I often see Allied vehicles laden with equipment of all types attached externally to AFVs, but hardly any on German ones, certainly not late war.
Did they store their kit on support wagons, or trailers?
I am asking as I will be building a late Sdkfz 165 Hummel. Where to put said items. No room in the citadel, unless there was room under the floor panels…which I doubt. Looked through numerous books and online, couldn’t find any images of Hummels with any equipment stowed, not even attached to the sides.
Photos of them in moving convoys, didn’t show any support vehicles such as soft skins.
An AI google answer stated a limber/trailer was used…!
Perhaps it was policy that equipment wasn’t to be stowed on vehicles, due to lossess, which were getting harder to resupply.
Any ideas?
A certain portion of Hummel chassis were used as ammo transporters by leaving off the gun and putting an armor plate in the space where the gun protruded from the shielding. These carriers were able to be refitted with the guns in order to make them battle-ready again.
The need to carry personal equipment on your AFV arises when you are advancing at speed, and not so much when you are retreating into your own ground. You’ll find lots of gear on Afrikakorps tanks.
David
I remember reading somewhere, possibly Tigers in the Mud but not sure, that the inherent support units and headquarters units frequently had a small baggage train (or a truck or two) for personal belongings and such for the unit. That way, especially for afv crews they did not have an excess amount of gear stowed on their vehicles. This was usually at the company level or higher, especially if a battalion or regiment was traveling as a group, the baggage train would be traveling as one. Wish I could remember exactly where I read that.
Of course the exception to that would seem to be Stugs. It doesn’t matter what time frame either. Their rear decks almost always appear to be carrying everything but the kitchen sink!
Bob
I have seen pics of stugs with toilets and a kitchen sink on the back deck, plus a Sherman with a stove
on it’s back…
Guess if if fits and can be hoisted up there is is fair game to be carried…lol
lists the support units (Gefechtstross) which would be similar for Nashorn and Hummel equipped formations.
I haven’t seen those pictures! I guess it is everything including the kitchen sink!
Bob