. ~nitill]Uv equipped wi,tn c 3:7 mm 'gun, \lIe M e J e 's , usadlin AfricDI generollly h,adthe 50 mm K'w'K l/42. tater' Gelrman ' t lonks had! a fh"e-mcl1tllcrew,

1he atddmoncd .p 'tlc le d a rm o r, mOUlnt,ed to, the front portiions 10l fthe 'ehich~\, was provided to . C"ff '5Iet theef ledw\Ienes$, ,of the, latest Bri't ish IQntlii.folillk we'apons,. 'N,ote 'the gutln,er f!'l(it ,o n the' left side' o ,f the turret,


28/52

An Ausfuehrung IFof the P'anz'er lU I Irecaglr i i ' izoble by it$, f i r ! ! : : . ! drive and l idllef wheelis., Jerry' cons stered on,he furlrel r lDo , I cOr1tcdn water.

POA2er IIII,~fo,l~owed by Panze''r iii; durilng' thei l"odv,gln' ( ; 'Gi ' t,oward Selh rm , 'N Io rte the, h'gpiC 'o l hel,m'El'ts lorig-ina l I i y lssued to,members I O f tille ' UAfri k'il KClrlP's:'


29/52

This is the Ausf. H of the some vehicle. Note the difference in final drive and idler wheels and also thedifferent spacing of the return rollers. 400 mm trocks were used for the first time.

Crew members readying a Panzer III for further action. The abrasive impact of the desert sand necessi-tated tight closing of all openings. Spore track links were carried on the front plate to offord additionalprotection.


30/52

Some of these vehicles, captured by the British, were returned to England for thorough investigation.

As of 1942, the longer barrelled 5 cm tank guns become available and were soon installed in the J ver-sion of the Ponzer III. Armor penetration was increased considerably.


31/52

'T lhu'eemrnond Y ,e rs ao n 'o f th e IPanzer I1I1Ilarried (J dummy f f ltoiln o rm o rnen en id h,old o rn e M IG 3 4 insf icd led ifllthe mantle' 'of its,' f ixed turret, This y,ehiidle' had ,o,lbv' ioUlsh,received ,0 Mt ,wh ich did not p e ' , n I 1etrg't"8'.S ,OM le IO lfd'll8' ea lr ly ICoC lm lmo f ll df o ln l lks , 'w'ere basled lupon th'e IFversion of 'h e Panzer ll], this velh, ide ls be~ngre' - fuelled! b y meons of Jerry cans", 0 space-:scvhngl ICQllntol ine" o lso m ost popuklr w,ith t he A i ll ie 's ,_Cans con-t. i: :JJ iningwa t,e:r we'r, , ' ,gl lways iden1'i f ie,d w i " ,1 l : Q w lh i~e c r oss .


32/52

$o:me 1 0 1" ,the e , o l l r l v 37 mm veh~d!e:s oif the P'ClriX'e' f 'III~:s'e'rJe,s" l~heAusf,. E , f:lcnfied MO l mechine guns iF1 I , ~ J h ' e 'gun mlflflilhe:t. Tlh,e,v W I E l ! I I ', e used 'exd,usivisly' [b y sterK,Qlffie,e'n ond for observation P U 1 r i P , o , s , e s lNaif',e , th,e'inslgnia of the Afr .ka-Klcrps i pointed besidl le thedriver viswQln, :5101. T he vehicle b e,ll,o nged to ,th,elS'th IP'cllnizler Divis ion .

CcptUlII",edl"Temmies" lor,e' be,iing briefe'd by (II Ger-mlQnoffic'er ~nfront of ID P'onzer IU. Trentment orfp ri! scme r s, ,o f 'w,or W'O'S l')a!:eecUngly ,fair o n ,e '~ th e'rsidle' i n . Afrh: 'fJ.


33/52

Another CnJI:s'cdier O,IUlt f l ' f Deli,anl :showing ,consi 'd f iu 'c lbha dalmoge bV fr,e'. lhe'se' IU,ghdv-ormored v = hides,WeI'iEl' , ( lU J ' S , m V defea ted Ibytt1ll~'Germo l1 ,50,mrn Q l ln 'U - f, (U 'l ikWeapOF1l5,.

The' :Iritislh Crusoder tanik s,er,ies,replacing e'OIrl llietCruisers stfl lrl 'ed w m ' t h Uilis v,en;lian" NOlte I'h,e'machine'g,un tun-,eir mounted em th e 1,left f,fornf pilote 0 1 " Ih,e superlS,1Ifu'dLure" a i typiicoll i,d'enttfi,cat' ion feoltu,re' 'foIl" ,thisM'Drk.


