New units in Germany at War 1.08

[terminator]

In what battles on the eastern front did this tank (Italian L6/40) participate ?

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi terminator,

LXVII Bersaglieri Corazzato Battalion was equipped with them. (Bad luck, came from Southern France to the Eastern Front in early 1942 btw.)

They were fighting while flanking 6th Army at the Don and were crushed by the Soviet counter offense like many others in the 8th Army.

Regards,

[terminator]

Hi Ronald,
It was a use limited enough on the ground and in the time on the eastern front.

I found more information :


"Divisione Celere"
The 3rd "Amedeo Duca d'Aosta" Celere (Fast or Cavalry) Division was mobilized in June 1940, with the following units; 3rd Savoia Dragoon Regiment, 5th Lancieri di Novara Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment, 3rd Mobile Artillery Regiment and the 3rd Light Armored Battalion 'San Giorgio'.
Converted from former horse cavalry units, Celere Divisions where semi-motorized units designed for warfare in mountainous terrain (as long as it wasn't too rough for mechanized forces). They sacrifized firepower for speed and by the time the war started, the Celere units where still only partially mechanized. They retained a horse cavalry squadron to cover gaps in the battle lines and exploit holes in the enemy's defenses.
Stationed on the Alpine front until March 1941, they where transferred to the Yugoslavian border and took part in the invasion of that country.
In August 1941, the Division joined the CSIR (Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia), which was attached to the III German Panzer Corps. They aided in encircling the 103,000 men of the Soviet 6th,12th and 18th Armies at Pervomaisk, then made a forced crossing of the Don on 12 September. Averaging an advance of 70 kilometers a week, on 25 October the first Italian unit to enter Stalino was the Division's 20th Bersaglieri (supported by a horse squadron apiece from the Savoia and Novara).
The Division was ordered to be detached on 12 November to cover the flank of the German 49th Mountain Corps on the Mius River. Instead of moving the entire Division, the commander only sent the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiments and a horse artillery group. They where hit particularly hard by the Soviet offensive launched on 5 December.
The Division would be consumed by the fighting on the Don River in December 1942. The survivors were withdrawn from Russian in March 1943 and sent to Emilia to rebuild. In August they were shipped to Bologna, and disbanded in September after putting up weak resistance to the Germans.
The Light Tank Group of 1940 was organized into a command squadron and four tank squadrons (each with three platoons of four tankettes each). Apparently, the unit also had a motorcycle platoon. It mustered 23 officers, 289 NCOs and troopers, 61 tankettes, 23 assorted vehicles, 32 motorcycles, 18 submachineguns, 122 Breda 38 machineguns, and five radios.
As of May 1942, the Celere Divisions were reorganized so that the Light Tank Company was only authorized 52 tankettes. However, the San Giorgio must have remained on the old Table of Organization, as it had 61 tankettes in four squadrons on 1 August 1943.

L6/40 light tanks were used by the Italians in the Balkans Campaign, in the war against the Soviet Union, in the latter stages of the North African campaign, and in the defence of Sicily and Italy.

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi terminator,

so this means more scenarios for the L6/40 [:)]

Regards,

[zakblood]

good news indeed

[terminator]

ORIGINAL: Ronald Wendt

Hi terminator,

so this means more scenarios for the L6/40 [:)]

Regards,

Maybe that this unit could at first supported the division "Celere" at Melitopol in September 1941:

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi folks,

update to the chart - first Finnish unit relealed and no big surprise its a Fokker D.XXI. The Netherlands can now put up a challenge in the air, too.

Regards,

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi folks,

added Pz. I Ausf. B to the list.

Regards,

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi guys,

L6/40 is now on display. Again not s surprise - but the next one will be. [:)]

Regards,

[terminator]

Hi Ronald,
Can we have a small indication on the next unit ?
To what nation does this mysterious unit belong ?

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi terminator,

it was used by several nations and originated in a neutral country. The equipment is for ground combat.

Regards,

[terminator]

Hi Ronald,
certainly a gun. You have to be patient.

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi terminator,

yep, its a gun. An anti-tank gun to be more specific.

Regards,

[AngrySwan]

Hi Ronald,

Swedish Bofors 37mm in Polish service?

[terminator]

I had the same idea as Marechal.

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi folks,

indeed it the 37 mm from Bofors, will be issued for several nations. You make it look so easy. [;)]

Regards,

[terminator]

I found some info :
The standard Bofors of 37 mm was an antitank standard designed by the Swedish manufacturer Bofors in the 1930s. He was made under license in a number of country of which Poland. The made version under license by the Poles (WZ.36) was actively used during the German and Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939. The brigade of cavalry "Wolynska" equipped with the antitank gun WZ.36 of 37mm contained the German divisions of Panzer during one of the first battles of the invasion; the battle of Mokra. At that time, the armoured strengths of the Wehrmacht were mainly equipped with light tanks Panzer I and Panzer II, who were vulnerable to this type of weapon. The first models of Panzer III and Panzer IV could be also destroyed until a distance of 500 m. After Poland was occupied, most of these artillery fell in the hands of the German and Soviet armies. The standard(cannon), had become obsolete from 1941 during the operation Barbarossa.

In Panzer Corps, 4 nations used it :
- Poland
- Finland
- Yugoslavia
- Romania

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi terminator,

in addition it will be availble for Germany as 3,7 cm PaK 36(p) which they had after looting Polands stocks, as well as the Soviets who used it from the same source (Eastern Poland) to replace the many losses during Barbarossas early stages.

Regards,

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi folks,

added 37 PstK/36 for Finland.

Regards,

[zakblood]

thanks as always[&o]