Sturmpanzer IV in Normandy

How did this amazing, chonky, innovative AFV completely fail to approach to AVRE's success and lead to myths the Wehrmacht lacked a similar AFV entirely? /1
#WW2 #SWW #History

217 Sturmpanzer Abteilung was the sole user of Sturmpanzer IV in Normandy.

Even this was a close run thing as the proposal do raise another Sturmpanzer Bn was effectively vetoed on 6 Feb '44, as they had intended to discontinue production in April. /2

In April, a u-turn is made and it's decided to raise 217 Sturmpanzer Bn around a core provided by 40 Panzer Kompanie, who are fully absorbed/disbanded.

By the end of May, the Bn had about 462 men. /3

Considering the massive fucking war on, forming 217 proved tricky.

As Major Eberhard Lemor noted. Only 18 Sturmpanzers arrived for training, few wheeled vehicles, little ammunition, minimal equipment... messy. /4

Signals training would continue in action, and mechanical difficulties complicated matters and many drivers didn't receive proper training.

Even climbing the smallest step on the road to proficiency was akin to scaling a cliff face. /5

Officially, only 28 Sturmpanzer were allocated.

On paper 217 should have had three companies, each of three zugs (platoons), of four Sturmpanzer IV. Two extra Sturmpanzer acted as company command.

They needed 42 to reach establishment.

Not the best start. /6

There were at least 8 more that arrived but aren't documented, so... 36 vs 42 isn't so awful but clearly limits effectiveness.

Haasler and Vosters' book suggests some of these vehicles trickle in as they make their way to Normandy, which feels likely.

Again, whatamess. /7

There was a push to get 217 committed to Normandy in June, but given the aforementioned difficulties represent the tip of a shitberg, this took much longer.

By 7 July, over two weeks late, they're in Normandy.

Or did they?

Whilst Lemor's HQ was in Normandy, PGW noted... /8

that on 17 July, they were still in transit.

Others suggest on 18 - they ain't arrived yet.

That said, 2 Company is defo in theatre at the end of July and joins I SS-Panzerkorps. 1 Company arrives a day after them, and joins 74 Corps near Conde-sur-Noireau. /9

3 Company arrives at the end of July, and flits between II SS-Pz Corps and 74 Corps as things progress.
After disembarking from trains, they initiated a 170km march to the front & suffered many breakdowns.
Things would improve in action, as 217 underwent on the job training. /10

So before we look at the actions, what was Sturmpanzer IV?

Officially the concept dated back to 20 Sept 42, in a meeting between Hitler & Speer. Stalingrad taught them a well armoured self propelled infantry gun to quickly destroy buildings was highly desirable. /11

The thing was, this had been tried before with the 15cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Pz I Ausf. B, then the Gw. für 15 cm s.I.G. 33/1 (Sd. Kfz. 138/1): S.P.

AAAAND one on Panzer II.

*Full names will kill Twatter, so deal with it* /12

The key thing with all these weapons is that they harnessed the excellent 150mm sIG 33.

This heavy infantry gun could only fire 2-3 RPM but provided devastating close range firepower. Yes, not a patch on AVRE's 290mm spigot mortar, but it was a lot of "fuckoff" per round. /13

These guns were originally employed to grant some Pz Divs self propelled, lightly armoured, heavy infantry guns to quickly reduce strong points and speed the advance. Starting with sIG 33 150mm gun on a Panzer I chassis. /14

These were very much integral, subordinated platoons rather than independent assault units to really aid motorised infantry.

The first 38 made their appearance in the battle of France within 1,2,5,7,9 & 10 Pz Divs and proved successful enough... /15

that a new variant was developed on the Panzer II chassis from October 1940, as the Panzer I was horribly overloaded.

I mean look at it.

Anyway. These new SPs go to new heavy infantry gun companies in 90 liechte Afrika-Division. /16

This too does well, even better!

