Sledgehammers: Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II

272 Pages·2004·16.23 MB·English

by  Christopher W. Wilbeck

·Chrl --her W"W llbeck
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,=====
Prologue by Tiger Ace Otto Carius
_ Epilogue by Tiger Killers Viktor Iskrov and Ray Holt
Technical Editor: Keith E. Bonn
Production Editor: Patricia K. Bonn
Cartographer: Tom Houlihan
Printer: Mercersburg Printing
The Aberjona Press is an imprint of Aegis Consulting Group, Inc.,
Bedford, Pennsylvania 15522
© 2004 Christopher W. Wilbeck
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
10 09 08 07 06 05 04 6 5 4 3 2
ISBN: 0-9717650-2-2
Contents
Acknowledgments v
A Guide to Tactical Unit Symbols vii
Rank Equivalences viii
Prologue: Through the Eyes of a Tiger Ace—Otto Carius 1
1. Introduction to Heavy Tank Battalions 3
Background 4
Historical Literature 5
Overcoming Misperceptions 7
Measures of Effectiveness and Organization of Book 10
The Levels of Warfare and Heavy Tank Battalions 11
2. Heavy Tank Battalion Overview 12
Doctrine 12
Organization 18
Equipment 25
Personnel 30
Tactics 31
Summary 36
3. Growing Pains and Adaptation 37
Heavy Tank Battalion 502 with Army Group North 38
Heavy Tank Battalions in Tunisia 39
Heavy Tank Battalion 503 with Army Group Don in Southern Russia 58
Changes Before Operation ZITADELLE 63
Operation ZITADELLE: The Battle of Kursk 66
Summary 73
4. On the Strategic Defensive 75
Fighting on the Russian Front 76
Encirclement: The Cherkassy Pocket 78
iii
SLEDGEHAMMERS
iv
Italy 86
Conclusion 99
5. The Last Year of the War 100
Operation BAGRATION 101
In the Aftermath of Operation BAGRATION: Heavy Tank Battalion 502
Defending Dünaburg 104
Normandy 111
Poland 132
6. The Final Battles 1 52
Hungary: The Early Battles 152
Operation Wacht am Rhein 157
Hungary 164
The Vistula-Oder Operation 176
Fragmented End 178
Summary 179
7. Assessment and Conclusion 182
Mission Accomplishment 182
A Statistical Perspective 185
Flaws 187
Synthesis and Conclusion 190
Epilogue: Through the Eyes of Tiger Killers—
Viktor Iskrov and Ray Holt 192
Appendix: Comparative Analysis of Heavy Tank Doctrines 199
France 199
United Kingdom and United States 203
Soviet Union 209
Notes 220
Bibliography 253
About the Author 263
Acknowledgments
In a world where so much information is so easily obtained and so readily
available, I am continually amazed at how many nuggets of history are still
hidden on a shelf in the dark corner of some library or archive. For their great
assistance in helping me to find these nuggets, I would like to thank the librar
ians at the Combined Arms Research Library in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. I
would especially like to thank research assistant Michael Browne who kept his
eye out for me for over two years while this book was being written.
For their advice and input during the formative stages of this work, I would
like to thank three members of the faculty of the Combat Studies Institute at
the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas: Dr. Curtis King, LLC John Suprin, and Dr. Sam Lewis.
I would like to thank the publishers of this book, specifically the editor, Kit
Bonn, and the chief of production, Patti Bonn, for believing in it from the first
time they saw the manuscript. Their suggestions, recommendations, and good
ideas all contributed to making it a better book, and helped to refine my
thoughts and ideas in many areas.
For kindly granting me permission to include most of the photos in this
book, I would like to thank the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor at Fort
Knox, Kentucky, especially Candace Fuller, for helping me in searching the
files there. Mr. Dale Ritter, an author, veteran soldier, and educator in Alburtis,
Pennsylvania, shared both photos from his exceptionally extensive private col
lection and his expertise in precisely identifying the subject matter in others.
I am grateful for his truly collegial attitude and willingness to cheerfully share
his formidable knowledge of Tiger tanks and units. I would also like to recog
nize and commend the exceptional professionalism, expertise, and respon
siveness of Mr. David Fletcher of the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset, in the
United Kingdom, who provided important photos on short notice. Mr.
Wilfred Rogers of Helion Books in Solihull, Warwickshire, was instrumental
in quickly scanning and transmitting those photos, making their inclusion in
the book possible.
