Employment of Antiaircraft Forces with a German Panzer Division in Libya, WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 8, September 24, 1942 (Lone Sentry)

A captured order of the 15th Panzer Division of the Afrika Korps, dated May 25, 1942, affords an interesting example of the division commander's employment of the antiaircraft forces at his disposal.

The order calls for the assembly of the 15th Panzer Division in an area 6 miles north of Rotunda Segnali (northwest of Bir Hacheim) in preparation for an attack. The attack actually began on May 26, and, it may be recalled, was the opening blow in Marshal Rommel's offensive which led to the capture of Tobruk and the Axis advance into Egypt to the El Alamein-Qattara Depression line.

In forming for the attack the 15th Panzer Division occupied a central position, the 90th Light Division being on the right and the 21st Panzer Division on the left.

a. The 15th Panzer Division was organized for the attack as follows:

(1) Armored Group

The attack was headed by one tank battalion, immediately followed by the other tank battalion supported by a company of engineers and a light battalion of field artillery (twelve 105-mm howitzers).

(2) Reconnaissance Group

This group, which was employed to protect the right and open flank of the division's advance, was composed of the antitank battalion and the armored reconnaissance unit.

(3) Support Group

Composed of the medium battalion of the division artillery (twelve 150-mm howitzers) with a battery of 210-mm howitzers attached, the main divisional headquarters with supply and medical units, and the bulk of the engineers, this group advanced immediately behind the tanks.

(4) Infantry Group

Bringing up the rear were the motorized infantry regiment, supported by the other light battalion of field artillery, and the tank-recovery elements.

b. The antiaircraft forces at the disposal of the division were as follows:

(1) Luftwaffe AA Units (part of the German Air Force)

(a) AA battalion staff.

(b) One heavy AA battery (six 88-mm guns and two 20-mm guns).

(d) One light AA battery less one platoon (nine 20-mm guns).

(2) Heeresflak Units (part of the Army, or ground forces)

One AA company (12 light guns).

(See this publication No. 7, page 7, for description of the distinction between Luftwaffe AA units, the main German antiaircraft arm, and Heeresflak units, which belong organically to the ground forces.)

c. These antiaircraft forces were allocated by the division commander as follows:

Unit Allocated to

(1) AA battalion staff Staff of 15th Pz Div (in the support group).

(2) Heavy AA battery Armored group. Prior to the commencement of the operation this heavy battery was ordered to protect the assembly against air attack.

(3) Light AA battery

(a) Battery staff and 2 platoons (6 light guns) Field artillery and engineers of the armored group.

(b) One platoon (3 light guns) Field artillery of the support group.

(c) One platoon (3 light guns) Heavy AA battery.

(4) Light AA battery less one platoon

(a) Battery staff and 1 platoon (3 light guns) AA battalion staff (in the support group).

(b) One platoon (3 light guns) Engineers of the support group.

(c) One platoon (3 light guns) Staff of 15th Pz Div.

(5) AA company (12 light guns)

(a) Company staff and 2 platoons (8 light guns) Motorized infantry group.

(b) One platoon (4 light guns) Motorized infantry group.

d. The following points of interest arise from the above dispositions:

(1) Chain of command is from the AA battalion staff (attached to the staff of the division) through the heavy and light battery staffs with the armored group, and the light battery staff with the support group.

(2) The heavy battery is seen in a dual role. In the approach to battle it provides antiaircraft protection, turning to the ground role in support of the tanks when the battle starts.

(3) The light batteries protect the division and AA battalion staffs, the field artillery, the engineers, and the heavy AA battery against low-flying attack. The ground role is secondary.

(4) The AA company gives protection against low-flying attack to the motorized infantry and reconnaissance groups.

(5) The forces mentioned in the orders of the division do not comprise an entire antiaircraft battalion, the missing elements being two heavy batteries and one platoon of a light battery. This is significant as reinforcing the view, based on other information, that a considerable force of heavy antiaircraft guns (no doubt accompanied by a few light guns for close protection) was operating as an independent antitank group.