So they start looking at the delectable Panzer 38(T) chassis as a basis. Things are slow going and BMW started work in March 42, but it wasn't until Feb 43 that the first 25 were delivered. /17

By now, thinking's moved on a bit.

You've got heavy assault guns mounted on SP chassis for infantry assault - perhaps a bit more armour, more robust chassis and... you get weapons tipping into the Sturmgeschütz/assault artillery concept??? /18

In September 42, Speer and Hitler have a chinwag which leads to Albert dropping Alkett a line.

On 22 September 42, Hitler is overjoyed to hear the first six assault infantry guns will be ready by 7 October with 18 more by the end of the month. /19

This becomes the Sturm-Infanterie-Geschütz and uses the newer sIG 33/1 guns, which are a bit more refined.

80mm of front armour, 50mm on sides, 15mm rear and 10mm roof, with 30 rounds.

The MG 34 was a bit of an afterthought. /20

For the first time we see a 150mm armed SP utilised as a dedicated assault gun, as the SIG is employed as such in Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 177, 244 and 245. The former are destroyed in Stalingrad, but latter lingers on into Sept 44 on the Eastern Front. /21

In October 42, as Aklett are busy working on the SIG, they offer Hitler a heavy infantry gun mounted on the Panzer IV chassis.

A new gun is required, which can also fire the same rounds as a sIG 33, and by Feb 43, Hitler sees said photos of such mounted on a Pz IV chassis. /22

This will become the Sturmpanzer IV in time and evolved, in part, from the data acquired from the SIG series guns. Not least as the new armament was to be particularly efficient in obliterating buildings. /23

Much like the other SPs mentioned, the Sturmpanzer featured a cocktail of problems from a fundamentally overburdened chassis. Which damaged running gear and differentials, later causing 217 a real headache in Normandy as too few spare parts were supplied. /24

216 Sturmpanzer Abteilung was the first dedicated Sturmpanzer unit to be formed, and with it in the name... saw the concept further evolve with 45 tanks on establishment.

The centralisation of these weapons really saw them employed closer to StuG Bns. /25

Rather than being parcelled out as needed, ala 79th Armoured Division styleee.

German doctrine held that Infanterie Divisions required armoured support to advance and hold ground efficiently, so these vehicles neatly slotted in... but many of their inf divs in Normandy... /26

were not rated as being fully capable of offensive action, but suitable for defence.

So you have these shock assault guns, capable of trashing any defences... at risk of being used in a really, really suboptimal fashion.

They work best on the attack. /27

So DID German forces in Normandy have problems with firepower on the offensive?

Now this is a huge topic, I mean absolutely massive, and requires many tactical studies that still don't exist as our historiography is a basket case of assumptions but...

Yes. /28

It becomes clear from Allied accounts that 75mm HE just didn't cut it when eliminated covered slit trenches, which were extensively employed by Allied infantry.

Wait 75mm HE doesn't cut it?

Even for THE GERMANS??? /29

So alright, you've got Tiger.

Some big fat 88mm guns against covered slits.

What's a bit of earth right?

Oh umm... /30

In all seriousness, both 75 and 88mm HE shells struggled to hit accurately enough to neutralise even a single covered slit. Great against troops in the open etc, but... yeah.

And there weren't enough StuH's to go around.

/31

This becomes a real problem as German forces are bleeding manpower in counter-attacks, and forensic study of close combat highlights it's still falling to their infantry to eliminate dug in defences.

Even at <1,000 yds, direct application of fire by armour isn't cutting it. /32

Now....

Stupa, as Sturmpanzer was known by crews, fills this gap. Specialist main armament. 100mm of sloped armour is excellent.

But... we're also considering that 217 are not really ready for action, recently formed and with a lot of problems. /33

If we take it that 217's 2 Company arrives in 21st Panzer's area on 21 July, this AFV is actually poorly suited to the terrain east of the Orne.

It's high profile and armament suits scrapping around Hill 112 etc, the Odon Valley but... yeah.