Several World War II veterans shared their thoughts and recollections that
comprise the Prologue and Epilogue of this book. Famed Tiger commander
v
vi SLEDGEHAMMERS
Otto Carius very graciously agreed to contribute the former, and an officer
who could easily have been across the battlefield from him, Colonel Viktor
Iskrov, formerly of the Red Army, kindly provided part of the latter. Bob Holt,
webmaster and creator of the very fine site telling the history of the 752nd
Tank Battalion in WWII (www.752ndtank.com) contributed the gripping
story that comprises the other part of the Epilogue on behalf of his veteran
father, the late Ray Holt, former Sherman tank driver and commander in
B/752nd. I am indebted to all of them for adding color and personal insights
in reinforcing the themes of the book. I am also grateful to Hans Roepke of
Frankfurt, Germany, for eliciting and coordinating Herr Carius's thoughtful
contribution. I am similarly grateful to Lars Gyllenhaal of Rosvik, Sweden,
and Bair Irincheev of St. Petersburg and Helsinki for facilitating our receipt of
Colonel Iskrov's vivid anecdote.
Staff Sergeant Tom Houlihan, USMC (Ret.) of Aegis Consulting Group,
Inc., created the outstanding maps which so vividly portray the action in the
case studies which are central to this study. A true professional in every way,
he was a real partner in the process of fashioning these exceptional graphic
aids. Lieutenant Colonel Mark Reardon, US Army; Mr. Terry Poulos, Toronto,
Ontario; Mark Rikmenspoel, Fort Collins, Colorado; and Lawrence Frappier,
Houston, Texas also all contributed to the information contained on various
maps.
I owe a lasting debt to my close friend Andrew Harris, who read the initial
draft and has always provided me valuable suggestions, for this book and in
life, usually over a late-night whiskey or a bottle of wine. Perhaps that is why
his advice always seemed so sage at the time.
I am grateful to my parents, Warren and Corlynn Wilbeck, for always sup
porting me in whatever I have done and for somehow instilling in me a thirst
for knowledge and a passion for history. Thanks to my children, Jonathan and
Abigail, for helping me in a variety of ways during the production of this
book, from taking on increased responsibility in yard and household chores to
simply being great kids.
Finally, a heartfelt thanks to my wife and best friend, Lizzie. Her support
during the writing of this book and also during many extended deployments
away from home have always been a source of strength.
—Chris Wilbeck
March 2004
A Guide to Tactical Unit Symbols
Types of Units Sizes of Units
Platoon/British Tank or
Infantry
Recce Troop
Armored Infantry/
Company/Battery/U.S. Cavalry Troop/
Panzer-Grenadier
British Tank or Recce Squadron
Tank/Panzer Battalion/U.S. Cavalry Squadron
Battalion-sized task force
Armored Recon or Combat Group
Regiment
Parachute Infantry
Regimental-sized task force
or Combat Group
Motorized Infantry
Brigade/Group/
Combat Command
Tank Destroyer*
Division
Antitank (Towed Guns)
Corps
Armored Field Artillery
or Assault Guns Army
(Sturmgeschütz)
Army Group
Engineers
Example
Heavy Tank Battalion 501
US, Soviet, or
German Forces
British Forces
"The German equivalent, Panzerjäger units, is symbolized by "PZJG" in the unit box.
Note. If the specific sub element of a unit is not known, only its size is graphically indicated on the left of
the unit box.
Thus, would be an unspecified battalion of Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 12.
Rank Equivalences
US Army German Army Waffen-SS
General Generalfeldmarschall
of the Army
General Generaloberst SS-Oberstgruppenführer
Lieutenant General (der Infanterie, SS-Obergruppenführer
General der Artillerie, etc.)
Major Generalleutnant SS-Gruppenführer
General
Brigadier Generalmajor SS-Brigadeführer
General
SS-Oberführer
Colonel Oberst SS-Standartenführer
Lieutenant SS-Obersturmbannführer
Oberstleutnant
Colonel
SS-Sturmbannführer
Major
Major
SS-Hauptsturmführer
Captain
1st Hauptmann SS-Obersturmführer
Oberleutnant
Lieutenant
Leutnant SS-Untersturmführer
2nd
Lieutenant
Sergeant Major* Stabsfeldwebel SS-Sturmscharführer
Master Oberfeldwebel SS-Hauptscharführer
Sergeant/
First Sergeant
Technical Feldwebel SS-Oberscharführer
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant Unterfeldwebel SS-Scharführer
Sergeant Unteroffizier SS-Unterscharführer
Corporal
Private Hauptgefreiter SS-Rottenführer
First Class Obergefreiter
Gefreiter
Obersoldat SS-Sturmmann
(Obergrenadier,
Oberkanonier, etc.)
Private Soldat (Grenadier, SS-Mann
Kanonier, etc.)
