Pz38t transition to PzIII

[r6kunz]

Any ideas as to when and how the German Pz38t Panzer Divisions (6(Pz35t).7.8.12.19.20.PzDiv) transitioned to PzIII?
Thanks!

[Oberst_Klink]

ORIGINAL: HPT KUNZ

Any ideas as to when and how the German Pz38t Panzer Divisions (6(Pz35t).7.8.12.19.20.PzDiv) transitioned to PzIII?
Thanks!

Herr Hauptmann!

sPzAbt653 or polarenper have the TO&E for the German PzRgt in question. Btw, the Oberst (me!) recommends this book - PANZER GUNNER: From My Native Canada to the German Osfront and Back. In Action with 25th Panzer Regiment, 7th Panzer Division 1944-45

Klink, Oberst

[sPzAbt653]

All I know is - During the fighting in Russia, the need for heavier armour and armament made PzKpfw 38(t) inadequate and in 1942, it was relegated to other duties (e.g. reconnaissance and service in armored trains).

Because they were still used in a recon role, I think they were replaced by the III's as the III's became available.

By the way, when is Klink going to post those TOE files on the Gefechtsstand ??

[samba_liten]

Erm...well, I'm not making much progress on that at the moment. [:o]
I got side-tracked researching some aspects of the reserve army (fascinating stuff, by the way). Anyway, a quick glance around my sources indicates that the 204th Pz.Rgt of the 22nd Pz.Div was the last regiment to be sent east equipped with the Pz.Kpfw 38(t). Another tidbit is that even the 1st Pz.Div had 10 of these tanks on strength on the 15th of July '42.

Lots were still around at the start of the Russian Stalingrad offensive in November. They were assigned to the 22nd, 27th, 19th, 1st, 20th, and 8th Pz.Divs at that time.

The sixth Pz.Div had none on strength when it returned to the East in November '42.

A reorganization of the Panzer troops took place October '42 to December '43. The KstN issued at this time show no Czech armour at all, and by Kursk in July '43 there seem to have been only 12 left on the Eastern front (9 with the 20th Pz.Div and 3 with the 8th.)

Hope that helps.