German Reconnaissance and Support Vehicles, 1939–1945

Paul Thomas

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781526720894
• eBook ISBN: 9781526720900
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

This WWII pictorial history illustrates the full range of Nazi vehicles used in reconnaissance and support missions throughout the war.
 
The German military used reconnaissance and support vehicles widely in the Second World War. This book illustrates the full range of these vehicles with authoritative information and more than 200 rare wartime photographs.
 
Both tracked and wheeled vehicles were employed for reconnaissance and screening. These included light tanks such as the Panzer I and Panzer II, armored cars such as the six- and eight- wheeled Schwerer Panzerspähwagen, and motorcycles such as the famous BMW R75 or the Zundapp KS750. In addition to their recon role they would, on occasion, engage similar light units. Support vehicles such as the tracked Sd.Kfz.2 Kettenkrad, and the renowned Sd.Kfz.251 halftracks were used in the follow-up role, frequently with mounted grenadiers to mop up over-run enemy positions.

Chapter One

1939–1940

For the invasion of Poland a typical reconnaissance unit had a complement of nineteen officers, two administrators, ninety non-commissioned officers and 512 enlisted men. Their weapons comprised twenty-five light MG34 machine guns, three light grenade launchers, two heavy MG34 machine guns on tripod mounts, three PaK guns and three armoured scout cars. Reconnaissance units during this early period of the war were partly motorized and there was a variety of vehicles available including animal draught. These comprised seven horse-drawn HF wagons and a mounted squadron of some 260 horses. The vehicles consisted of fifty motorcycles, twenty-eight of which were sidecar combinations, twenty-nine vehicles many of which were armoured, and twenty trucks including workshop and supply.

A reconnaissance unit comprised two armoured reconnaissance squadrons or Panzerspähschwadronen, a motorcycle machine gun squadron or Kradschützenschwadron, a heavy squadron or Schwere Schwadron, a mobile workshop, and the supply and transport elements. It comprised four-wheeled Sd.Kfz.260 and 261 armoured radio cars, a six-wheeler Sd.Kfz.263 signals vehicle, and an armoured car platoon with a number of Sd.Kfz.221 and 222 light armoured cars. There might also be the Sd.Kfz.231 six-wheeler heavy armoured car and the Sd.Kfz.233, which was the army’s first wheeled heavy support vehicle. The motorcycle machine gun squadrons, with BMW or Zündapp with sidecar combinations, often mounting MG34 machine guns, comprised three rifle troops with three light and one heavy MG34 machine gun crew, supported with light mortars.

Each armoured reconnaissance unit comprised a squadron headquarters via the divisional signals battalion. A signals squadron comprised one radio command vehicle, four armoured cars fitted with radio, one heavy troop of half-a-dozen six- or eightwheeled cars, and two light troops, each of which had six four-wheeled cars. These reconnaissance battalions or Aufklärung Abteilung were controlled by battalion headquarters which was responsible for receiving information from reconnaissance and transmitting it to divisional headquarters via the divisional signals battalion, or intelligence section known as Nachrichtenzug.

The heavy squadron comprised various light infantry gun troops equipped with two 7.5cm infantry guns, a Panzerjäger troop with three 3.7cm PaK guns and one MG34, and an assault pioneer troop of three sections, each employed with MG34s. While out in the field an artillery observer would often escort the patrol, especially in an urgent situation when supporting artillery was required.

Reconnaissance units in Poland employed animal draught as well as armoured vehicles of both tracked and wheeled type. The tracked vehicle notably used during this period was the reliable and diverse Sd.Kfz.251 halftrack. At the outbreak of war there were only some sixty-eight of these in service. They were not intended to be a combat vehicle, but simply to support the infantry and reconnaissance units on patrol by transporting troops to the edge of the battlefield.

When reconnaissance units were sent out on patrol it was vital to take into consideration the terrain, the situation, and the range of the signal equipment. Normally an hour’s drive ahead of the battalion lasting one or two days was far enough for reconnaissance to undertake their duties effectively without hindering operations. Here they could obtain information and messages, collate them, and relay them back.

Reconnaissance missions in Poland varied considerably depending on the terrain and what difficulties were placed on it by the enemy. Where the enemy were not influencing the situation and there was no immediate threat in the area, a radio vehicle, light cars, motorcycles and even mounted horses were often deployed. Where there was immediate danger and threat of attack, a radio vehicle and light and heavy armoured vehicles were used. In support were halftracks carrying assault pioneers, anti-tank guns, howitzers and a mobile workshop including the supply and transport elements.

The campaign in Poland was swift. All along the German front Polish formations were pulverised by constant ground and aerial attack. As a result Polish troops were forced everywhere to withdraw. All along the front the Germans took village after village, town after town, and dominated the terrain as they marched towards a quick victory.

From the beginning of the invasion the Luftwaffe had paralysed large sections of the Polish railway network. In many areas the virtual collapse of the communication system had left Polish commands isolated, unable to establish contact with the fronts. Consequently decisions were almost invariably late and therefore disastrously overtaken by events with the result that one position after another was lost to the Germans. Reconnaissance had shown its worth in a campaign that had demonstrated a new kind of warfare – fast and devastating Blitzkrieg. The invasion was a product of dazzling organisation and staff work, and technical ingenuity. Everything it seemed went according to plan, or even better than the plan, in the unfolding both of strategy and tactics.

Eight months later, the German war machine again used Blitzkrieg tactics, this time against Holland, Belgium and France. The army would use highly mobile operations involving the deployment of motorized infantry, air power, and armour in coordinated attacks allowing its forces to gain rapid penetration followed by the encirclement of a bewildered and overwhelmed enemy. Once again, reconnaissance played a major part in the planning of the deployment of the German forces on the front lines and in the successful outcome of its campaign.

For the war in the west it was important for deep reconnaissance patrols to be able to operate effectively up to 30 miles ahead of the main body, avoiding engagements as much as possible. A patrol never split up, and in open country allowed 100 to 200 metres of space between vehicles. Motorcyclists and engineers were often attached to the battalions to deal with road blocks and demolitions, while the main body of the reconnaissance units gathered information.

In Belgium and Holland, the flat countryside made reconnaissance patrols relatively easy. Also observation teams were able to identify enemy movement at long distances which enabled the collating of information much easier for the teams. Where there were areas of imminent danger from enemy contact, motorcycle machin...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter One: 1939–1940
• Chapter Two: 1941–1942
• Chapter Three: 1943–1945
• Appendix One: Heavy Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicles
• Appendix Two: The Typical Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion