8. Panzerregiment at Gazala

Afrika Korps

8. Panzerregiment during the Battle of Gazala
May 25-31, 1942

In early January 1942, after being resupplied and refitted, the DAK went on the offensive against the British. In two weeks the DAK had retaken Benghazi (January 29) and had moved almost 350 miles. The offensive slowed as the Germans reached the British position at Gazala. The British position stretched from Gazala to Bir Hacheim in a network of heavily mined and fortified lines. The front settled here for the rest of Winter until May 1942, when Rommel once again launched an offensive against the British.

Rommel’s plan for the offensive was as follows:

~ X and XXI Italian Infantry Corps were to frontally assault Gazala positions on the afternoon of 26 May. This was to tie up enemy forces.
~ Under Rommel’s personal command, the mobile units were to move around the right flank of the enemy at Bir el Hacheim in order to wheel in on the rear of the enemy on the May 27 and complete the envelopment of them by May 28.

 The units available for this manoeuvre were: 90. Leichte Division, 15. and 21. Panzerdivisions, the Italian "Ariete" Armoured and the "Trieste" Motorized Divisions.
~ The final blow would fall with the elimination of the bulk of the British Eight Army, and the attack would be redirected on Tobruk.

Panzerregiment 8

Panzerregiment 8 was shifted on 25 May 1942 in readiness for the coming attack and gathered on 26 May for the last preparations for operation Venezia.

15. Panzerdivision

Panzer Regiment 8
Panzergrenadierregiment 115
Panzerjaeger Abteilung 33
Reconnaissance Battalion 33
Artillery Regt 33
Gazala

At 16:00 hours the companies began their march to the assembly area. They arrived in the early evening just south of the Trigh Capuzzo track.

The regiment formed at the head of the division (15. Panzerdivison) with 153 tanks (24 PzII, 110 PzIII, 19 PzIV). The order to start is received by the regiment at 20:30 hours and immediately the order was given to march. They set off to the southeast, into the desert. At 2:30 hours the regiment stood about 15 kilometers south for Bir Hacheim.

During dawn on 27 May, after a refueling stop for an hour, the regiment swung around Bir Hacheim to the north. The goal was the Via Balbia between Tobruk and Acroma.

The regiment was on the left of the 21. Panzerdivision, to the right was the 90. Leichte Afrikadivision.

Since the division’s armoured reconnaissance battalion was detached, the regiment advanced without scouting parties. I Battalion advanced in a broad wedge, II Battalion followed to the right. Shortly after 7:00 hours the point tanks of I Battalion passed the Harmat track south of Bir el el Abd and recognised dark shapes on the horizon. After advancing about 3000 meters tank silhouettes were seen in the distance. Hauptmann Kuemmel ordered his I Battalion into attack formation. Small ridges and rises were seen in the distance, behind which enemy tanks were positioned hull down on the reverse slope.

A Panzer III races into action arcoss the desert sands

Rapidly the companies advanced on the enemy tanks and opened fire. The exchange was hardly underway when the lead company received its first hit.

The British guns seemed to out-range those of the Panzer III and IV(kz)s, the regiments return fire was ineffective, the 5cm and short 7.5cm guns of the Panzers hardly seem to trouble the allied tanks. Some enemy tanks take 3 to 4 hits but still continue to fire. The regiments own losses increase as the fire fight continues. The attack of I Battalion stalls. The two Panzer IV F2 don’t take part in the fight as they had only high-explosive shells on board. 

A DAK column on the move The II Battalion, Artillery Regiment 33, which were supporting the regiment, positioned too far back, and was not able range in on the British positions or offer any other support. The I Battalion doesn’t penetrate the enemy positions. In the meantime the II Battalion, further to the right, attacks the opponents in the flank.

The 5cm rounds fired into the flank armour of the British tanks penetrate and the first tanks burn. The 8th Company knocks out 12 enemy tanks. The I Battalion can once again get moving, ahead go the 4th Company, followed by the 1st Company.

Closing to short range the 5cm guns prove more devastating, with 35 British tanks destroyed. The II Battalion destroys a further 12 tanks. At 08:50 hours the British withdraw to northeast. The 8. Panzerregiment’s had meet the British 4th Armoured brigade, armed with new Grant tanks.

Scenario ~ Meeting the Grants!

The May 26 early morning encounter with the British 4th Armoured brigade was the first time the Germans had encountered the new Grant tank. The Grant packed two surprises, it could out range the Panzer IIIs with its 75mm gun and its armour was thick enough to deflect most of the 5cm rounds at long range.

Grants!

But once again the adaptability of the Afrikakorps showed through as they out flanked the position.

This encounter is best fought as a Hasty Attack mission with the British as defenders. This allows them to have a platoon in ambush and a few in reserves arriving late.