*Not a rank in the US Army during WWII. NCOs serving as sergeants major during that era
were usually Master Sergeants.
Prologue
Through the Eyes of a Tiger Ace
As a "Tiger-Man" from the design's earliest days, I am having difficulties
appreciating the phenomenon of such immense interest in a weapon of which
only a little over a thousand units were used by the German armed forces.
There is no doubt that the Tiger was a technical masterpiece, in spite of insuf
ficient production sites during this phase of the war. This was a situation that
was less than optimal, particularly in view of the bombing.
Unfortunately, the front line activities of the Tiger battalions' crews were
mostly unpleasant, but they were eminently necessary. We were to act as the
backbone of the defensive lines of the rather weak infantry units, in order to
prevent a major catastrophe on the Eastern Front.
Operation Zitadelle and the action in the Kursk Salient were more or less
the only events when Panthers and Tigers could really demonstrate their pre
eminent offensive strength, acting as sledgehammers to clear the path for units
equipped with Panzer IIIs and IVs.
The attack was doomed, however, because the order had been given too late,
thus forfeiting the desired surprise effect. Ten times as many Tigers would not
have altered the situation, since our infantry forces had been much too weak.
The failure of Operation Zitadelle turned the tide toward ultimate Ger
man defeat. The only task left was to try to keep the Russians from forcing
their way into Germany proper. In this, too, Tiger units played a major role,
although it was not one for which they had been designed. Our Heavy Tank
Battalion 502 mastered its task with outstanding efficiency.
My own 2nd Company, Heavy Tank Battalion 502 participated in numer
ous defensive battles against the Russians. Tigers proved themselves superior
against Soviet tanks countless times, even when greatly outnumbered. One
such occasion was during the defensive battles around Dünaburg in the sum
mer of 1944. On 22 July 1944, Soviet forces broke through our front lines
north of the city. My company was ordered to advance along the Rollbahn
north of Dünaburg to hold open the important road to Viski. Along this road,
at the small town of Malinava, my company encountered a Soviet force of 20
tanks, comprised of T-34s and Josef Stalins, their new heavy tank. We attacked
immediately, using only two of our company's eight operational tanks, to limit
exposure to enemy fire. In a battle that lasted about 20 minutes, my crew and
the other, commanded by Feldwebel (later Oberfeldwebel and Knight's Cross
recipient) Albert Kerscher, destroyed 17 of the enemy tanks.
1
2 SLEDGEHAMMERS
Even successful engagements like these were unable to stop the Red Army.
No amount of skill or courage could stem the tide, and no tank ever designed
could perform miracles. Still, I wouldn't have wanted to go into battle with any
other tank but the Tiger, because it was superior in every aspect to all other
tanks fielded by the German military.
A brief word about this book: As former frontline soldiers, my comrades
and I do appreciate every author who holds discipline, chivalry, and readiness
to fight in esteem. I have personally given up hope that politicians who never
experienced war first hand will ever realize that war is the worst of all possible
alternatives.
Otto Carius
Former Commander, 2nd Company, Heavy Tank Battalion 502
Herschweiler-Pettersheim, February 2004
Author's Note: Otto Carius was born in Zweibrücken, Germany, on 27 May
1922. He enlisted in 1940 and saw his first combat during Operation Barbarossa
as a crewman aboard a Czech-made Panzer 38(t) with
the 20th Panzer Division's Panzer Regiment 21. Following
about a year of combat against the Soviets in the central
sector of the Eastern Front, Carius attended an officer
candidate course in Germany and was commissioned a
lieutenant in the Panzer branch. He was assigned to
Heavy Tank Battalion 502 in April 1943, and deployed
with the unit to combat in the vicinity of Leningrad. Over
the next 14 months, his unit fought mostly defensive
actions, ultimately withdrawing to the Narva Pocket
before being transferred to the Dünaburg (Daugavpils,
Latvia) sector. There, Oberleutnant Carius and his men Otto Carius
participated in several spectacular tank duels; subse
quently, he was awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
In August 1944, Carius was transferred to the armor center at Paderborn to
assume command of a company in Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion 512. This
unit, equipped with the heaviest armored vehicle to ever see combat (even to this
day, in 2004!), the Jagdtiger ("Hunting Tiger"), later conducted defensive opera
tions along the Rhine in March and April 1945, before capitulating to the
Americans.
During his wartime service, Otto Carius earned the Wounds Badge in Gold;
the Armored Combat Badge in Silver (for 100 engagements); the Iron Cross, 1st
and 2nd Classes; and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves. Since
the war, he has pursued a career as a pharmacist, and continues in this profession
even at the time of this book's publication.