34/52

M!echoln;iC~OII,br, IE! 'okd,Clw,rn c:n' lJ i l:1lm~ine' damag~e's, addled h:,1the' l :on9 Ih;1 leeFIi),dtis,'h h:n'lllc ,casualfies" No te ,thesandi :5hme~dsImounl '_ d mn 'C I fel1de,.~li'ke' fushie,n; most' ,of the B r l i f i s , l h fuill-fn;;u:k,ed figlhfiing vehi i ,c;I I 'eswerethus 'equip'ped.

'CrllJsader 1 1 1 1 'enks hed s l i g l n f l l V inclfieasea Cll1'mlOllf IprotfM:.f'icn and ofihelf m i n e r m'odiflicartiOFIIS. The fhu:dvell"-s'io:n,the 'Cru,s,od", f UI,WQlS up'9!unned 'w,ith 10 57 m rn w ec lp on .


35/52

Th,e iimpoct of' IGerm,olfli tank and anti-tcHlk 'weapon's la clearlv dem,o'l1'Istrorfe,dbv,this pe,neti i,atioWir off a :5 ,0 Im,m : s h d e , I ! 1 rigl"t beh)w the gun mcm1' lef .Many ,of the ,captured figlrnf'irng vehicles were soon receveredond, if plcssi'blle~ lIJ'sledlID,golin5~'their formell"'o,wrMi:trs" HeFle, (I CnJ,so lder Is lo 'ol lded on 1[1 :24..an I lo 'w-bed 'fraUertthe :st,ond'CIIrdi leq:ui 'p,m,enl fo r Germelnermered recovle:ry f,orf:e~., Prime menter' fo r fhi's,'r' IJUer' was the' 11 , - f ' D l l r hallf.;tlrack trccter ,shown in " r h l e heck -'9 r 'D , U n c : t


36/52

Apar t from th e C'Fuil,er tanks" ,the s io - co lUed h ' l 1 f ' c m t r y tanks p,lc'y,ed 'an imlPortant fo lie lin the Raye' l Tonk( o 'rp s. P i'c 'h Jr'e s how s t i l M C l I I i ' 'k I I I V c ~ ,e ,n 1 'i 'n ,e ' h d ,o ll 'u r v ' t " O I f 1 'kipliI't'@u't'of' a:elh]'I'1I 'by Genl1'ClII1 tank Iguns.

Sa,me of ,the desnoy,ed. ' ron,lksl Iprovlided le',xeenant gbs,ervcti:,ofl pOdints, like thi:s dlis,clbled Valentine leftb eh l nd somll~whelie'in ,the' de,s, 'ert .


37/52

MOII':sihc,1 R'.omm'el us.eld le~densi've,~y grmare,a Ihallf-tl i",ock personnell t:'arrileHI'~Sl.Hie' is a ih i'o Ik n'Qwn ~o ' h ov e u l,s ,e dl'o,nlIman'y ,occ ' lJsions 0 1eDp'l'u'redi Blrit,ish A . I E . . C . IlJ rmo'red cOn'l lmo,nd y,ehide.

A . bll'i 'e,f d i S C l ! J s s " o n b e fv i/,e -e n F ie ll,d M drs ha ll R 'o mm .e ll and ~t,aliICim 'G'enerols, f,ckes, pll,[)c:.eu r u : 1 1 e , f the p'r.iJiJe'cti ,onQ,'f ~fr(lllm'ClrJ' "~Semoyerlte'Utl's:sIQul'f' gUlns" ,eq'iJi 'Fi 'p'e,d with 'U,e'l',,5 em L / 1 , E J gun ..


38/52

Arm,ot,ed holf-treeks ,ahia, served as y,ifall ' C ' C l ' , mm u n : o a i l t j' o 'l f 'I I ce'nters ""J ,guide armored forces, widely scot-tered thlrou'glh:Qut ' r h , e des'ert,. IN'ofe the 'tylPical fra:me ,ontenna used on most 'I lrmo lr ed r ,a diio vehi,des gf th'j's,p e ' r f f i , o d l .

An crmered com MIlJni 'Ea1iotf l vehi,clle with its figlhtiing ,compQrtment 'PE",oltedea by I n f l E ~ " o n ' s ,of til een ves ,c !Q v,e 'rw,gitsfr,or further orders. An MG 34, on 10 ,tripod is set up foil' 'Us'e 'Clgla~ns:'Bwitm:shfignt,er bo,mbe'rs.


39/52

Armored ambu.lances served friend and foe alike. Note the absence of any armament on thesevehicles. Basic vehicle was the standard 3-ton armored personnel carrier, a half-track vehicle.

Platoon leader half-track vehicles had the standard 37 mm anti-tank gun mounted behind theoriginal armor shield. They were intended to support armored infantry units .

. . . . . . . . .. . . -


40/52

A bottle scene in Tunisia, toward the end of the compaign, shows a German armored personnel carrieraccompanied by its captured American counter-port. Contrary to the American version, the front axleof the German vehicle was not driven.

Immobilized by a land mine, this armored holf-trock was left behind by retreating German troops. Openboxes .on either side contained tools and personal belongings of the crew.


41/52

A Russian 7.62 em anti-tonk gun mounted on the Czech Praga 38 t chassis was used in numbers on theRussian front. Some of them found their way to Africa, where they complicated considerably the alreadyover-extended supply system. The weapon itself was capable of destroying any existing Allied armor.

The same gun, without a muzzle brake mounted on a Buessing-NAG 5-tan half-trock chassis. This roremodification existed only in two prototype vehicles and was especially developed for the African theoterof war. Light armor protection for the fighting 'cornportment was provided.


42/52

Another rare vehicle, making its appearance in Africa, was this wheel-cum-track observation armoredcor. Originally on Austrian Army design, it was token over by the German Wehrmacht, but provedsoon to be mechanically too unreliable.

Continuous supply was assured to the British from the United States. Among them was a considerablenumber of armored fighting vehicles. Loaded on trains, they made their journey from Alexandria to thefront. Vehicles seen are light tanks M 3, called Stuart, and medium M 3 Gront tanks ..~


43/52

The fiirst Am,erih::an tanki!i~o, orrive 'at the bcrttlefieldwere soon in ,ac:liiO'ln,and qUlif'j! ohenf,elt the lrnpeetIQ f 'Ge, rman ,ontl-tank w,e 1op'0l1s. This, "Hloney~t re-celved ,0 r U I F ' e c : , t r : h i ' f r j'nlo ,thedriver CO'II' II l,portment.

A, number aftlhem were c'Dp,ured ,aher they h'od,run out ,of fue,f and some ' W , e ' r e used for 'E!'vol'u,o't'iont1ests by englineedng ouHlts ef the Germ,an A,rmy.


44/52

Janik, 1 r ! I . d n s ill1 tine de'sert !u:md w,eon: !' a f'lllmilia r swgih'tend mOIF': lcedlthe' end o,f e\"erv bgffl'e. lend mines didmuch ( ; I , t the damogle.

AI'tnolu'gh quifie 0 lurp "r ii 's e ' te I~he'IGermolns, tne:se' M :3medlium tanks. wilh '~lhei exceillent ' fi 'l l' ,e p O W ' B ' f I ' fenvic:ti'ml 't,o atit'QckiinQI Ge'lrlmon~orrlk outfits. NJ'01e theaddition of sand shields, bV the Bliitilsn.


45/52

lE:xp,~()d'ing ammuni'thl'n I'eft no :th;ng b ufc 01 pU'e o f junk, itro n o f this, M ,3 ,tonI( ..No te th ,e U,mi fed 'IIira-verse provided f D I r ' ,the7S mm gUI", . ~ 'S iheovv ' Qlrm:or pr,Qtec.ted it ag'cinsf smaUierGermllcm w,eapons, .Canodo andt lhe United Stotes oils,oS ' lJp lp I limd '0 ,Iar"ge lpelrcer'llf,ag,s' of ~he,s,orft -ski 'nned traflSiPolR'Veh:jc:Jes to t he' IB ri it is ,h ,Armv. Picture slna,w5 al fo 'ulI"~wheel drIve Dodge,truck U5'I(u:jl in Il'IIlJmbe,n; , b , y 'the' IEngll is,h.


46/52

The onlv Germ'an 1il'l'llTIroredi figlhti:ng vehiclle. d :es ;ig lf red be to lF ', e the 'WOIr Cline! (IOlnltinlured' to I b e prodiu,c,edt ' n f l Q l l J i r g h o ' u t f'he wall"~was the, PCUlz,elr I 'V. Ori,ginoUy irrt'G-fld'ed Qn~y i!lIS IE] :s,u,pprOIi1v e M r d lr e ~or the I P I , a n z r e r IU ,r t scan be,comre ,t'hemClhl 'l1 b, I i) 'H' le ' tank of th e GermlCU11 QIUhO,r,edf 'curf: r8'S,.