Wrong place. /34

They sit around doing nothing at all for several days.

Nothing.*

*This story become familiar.
/35

On 29 July, 2 Company are assigned to 1 SS-Pz Div but several Stupa breakdown on the move...

Err, yes lets keep moving this famously reliable AFV.

So they drop from about 13 Stupa to 9.
/36

In early August they're effectively left behind to support 89th Infanterie (who have a well shit time), finally seeing proper action on 8 Aug.

They lose 4 Stupa around Cintheaux, for one officer badly wounded, two men killed, & one man missing in Quilly (who died on August)./37

That said, 2 Company was able to extricate itself without further palava after they received orders from I SS-Pz Corps.

It is unlikely, in Normandy, that 2 Company ever served in their intended role. /38

1 Company was attached to I Bn 12 SS-Pz on 22 July, part of Kampfgruppe Wünsche, and engaged enemy around Frenouville - firing 250 - 270 rounds.

SHOCKER.

Thing is, that's sorta it bar some cas, until 59th Staffordshire crosses the Orne. /39

I mean you have this fantastic asset, sorta used to bombard then, umm...

It broadly feels that German commanders didn't know how to best utilise Sturmpanzer IVs in any meaningful way - probably as they worked well as assault artillery, but lacked StuG's versatility. /40

So they end up around Grimbosq, as Lyne's 59th Staffordshire delivers a dagger blow to Army Group B and... their involvement isn't really reported.

The perfect unit for crushing a fragile bridgehead fails to make it's mark. /41

It's undeniably odd. Some casualties are reported around Grimbosq on 7 August, but again, detail proves illusive.

I mean the coy comd, Hans Lucas, goes missing and a pl comd, Felix Hanslinger, is badly wounded but... again no detail.

Command falls to Leutnant Olowson. /42

The actions around Grimbosq need to be considered another day, but perhaps, again, this strange AFV didn't quite fit into a neat box for employment - and therefore saw minimal use?

On 11 August, 1 Coy ends up spporting 271 Infanterie but this is all relative... /43

by now the rear guards, div and corps command are all starting to fray & there is an increasing amount of spirited action to hold back 21st Army Group's closing vice.
So the company probably fragments a bit, as hinted by the formation of Kompanie Olowson inc two Tigers from.../44

502 S-Pz bn, and two Jadgpanthers from 654 S-Pz-Jg Bn around La Vendie crossroads, supporting 989 Grenadier.

Olowson was killed on the retreat from the pocket after a major scrap on Hill 261. /45

3 Company reached II SS-Panzerkorps on 30 July, but Haasler & Vosters point out given Leutnant Egon Schmitz was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 1 August, they must have been previously engaged.

The proceed to Longvilliers, a couple of km south of Villers-Bocage. /45

At least two of their Stupa were lost around here in combat, and even this move is odd as the Army Group B planned to yield the western bank entirely.

As they withdrew, one was blown up by Roucamps on 8 Aug and another at Ondefontaine.*

*Seen here. /46

By 6 August, Fifth Panzer Army suggested deploying the Stupa and Jagdpanzers together to bolster 277th Infanterie... but further details are sketchy.

What is clear is they salvaged the majority of 217 from Normandy. /47

Zetterling feels that 217 had more than 700 men on 1 September.

While Haasler & Vosters deduce about 14 Panzer IV were lost in Normandy.

So... did they achieve much? /48

Apparently not.

German commanders appear repeatedly unsure what to do with these strange looking AFVs which did not neatly slot into doctrine (but they did).

Long periods of inaction, training/supply deficiencies all took their toll. /49

Once placed on the back foot, Army Group B was left with these not tremendously reliable AFVs that were poorly suited to repeated redeployments and withdrawals and insufficiently supplied with spare parts. /50

So....

I think a future thread comparing AVRE/British specialist armour will appear.

On paper Sturmpanzer IV was more than capable of eliminating strongpoints.

In reality.

It was never given the chance. /thread

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