What was the organisational structure of the German tank units?

[tricksor]

By tank units, I do mean more of their widely used Beutepanzers. Using most sources it usually gives me contradictory information of it being a "Tank Corps" or a "XX. Tank Detachment" of some sort. I'm also wondering on what their uniforms might have been.

[6RRF]

They were organised into what were originally called Sturm Panzerkrafterwagen Abteilungen. Establishment was a captain, 5 subalterns and 170 men for units with A7Vs and 134 men for those with Beutwpanzers. In September 1918 they were redesignated as schwere Kampfwagen Abteilungen

Uniforms varied. Many transferred over from infantry or artillery units and retained their field grey with puttees. Overalls [boiler suits] were common. Those transferred from the Motor Transport corps had leather tunics and leather peaked caps. In both cases it seems to have been a matter of hanging on to what they had rather than  something new and dashing

Edited 19 March , 2023 by 6RRF

[FROGSMILE]

Forum members @AOK4 @charlie2and @GreyCmight perhaps be able to help with further information.

[GreyC]

Not up my alley, I am afraid.

GreyC

 

[bierast]

Only nine Sturmpanzer-Kraftwagen-Abteilungen ever saw action. All were organised in essentially the same way (with some differences in numbers of personnel between A7V and 'Beute' detachments) - five tanks each, plus softskin support vehicles. StuKA 1 to 3 were A7V detachments, 11 to 16 were 'Beute' detachments. StuKA 13 was Bavarian, all others were Prussian units.

The plans for 1919 (which depended on mass production of the new LK II light tank, as well as the refurbishment of further Mk IVs) called for a new system of larger detachments comprising multiple five-tank companies. There would have been a full Bavarian detachment, as well as dedicated Saxon and Württemberg companies. Obviously none of this ever came to fruition.

[tricksor]

5 hours ago, bierast said:

Only nine Sturmpanzer-Kraftwagen-Abteilungen ever saw action. All were organised in essentially the same way (with some differences in numbers of personnel between A7V and 'Beute' detachments) - five tanks each, plus softskin support vehicles. StuKA 1 to 3 were A7V detachments, 11 to 16 were 'Beute' detachments. StuKA 13 was Bavarian, all others were Prussian units.

The plans for 1919 (which depended on mass production of the new LK II light tank, as well as the refurbishment of further Mk IVs) called for a new system of larger detachments comprising multiple five-tank companies. There would have been a full Bavarian detachment, as well as dedicated Saxon and Württemberg companies. Obviously none of this ever came to fruition.

Thanks

On 19/03/2023 at 12:57, 6RRF said:

They were organised into what were originally called Sturm Panzerkrafterwagen Abteilungen. Establishment was a captain, 5 subalterns and 170 men for units with A7Vs and 134 men for those with Beutwpanzers. In September 1918 they were redesignated as schwere Kampfwagen Abteilungen

Uniforms varied. Many transferred over from infantry or artillery units and retained their field grey with puttees. Overalls [boiler suits] were common. Those transferred from the Motor Transport corps had leather tunics and leather peaked caps. In both cases it seems to have been a matter of hanging on to what they had rather than  something new and dashing

Thank you

[AOK4]

I recommend the following books:

Ernst Volckheim. Die deutschen Kampfwagen im Weltkriege.

G. P. von Zezschwitz. Heigl's Taschenbuch der Tanks Teil III Der Panzerkampf.

Jan

[bierast]

12 minutes ago, AOK4 said:

Ernst Volckheim. Die deutschen Kampfwagen im Weltkriege.

I enthusiastically second this recommendation! Volckheim was an actual WW1 tank (A7V) commander, and his book is the nearest thing to an 'official history' of the German 'Tankwaffe' which exists. 

[bierast]

It's also worth noting that someone has put in a lot of work adding detail on the overall organisation and individual units to this surprisingly good article on German Wikipedia:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwere_Kampfwagen-Abteilung_(Deutsches_Kaiserreich)