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Old February 25th, 2016, 09:23 PM
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Default Re: Invasion Sweden 1943 (Untested Campaign)

Ignore this if you may; I'm just making notes for myself:

So 25 Pz Div had in June 1943:

7 x PzII
41 x PzIII
16 x PzIV
40 x Hotchkiss (French)
15 x Suomas (French)
15 x SP Assault Guns

This compares with 11 Pz Div (at Kursk) at the same time period via Jentz Panzertruppen vol.2, 1943-45

8 x PzII
11 x PzIII (Short)
51 x PzIII (long)
1 x PzIV (Short)
25 x PzIV (Long)
4 x Panzerbefehlwagens
13 x Flammpanzers

According to Leo Niehorster, in Mid 1943; the official organization for a Panzer Regiment was:

Regiment HQ: 3 medium tanks
Regimental Recon Platoon 7 x Pz II

I. Panzer Battalion:
Battalion HQ: 3 x Medium Tanks + 7 Pz II
Flame Platoon: 7 Flame tanks (Only authorized in specific divisions)
4 x Pz Co (17 medium tanks each company*)

II. Panzer Battalion:
Battalion HQ: 3 x Medium Tanks + 7 Pz II
Flame Platoon: 7 Flame tanks (Only authorized in specific divisions)
4 x Pz Co (17 medium tanks each company*)

(* The original TOEs authorized had 22 tanks per company, but the fourth platoon was never authorized, reducing tanks per company to just 17.)

If we go by 13+1 tank platoons per Panzer Battalion, that means that an "official" Panzer Div had room for 28 operational tank platoons; or 112 tanks.

Doing simple math on what 25 Panzer had on hand in June 1943 means that "modern" German tanks like the Pz III/IV in 25 Pz Div's inventory would only fill 57 slots; while French tanks filled another 55 slots; for a total of 112 tanks.

We have some idea of how the captured tanks were organized from Wikipedia (I know I know...but unless we can spend a lot to research 25th Pz Div's inventory returns at the National Archives, it's the best we can do)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchkiss_H35

Additional vehicles were sent to Finland as part of the independent Panzerkampfwagenzüge (tank platoons) 217, 218 and 219, which were attached to the 20th Mountain Army in February 1942.[9] The platoons were the same as those of Panzerabteilung 211, consisting of one SOMUA S35 and four Hotchkiss tanks.

From the above, it stands to reason that (possibly):

25 Pz:
Regimental HQ: 3 x Medium Tanks
Regimental Recon Plt: 7 x Pz II

I. Pz Battalion
Bn HQ: 3 x Medium Tanks
2 x Pz Company (17 medium tanks each, 34 total)
2 x Captured Pz Co (3 x S35 and 12 H39 each, 6 x S35 and 24 H39 total)

II. Pz Battalion
Bn HQ: 3 x Medium Tanks
2 x Pz Company (17 medium tanks each, 34 total)
2 x Captured Pz Co (3 x S35 and 12 H39 each, 6 x S35 and 24 H39 total)

For:

9 x Medium Tanks in HQ units
68 Medium Tanks in Pz Companies
12 x Souma and 48 Hotchkiss in Captured Pz Co

This actually comports well with the 'on hand' inventory of captured tanks, suggesting that the captured Panzer companies would be at close to TOE strength, while out of 77~ slots for medium tanks, there are only 57 medium tanks actually on hand; so the 'regular' Panzer units would be understrength (missing or understrenth platoons).
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