1 Gazala Campaign 1942 Command Decision: Test of Battle German Order of Battle Revised February 24, 2007 Converted to CD:TOB June 22, 2008 Minor revisions September 12, 2009 Major revisions February 23, 2010 Panzerarmee Afrika: Headquarters: (Elite/11) 1 command stand (Rommel) 1 SdKfz 251/6 1 staff radio van Afrika Headquarters Combat Escort - “Kampf Gruppe Kiehl”: (Veteran/9) Headquarters: 1 command PzKw IIF Headquarters Company: 1 medium supply truck Tank Company: 1 command PzKw IIIJ1 2 M3 Stuarts (British) Antitank/Antiaircraft Company: 1 command infantry stand 1 light truck 2 2-pdr Portee AT guns (British) 1 SdKfz 10/4 2cm AA (from 1/606 th Flak Battalion) 1 PzSfl. II with 75L41 (75L41 on Zgkw. 5 ton halftrack – only 2) 3 rd Battery/1 st Bn/43 rd Flak: 1 command infantry stand 1 light truck 1 88L56 AA gun and crew (ds) 1 SdKfz 7 tractor Heckler Combat Group: Headquarters: (Elite/10)
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NORTH AFRICA ORGANIZATIONSGAZALA MAY, · Web view1 kubelwagen. Headquarters Battery: 1 medium supply truck. 2 Batteries, each with: 1 command infantry stand. 1 light truck. 1 50L60
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1Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
Revised February 24, 2007Converted to CD:TOB June 22, 2008Minor revisions September 12, 2009Major revisions February 23, 2010
Panzerarmee Afrika:Headquarters: (Elite/11)
1 command stand (Rommel)1 SdKfz 251/61 staff radio van
Afrika Headquarters Combat Escort - “Kampf Gruppe Kiehl”: (Veteran/9)Headquarters:
1 command PzKw IIFHeadquarters Company:
1 medium supply truckTank Company:
1 command PzKw IIIJ12 M3 Stuarts (British)
Antitank/Antiaircraft Company:1 command infantry stand1 light truck2 2-pdr Portee AT guns (British)1 SdKfz 10/4 2cm AA (from 1/606th Flak Battalion)1 PzSfl. II with 75L41 (75L41 on Zgkw. 5 ton halftrack – only 2)
3rd Battery/1st Bn/43rd Flak:1 command infantry stand1 light truck1 88L56 AA gun and crew (ds)1 SdKfz 7 tractor
Composite Antitank Company: (Veteran/9)1 command infantry stand1 50L60 AT gun and crew
2Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
1 37L45 AT gun and crew1 2-pounder AT gun and crew (captured)1 light truck1 Stuart tank (captured)
775th Pioneer Landing Company & 5/85th Heavy Ferry Company (Veteran/9):(1 x Landwasserschlepper amphibious tracker, carried 20 men)(11-12 x Strumboot 42, assault boat carried 40 men & mounted 1 x 20L113 & 1 MG)(2 x Pioneer Landungsboot 41, carried 40 tons, 150 men or 2 vehicles)(1 x Fuhrungsboot 42)
3rd “Africa Settentrionale” Bn/San Marco Marine Regt. (-): (Italian) (Exp/8)Headquarters:
3 Batteries, each with:1 command infantry stand1 light truck1 155L14 howitzer (French) and crew (ds)1 SdKfz 8 tractor
3rd Battery/523rd Coastal Artillery, with:
7Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
1 command infantry stand1 light truck1 155L37 Field Gun (French) and crew (ds)1 SdKfz 8 tractor
200th Infantry Regiment:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
Headquarters Company:1 staff radio truck1 recon motorcycle rifle stand1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor1 medium supply truck
708th Infantry Gun Company:1 command infantry stand1 SdKfz 10 tractor1 GW II (15cm IG on Pz II chasis)
I/200th Infantry Battalion1:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
Composite Antitank platoons:2 50L60 AT guns and crews2 SdKfz 10 tractors
4 Companies, each with:1 command infantry stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 infantry stand1 medium truck1 weapons stand1 light truck
II/200th Infantry Battalion:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 The infantry battalions of the 90th Light Division were vastly under strength. The entire division had only 44 heavy machineguns and 21 heavy mortars; the six infantry battalions needed 48 heavy mortars and 48 heavy machineguns. By stretching it a bit, you can give each infantry company a weapons stand that represents 2 MMGs and 1 8cm mortar.. Finally, the division was short of the required type of antitank guns. There should have been 18 50L60 in the antitank battalion, 6 50L60 AT in the engineer battalion, 3 50L60 AT in the recon battalion, 3 50L60 AT in each regiment HQ, and an additional 8 guns in each infantry battalion for a total 84 antitank guns. The division had only 13 37L45, 15 (later 40) 50L60 and 32 76.2 guns. Each infantry company were supposed to have 2 76.2 AT guns, but the division had only enough for 2 of the battalions (probably 155th & 361st), a third (probably the 200th) had 50L60 AT guns. Each of the infantry companies (24 total) were supposed to have one 28/20 antitank gun as well, however the division had only 14 heavy PzBs in May 1942. The May 1942 organization for the division shows 3 with each of the two divisional engineer companies and only 1 per infantry company in only the 361st Infantry Regiment. The two other infantry regiments are shown with 1 PzB 39 per infantry company.
8Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
1 kubelwagenComposite Antitank platoons:
2 50L60 AT guns and crews2 SdKfz 10 tractors
4 Companies, each with:1 command infantry stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 infantry stand1 medium truck1 weapons stand1 light truck
361st Infantry Regiment:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
Headquarters Company:1 staff radio truck1 recon motorcycle rifle stand1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor1 medium supply truck
Infantry Gun Company: (not present, being formed)I/361st Infantry Battalion:
Headquarters:1 command stand1 kubelwagen
Composite Antitank platoons:2 76L39 (r) AT guns and crews2 SdKfz 10 tractors
4 Companies, each with:1 command infantry stand (28/20 ATR)1 medium truck1 infantry stand1 weapons stand1 light truck
II/361st Infantry Battalion:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
Composite Antitank platoons:2 76L39 (r) AT guns and crews2 SdKfz 10 tractors
4 Companies, each with:1 command infantry stand (28/20 ATR)1 medium truck
9Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
1 infantry stand1 weapons stand1 light truck
Italian 10th Corps (see Italian Organizations)
Italian 21st Corps (see Italian Organizations)
Italian 20th Mobile Corps (see Italian Organizations)
Deutsches Afrika Korps:
Corps Headquarters: (Elite/10)1 command stand1 car
Headquarters Company:1 staff radio truck1 recon motorcycle rifle stand1 engineer stand1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor1 medium supply truck
13th Infantry Gun Company:1 command infantry stand 1 light truck1 150L11 infantry gun and crew (bg)1 SdKfz 10 tractor2 75L12 infantry gun and crew (bg)2 light trucks
14th Engineer Company:1 command engineer stand (28/20 ATR)2 engineer stands (28/20 ATR)1 weapons stand2 medium trucks1 37L45 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
I/115th Infantry Battalion2:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
2 Companies, each with:1 command rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 medium truck
2 Each infantry company was supposed to have 3 28/20 Antitank guns in the role of antitank rifles per company, however, the division had very few of them (maybe only enough for the engineer companies). On May 21, 1942 the division had only 4 28/20 and 35 PzB 39 ATRs. That is enough for the regimental engineer company to have 28/20s and the infantry companies to have PzB 39 ATRs.
14Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
1 weapons stand1 light truck1 37L45 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
2 Companies, each with:1 command rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 medium truck1 weapons stand1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
II/115th Infantry Battalion:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
4 Companies, each with:1 command rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 medium truck1 weapons stand1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
III/115th Infantry Battalion:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen1 command rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 medium truck1 weapons stand1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
1 Company:1 command rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 medium truck1 weapons stand1 light truck1 37L45 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
33rd Recon Battalion: (Veteran/10)
15Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
Headquarters Company:1 staff radio truck1 recon motorcycle rifle stand1 engineer stand1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor1 medium supply truck
13th Infantry Gun Company:1 command infantry stand 1 light truck1 150L11 infantry gun and crew (bg)1 SdKfz 10 tractor2 75L12 infantry gun and crew (bg)2 light trucks
14th Engineer Company:
19Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
1 command engineer stand (28/20 ATR)2 engineer stands (28/20 ATR)1 weapons stand2 medium trucks1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
I/104th Infantry Battalion3:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
4 Companies, each with:1 command rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 medium truck1 weapons stand1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
II/104th Infantry Battalion:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
4 Companies, each with:1 command rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 medium truck1 weapons stand1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
III/104th Infantry Battalion:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
4 Companies, each with:1 command rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 rifle stand (PzB 39 ATR)1 medium truck1 weapons stand
3 Each infantry company was supposed to have 3 28/20 Antitank guns in the role of antitank rifles per company, however, the division had very few of them (none were present with the division in August 1942). The antitank strength of the division in May 1942 is unknown, however I have allocated the infantry companies three PzB 39 antitank rifles like the 115th Infantry Regiment.
20Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
3rd Recon Battalion: (Veteran/10)Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
1st Armored Car Company (-):1 command SdKfz 2221 recon SdKfz 2221 recon SdKfz 231/8
2nd Motorized Infantry Company:1 command rifle stand (28/20 ATR)1 recon rifle stand (28/20 ATR)1 medium truck1 weapons stand (28/20 ATR)1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
Heavy Company:1 command engineer stand (28/20 ATR)1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
39th Antitank Battalion:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 kubelwagen
Headquarters Battery:1 medium supply truck
1 Towed Company:1 command infantry stand1 light truck2 50L60 AT guns and crews2 SdKfz 10 tractors
1 Towed Company (-):1 command infantry stand1 light truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
155th Artillery Regiment:Headquarters:
1 command stand1 car
21Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
Headquarters Battery:1 medium supply truck
I/155th Artillery Battalion:Headquarters:
1 command observation stand1 SdKfz 253
Headquarters Battery:1 medium supply truck
3 Batteries (1st-3rd), each with:1 command infantry stand1 light truck1 105L28 howitzer and crew (ds)1 SdKfz 11 tractor
II/155th Artillery Battalion:Headquarters:
1 command observation stand1 SdKfz 253
Headquarters Battery:1 medium supply truck
3 Batteries (4th-6th), each with:1 command infantry stand1 light truck1 105L28 howitzer and crew (ds)1 SdKfz 11 tractor
III/155th Artillery Battalion:Headquarters:
1 command observation stand1 SdKfz 253
Headquarters Battery:1 medium supply truck
2 Batteries, each with:1 command infantry stand1 light truck1 150L30 howitzer and crew (ds)1 SdKfz 7 tractor
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
3 Companies, each with:1 command engineer stand (28/20 ATR)1 light truck2 engineer stands (28/20 ATR)1 medium truck1 50L60 AT gun and crew1 SdKfz 10 tractor
90th Light Afrika Division: (Veteran/9)Headquarters:
NOTES:1. German Tanks: It appears that the Afrika Korps was largely rearmed with PzKw IIIJ1s and a very few PzKw IIIJ2s before the Gazala Campaign. Between January and May, 1942, DAK recieved 20 PzKw IIF, 211 PzKw IIIJ, 49 PzKw IVF, and 4 PzKwBef III. Also the 3rd and 7th companies of the 5th Panzer Regiment were reformed (after being sunk earlier) and came with a total of 10 PzKw IIF and and 34 PzKw IIIJ1 tanks. Thanks to Dave Chappell for bring this to my attention.
26Gazala Campaign 1942
Command Decision: Test of BattleGerman Order of Battle
2. Infantry Battalion Organization: The infantry battalions were reorganized into four identical companies by disbanding the machinegun and heavy companies and using the personnel to form the new infantry company and the new regimental engineer company. 3. 15th Rifle Brigade: The 200th and 361st Infantry Regiments were detached from the 90th Light Africa Division and were commanded by the 15th Rifle Brigade. To replace them, Special Group 288 was attached from Army Troops.4. Sources: This OB was based on one published in CP9 with revisions based on comments by Frank Chadwick and new research from Jack Greene's and Alessandro Massignani's Rommel's North Africa Campaigns and major changes coming from information contained in George Nafziger’s The Afrika Korps, An Organizational History 1941-1943 and Pier Paolo Battistelli’s Rommel’s Afrika Korps. Also a discussion on Axis History Forum provided more information. There is an endless amount of conflicting information of the organization of some units below the battalion level. Where possible I have decided which organizations seemed most likely given on the various organizations listed. 5. Higher Level Support Units: I’ve omitted German support troops as they would not have a combat role. These include division, corps, and army level units. These included the 11th Artillery Observation Battalion of the 104th Artillery Brigade (which had a sound company as well as a flash company) and divisional replacement battalions which probably had few men in them given the under-strength nature of the divisions.