British
4th Armoured Brigade
Grant Armoured Squadron

Grant Armoured Squadron HQ
2 Grant tanks

12 points
Grant Armoured Troop
3 Grant tanks

18 points
Grant Armoured Troop
3 Grant tanks

18 points
Grant Armoured Troop
3 Grant tanks

18 points
Grant Armoured Troop
3 Grant tanks

18 points
Total 84 points

German
4th Company of Panzerregiment 8,
15. Panzerdivision

Panzer IV Tank Company
2 Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) F1

12 points
1st Panzer IV Tank  Platoon
 Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) F1

24 points
2nd Panzer IV Tank  Platoon
 Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) F1

24 points
Panzer III Platoon from 1st Company
4 Panzer III (short 5cm) J

20 points
Panzer II Light Tank Platoon
3 Panzer II (2cm)

6 points
Total 86 points
Panzer IV F1 tanks Hauptmann Kuemmel gathered his I Battalion and pushed on northward with his still operational tanks, the II Battalion follows. 2 Panzer IIIs of the 2nd Company are lost east of Bir el Harmat when they run into a position armed with then new British 6pdr anti-tank gun. This is the second unpleasant surprise of day. By noon dust and sand reduce vision. Once more they run into more Grants, 1 Panzer III of the 3rd Company is lost when a hit to the drive assembly immobilises it. The crew dismounts. A short fire fight ensues and the 4th Company loses 3 tanks. By 12:30 hours fuel has becomes low, and refuelling is required.
Scenario ~ 6pdr!

Later the same day they get their second surprise, they run into the new 6pdr anti-tank gun, the equivalent to their own PaK 38. Visibility is bad because of dust and sand and it is only after their first tank is hit that they realise they have found another British defensive position.

The No Retreat Mission seems appropriate for this scenario. Dug in are the British anti-tank gunners and supporting infantry plus a few more Grants from the 4th Armoured Brigade.

British
4th Armoured Brigade
Motor Company

Motor Company HQ
2x SMLE rifle team

2 points
Motor Platoons
4x Bren Gun team
1x Boys anti-tank rifle
1x 2-inch mortar
Add Sticky Bombs Command Card

 

8 points

2 points
Motor Platoons
4x Bren Gun team
1x Boys anti-tank rifle
1x 2-inch mortar
Add Sticky Bombs Command Card

 

8 points

2 points
Motor Platoons
4x Bren Gun team
1x Boys anti-tank rifle
1x 2-inch mortar
Add Sticky Bombs Command Card

 

8 points

2 points
6 pdr Anti-tank Platoon
4x 6 pdr gun
Portees Command Card

12 points
1 points
6 pdr Anti-tank Platoon
4x 6 pdr gun
Portees Command Card

12 points
1 points
3-inch Mortar Section
2x 3-inch mortar

3 points
Support  
Grant Armoured Troop
3 Grant tanks

18 points
Honey Armoured Troop
3 ‘Honey” Stuarts

5 points
Total 84 points

German
This time the 2nd Company were leading the way.
Panzerregiment 8, 15. Panzerdivision

Panzer III Tank Company HQ
2 Panzer III (long 5cm) J

14 points
1st Panzer III Tank Platoon
5 Panzer III (short 5cm) J

25 points
2ndPanzer III Tank Platoon
5 Panzer III (Short 5cm) J

25 points
3rdPanzer III Tank Platoon
4 Panzer III (short 5cm) J

20 points
Total 84 points

To add a bit of spice to the game use add a Khamseen sand storm. The sand storm may arrive at any moment and darken the sky, forcing you to use the Night Fighting Rules (Flames Of War page 113). At the beginning of each turn roll a die, on a roll of 5+ a Khamseen arrives. At the beginning of each turn that the Khamseen is in effect roll as is rolling for Dawn  (Flames Of War page 113) to see if the storm ends.

Enemy tanks advance cautiously forward and the two Panzer IV to the east and southeast fire at 1500 meters with high-explosive shells to keep them in check. The British are unaware of the Germans fuel shortage and do not take advantage of it with an attack. By 15:00 hours the tanks are filled up and the combat restarts at 15:20 hours with another attack.

115. Panzergrenadierregiment cannot follow the fast advance of the Panzers and at 16:00 hours is attacked in the flank by the British 7th Armoured brigade. The following supply column, staff, and DAK commander Rommel are forced to evade rapidly to the west. 

6 pdr anti-tank gun
Panzer III The British 7th Armoured brigade was positioned behind the Panzerregiment who steadfastly continue their advance to the north. The attacking enemy tanks were stopped and destroyed by a rapidly formed Flak blocking position. At 17:00 hours I Battalion was attacked from northeast by Stuart and Crusader tanks. After short fire fight 9 enemy tanks were burning, without losses to the Panzers. At dusk the I Battalion is positioned before Acroma while the II Battalion has disengaged. The regiment had achieved its day’s objective, but had lost contact with the German command and supply. They laager up for an uneventful night.

On 26 May they had lost of 48 Panzers, with 23 were unrecoverable or unrepairable. Casualties were 16 dead and 25 wounded. During the afternoon 25 damaged tanks had been towed east to Bir el Harmat, where they were left in a laager for recovery by workshop troops. Counter-attacks by the British 8th Army had scrambled the entire supply of the division.

