Produktbeschreibung
Becker's 200. Sturmgeschützabteilung, 21. Panzerdivision
Major Alfred Becker, a First World War veteran and mechanical engineer, was heavily involved in the conversion of captured vehicles from 1940.
In 1942 he converted captured French carriers into the 15cm (Sf) Lorraine Schlepper self-propped gun, which meet with great approval from the OKH. These were shipped to Afrika to supplement Rommel's forces in the desert.
Towards the end of 1942 he was transferred to France to devise ways of utilising various captured French vehicles.
Becker's engineering staff set about their work and were soon pumping out a variety of innovative designs. From 1943 he started to convert the Hotchkiss H35 and 39 light tanks to mount a 7.5cm PaK40 or 10.5cm leFH16 as an assault gun. In the summer of 1943 he was given command of the 200. Sturmgeschützabteilung, part of the rebuilding 21. Panzerdivision, which he equipped with the new assault guns.
By the time of the Allied invasion in June 1944 he had built the StuG abteilung up to five batteries of 10 vehicles (4x 7.5cm PaK40 and 6x 10.5cm leFH16 each).
Becker was however more than just a simple engineer. In 1914 he had won the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class, and during the fighting Poland had added the 1939 Bar to each of his crosses (commanding the 15. Batterie, 227. Artillerie-Regiment, 227. Infanterie-Regiment). For his inventive use of captured vehicles he was awarded the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords and by 1945 had earned himself a Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords.
Kampfgruppe von Luck
From 9 June von Luck's command was designated Kampfgruppe von Luck, and in addition to the elements of 125. Panzergrenadier
-Regiment already under von Luck's command was added 21. Panzeraufklarungs-
schwadron, 4. Kompanie/22. Panzer-Regiment, three batteries from Becker's 200. Sturmgeschützabteilung and one company from 220. Panzerjägerabteilung (8.8cm PaK43). With this force Von Luck attacked the Orne bridges to recaptured them from the British paratroopers.
Starting before dawn to avoid the worst of the British naval and air support, the Kampfgruppe advanced to the village of Ranville. They pushed out the defenders, but could not penetrate the British lines to reach the bridges. The British defence had been boosted by the arrival of the 51st (Highland) Division on the previous evening (8 June).
On 12 June Kampfgruppe von Luck, next attacked and took the village of Sainte-Honorine, giving them an important hill overlooking the invasion beaches. The Canadians counterattacked forcing the Kampfgruppe to withdraw after fierce hand to hand fighting.
Despite the fact they couldn't dislodge the Allied beachhead continued counterattacks did force the British and Canadian troops in the sector to halt their move inland and go over to the defence.
In the Box:
Inside the 21. Panzerdivision StuG Batterie army box to get a complete force full of unique 21. Panzerdivision vehicles.
StuG Batterie Company HQ: 7.5cm (Sf) 39H assault gun
StuG Platoon: 1x 7.5cm (Sf) 39H assault gun, 2x 10.5cm (Sf) 39H assault guns
StuG Platoon: 1x 7.5cm (Sf) 39H assault gun, 2x 10.5cm (Sf) 39H assault guns
Armoured Artillery Battery: 3x Lorraine Schlepper OP tank, 6x 10.5 or 15cm (Sf) Lorraine Schlepper, Staff team and Kfz 68 radio truck.
Panzerspäh Patrol: 1x Sd Kfz 231 (8rad), 1x Sd Kfz 222 (2cm), and 1x Sd Kfz 221 (2.8cm).
Two objectives: Typhoon and Lorraine Schlepper
and a Army Sheet with Arsenal, Order Of Battle and force composition.
You can add to your force with another Panzergrenadier Platoon, Pioneer Platoon, Panzerpionier Platoons, Heavy Tank Platoon, R-Vielfachwerfer Battery, Rocket Launcher Battery, Anti-aircraft Gun Platoon or Heavy Anti-aircraft Gun Platoon.
Die 21. Deutsche Panzerdivision war ein gepanzerter Großverband der deutschen Wehrmacht im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Die Division wurde im August 1941 erstmalig aus der 5. leichten Division gebildet und später mehrmals neu aufgestellt, nachdem sie zuvor jeweils vernichtet worden war.
Die Schnelle Brigade 931 wurde am 15. Juli 1943 im Raum Rennes, Frankreich, umgegliedert und erhielt den freigewordenen Namen 21. Panzerdivision. Bei der Operation Overlord bzw. der Operation Neptune im Juni 1944 konnte die 21. Panzerdivision, die seit dem 8. Mai 1944 von Generalleutnant Edgar Feuchtinger befehligt wurde und über ca. 20.000 Soldaten verfügte, den Erfolg der alliierten Operation am Strandabschnitt Sword und bei der Operation Tonga verhindern. Die 21. Panzerdivision lag südlich der Stadt Caen und war deshalb eine große Gefahr für die alliierten Verbände. Der Gefechtsstand Feuchtingers befand sich in St-Pierre-sur-Dives. Die Division wurde bei den Kämpfen um Caen geschwächt und im Kessel von Falaise von alliierten Verbänden vernichtet. |