~t~smoln (Jlrmomell1l' V I i I ' I U r SCl I" il gi noU. , D s ! M w o ' f1 l - b o n s l ll ed, Ilo,w-wloeity 7"5mm gunl whi,ch was Irolth,er inef-fe,c: fh/e rClrgo l'ilf1lstenemy ermer,


47/52

'Tn!l! lis, C I F I E 'vell',siiol!'l,of ,the IPanzer IV ; wi'ttl th ,e dis,t iwu: , th / ,est ,e~-Hke flrClrl't',a~ p'~ater prortec't'B,d1 slJb$,e'(!j lJ'I1H'lit: lyIb y , c n : I I ' a jltiO:I1'D I~ '0 1'n "H ) IF

thins ,d~s,albte,dPiGinzer !IV hOld its, spcu:ed CHl'lrMlt b~own off by (ll ~5he,1IImIPOC:t.. A 'Veteron of: fbe 'camp'oiign,iin F , r o n 'o e W I i' I'119i40~ it 'SnOWI' em i l1sc r i: p ti 'on ' o l n f h e ch-iv,e'f ,cQlm,pcufmenl ; 1 J : 1 d k ,af'int:;l 'tine dJecdh Q ,f III 'Clf'e'W' mern~Iber d .u :rmrnQ'this b' ( l IHJe.


48/52

F,c:u-s,~gh~e~d'~cnning ollewedfor I C J I turre,I' race ,on .'he orilgiFilcl1 vehic'le which '(:ouk~v,ery wel~ ac,c 'Dlmm,odate 'I:ofger g uns, No te he ,Africcm-sty~e' ' h 'e l lm1eton the 'side 1 0 r f fh,e vehicle.

Ag1cdn forcedi IJpCllf ithe Gell"'m'Clnl5 b ,y fhe' i lr e:xperi,en'CAEl' In RU : 55 Ij'CI, 01 I long- i :u:u1reme,d .. hi,gh.~veh)c'i1V' we,op'Q'rJW,( )S, substituted, en,obUng t hi s, v eJn~ ,de 10' engcl'ge , [my' ,e',xis,ting enemy l e u " m o , ! " . The, first' y,enh:l'r l i o f fhe' 7.Sem K wK ,4 0 l/4,3 :s,tilllhQd a 'singl,e baffle" bO I Ii l- s ho lped rn uzz le b ra k e. V eh ic le ~'san Ausfuehrung F '2 .


49/52

The' ' r o IUowinlg1 G 've 'rs i: (u'1lhope i H~,e S,CllmG' 'QUint! but, til ,double Ibaff~e Ml.tz;zlle, broke. Stoning wi'ththe f v',elfsion,e n IPcn~zer ,IV re,c,e,hted the do ub l'e turret' M(1lfch'e's gf: 'tiMePanzer ~ 1 1 1 ' . l'U ,f lr ef s ,id ie vjSi'DIil s"lots, were (111510e [ I: n n ' in1ate d .

lh'iI!' ~,a~,t'two 'e!"~siorls ,o,f 'fhe Pafll:Z\~'r ~V,fhe' Aus,'fueirnrun'g H C J l r n d l J ' , . ihad ICifI eyen lo'nger 'gun, the '7$ c.mKwi!( .tUlL I A S , . Vek~de ii~sn'Gw'n duringl t h e fh'liol 'S'hlQes of the' c'Ollm:ptl~i ien lin Tunis,ic.


50/52

lhe12' ..ou'l half.;1trcu:;: troctor :s'srve,d ,as g, primemover for' hec,vy '0rtilll'ery' cllnd was '0115,0 used foOrSLllPP'~V purposes. HIBI1B it is, shewn 'tawing CI'n t'lallioll'ii' t r , 1 . J U ' B ' r .

,A~:UJflld,o,.ne,cJy 'the Glermon:s~ this, 12' ~o n Zlgk w h~ being use,d bV Bdlish soldIers ,cn, Cl i"'sight-se,eing"" bus,durhlgl a desert eX!clInicn. l!he hOll rf ,. , tn:u : lk , Ger 'mlCUl serles WCli one lof th e fines1' 'in, exis,]tIence. lit WQI,StO,OIccmpllic,oted" h ow 'l! ve r, a nd demanded constant maintenance effoJrt:s..


51/52

"'0C IJQ.Q.L'"'"~'"IJu: . . cC IJ>C IJII)C IJ.. c. . . .bc:.Q"0::o..0C IJco> -Co. . :' C I JOl~.,::loEo~C IJ~. . . . .oc:o.; ; ;Q j>. . . .C IJ.. c. . . .'"o~cC IJc:.."eot. >c:Cu~QI.s :. . . .co. . .o8 .Q.C2'"cC. . . .eeE. .QIoQI.t:+-o. . . .II)oC IJ


52/52

Elaborate dust cleaning filters were necessary 10 keep the desert sand from entering into the sensitiveMaybach engines. Similar arrangements had also been mode on tanks operating in the southern port ofRussia.Captured Tiger tanks afforded the Allies on inside view of the' Germon tank industry and their latestcreations. Note the snorkel tube fitted to the engine comportment to allow deep fording of these vehicle.A captured 75 mm anti-tonk gun can be seen next to the Tiger.

Documents

Armor in the Desert