At midnight the regiment still did not have it’s lines of communication open with the Division Head Quarters. During the night of 28 May a Panzer II and 2 Panzer III were sent out in an attempt to re-establish communications. In the early morning hours they return. Fuel and ammunition come only in small quantities, since the supply columns of the division were not found and water was limited. 

With the Panzer fuel tanks only half filled it was decided the attack couldn’t be continued. Orders are received to continue to hold the reached area. During the day a regiment of British artillery fires on the position. Oberleutnant Weiss is sent with 2 platoons on a limited attack against Acroma. It makes it through the defensive obstacles and minefields but does not penetrate the gun line however.

In the evening bombers of the RAF attack, 14 soldiers are wounded and 2 Panzers are disabled. Oberleutnant Lehn, commander of the 5th Company, Oberleutnant Seidler, commanding the 8th Company and Oberleutnant Staengel, 4th Company, are all mortally wounded. The evacuation route of the wounded past Bir Hacheim was too long and too dangerous, so was not done.
Panzer III moves across the desert

The fierce fighting along the Trigh Capuzzo severely restricted supplies to the regiment. No supplies arrived on the night of 28-29 May; water was low and had to be rationed.

Enemy armoured units probed from the east against the forward elements of the regiment on 29 May, but kept their distance. A defensive front was formed to the east, which was then attacked by enemy tanks around noon. Several attacks were turned back after a long fire fight. Nine British Crusaders were knocked out.

A DAK MG Platoon deploys Scenario ~ The British Attack

As the British counter-attacks got underway it was the 15. Panzerdivision who were force to defend, but luckily they had a number of excellent defensive assets on hand ready to counter the British.

In this scenario the Germans take the role of defenders in a No Retreat mission.

British
British Crusader Armoured Squadron

Crusader Armoured Squadron HQ
2 Crusader II (2 pdr) tanks
2 Crusader CS (3-inch)


7 points
Crusader II & III Armoured Troop
2 Crusader III (6 pdr)
1 Crusader II (2 pdr) 


7 points
Crusader II & III Armoured Troop
2 Crusader III (6 pdr)
1 Crusader II (2 pdr) 


7 points
Crusader II & III Armoured Troop
2 Crusader III (6 pdr)
1 Crusader II (2 pdr) 



7 points

Grant Armoured Squadron HQ
2 Grant tanks

12 points
Grant Armoured Troop
3 Grant tanks

18 points
Grant Armoured Troop
3 Grant tanks

18 points
Support Platoons  
Universal Carrier Patrol
3 Universal Carrier

2 points
Universal Carrier Patrol
3 Universal Carrier

2 points
Total 80 points

German
Panzerrgrenadierkompanie, 15. Panzerdivision

Africa Rifle Company HQ
2 MP40 SMG team

   2 points
Afrika Rifle Platoon
4x MG34 Team
1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle
1x sMG34 HMG
1x 8cm mortar
Panzerknacker Command Card


7 points
1 points
2 points
2 points
Afrika Rifle Platoon
4x MG34 Team
1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle
1x sMG34 HMG
1x 8cm mortar
Panzerknacker Command Card


7 points
1 points
2 points
2 points
Afrika Rifle Platoon
4x MG34 Team
1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle
1x sMG34 HMG
1x 8cm mortar


7 points
1 points
2 points
5cm Tank-hunter Platoon
3 5cm PaK38

12 points
5cm Tank-hunter Platoon
3 5cm PaK38

12 points
Support Platoons  
Panzer III Tank Platoon
4 Panzer III (short 5cm) J

20 points
Total 80 points

After the combat most of the Panzers’ fuel was low. On the night of 29-30 May supply columns finally got through, it took a 19 hour round trip around Bir Hacheim entrenchments. Once again fuel, ammunition, food and water were available to the regiment. That morning 60 enemy tanks attacked the defensive positions to the northeast. The 3rd, 5th and 8th Companies under Oberstleutnant Tegge counter-attack from the south. The fire from the defensive positions stops the enemy tanks, 12 tanks are left on the field. 3 Panzers are knocked out during the exchange.

The British quickly follow up with a flank attack, forcing the German Panzers to evade before the defensive line where they take up the fight towards from south.

Panzer III J
Panzer III tanks race across the desert Hauptmann Kuemmel advances with the 2nd and 4th Companies and pushes the enemy tanks to the east. The pursuit is at quite high speeds and some parts of the I Battalion can’t keep up. Altogether 28 tanks (Stuart and Crusader) are knocked out (all from the British 1st armoured division) before the position.
Once again the advance is halted because of lack of fuel. On this day 3 soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. During the night of 30-31 May regiment was re-supplied again.

And the fighting around the cauldron was yet to come!

The Cauldron...


Last Updated On Thursday, September 28, 2017 by Wayne at Battlefront