Maintenance and Repair Service in German Armored Divisions, WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 11, November 5, 1942 (Lone Sentry)

The organization of maintenance and recovery units in tank regiments was summarized in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 10, p. 24. In addition, the German armored division has repair units and workshops which are assigned primarily to the service of the elements in the division other than the tank regiments. However, it is worth noting that some of the divisional repair subsections (see below a. (2)) may include tank mechanics; this suggests that such units may be called upon to assist those assigned to the tank regiments.

The repair services for units other than tank regiments* are performed by:

a. Repair Subsections

(1) Repair subsection "a"

1 motor transport corporal (in sidecar), leader,

1 motorcycle driver (engine mechanic),

1 engine mechanic,

1 chauffeur (engine mechanic).

Vehicles: Motorcycle with sidecar,

1 small repair automobile (Kfz. 2/40).

This subsection is allotted** to units that have not more than 25 motor vehicles (not counting trailers, or sidecars: 4 motorcycles count as 1 vehicle), except for those units (such as battalion headquarters) which are given repair detachments (see below, b.) The companies in the armored infantry regiment, motorcycle battalion, and the antitank battalion have subsections of this type, as have artillery batteries of all types.

(2) Repair Subsection "b"

1 motor transport corporal (in sidecar), leader,

1 motorcycle driver (engine mechanic),

6 engine mechanics (or tank mechanics),

1 electrician (spare chauffeur),

2 chauffeurs (engine mechanics).

Vehicles: 1 motorcycle with sidecar,

1 small repair automobile (Kfz,2/40),

1 medium truck (3 tons), open, for spare parts and personnel.

The principle of allocation of this subsection is not clear from the sources. It is definitely found in the armored engineer company, and may be assigned to the armored radio company of the divisional communications battalion.

(3) Repair Subsection "c"

1 motor transport corporal (in sidecar), leader,

1 corporal (tank mechanic),

1 motorcycle driver,

12 tank mechanics (6 are engine mechanics),

1 electrician,

2 communication equipment mechanics,

1 chauffeur (engine mechanic),

2 truck chauffeurs.

Vehicles: 2 motorcycles with sidecars,

1 small repair automobile (Kfz. 2/40),

1 medium truck, for tires and spare parts,

1 medium crosscountry truck, for personnel.

This subsection is allotted to armored car companies in the divisional reconnaissance battalion.

b. Repair Detachments

(1) Detachment "A"

1 workshop foreman (official, middle grade),

1 corporal (master mechanic and engine mechanic),

2 engine mechanics (assistant chauffeurs),

1 engine mechanic for motorcycles,

1 blacksmith and welder,

1 motorcycle driver (clerk),

4 chauffeurs (1 is an electrician, 1 an engine mechanic).

Vehicles: 1 motorcycle with sidecar,

1 light automobile,

1 small repair automobile (Kfz. 2/40),

1 medium crosscountry truck, open, for motor transport repair equipment,

1 medium crosscountry truck, open, for spare parts, tools, and towing equipment.

This detachment is allotted to headquarters of battalions which contain not more than 125 motor vehicles; also, to headquarters of all motorized infantry regiments.

(2) Detachment "B"

As for Detachment "A", except that there are 3 engine mechanics (assistant chauffeurs) instead of 2.

This detachment is allotted to headquarters of battalions (including artillery) which contain more than 125 motor vehicles (examples: motorcycle battalion, armored infantry battalion, antitank battalion, engineer battalion, reconnaissance battalion).

(3) Detachment "C"

As for Detachment "A", except that

(a) There are 5 engine mechanics (or tank mechanics) instead of 2.

(b) There are 5 chauffeurs (of whom 1 is an electrician, 1 a welder's assistant, and 1 an engine mechanic) instead of 4.

This detachment is allotted to headquarters of battalions (including artillery) where the main vehicles of the subordinate units are special vehicles (armored, half track, etc.) and where all the subordinate companies are armored. (The only certain example is the case of the medium artillery battalion.)

c. Special Allotments

One subsection "a" is assigned to each of the following:

Each company of a troop-carrying motor transport battalion (and to the battalion headquarters), motorized bakery companies, and motorized medical companies.

One detachment "A" and two subsections "a" are allotted to the headquarters of the motorized divisional supply services.

d. Workshop Companies

Each armored division*** has three workshop companies (not including the much larger workshop company of the tank regiment). Each company includes a headquarters, two workshop platoons, an armory section, and a supply section. The personnel totals 102 officers and men (1 officer, 7 officials, 6 NCO's, 88 EM). The equipment in vehicles is 4 automobiles, 16 trucks, 1 half-track vehicle for towing (and personnel), 4 trailers, and 6 motorcycles.

These workshops carry out all motor transport repairs on vehicles sent back by the unit repair subsections and detachments, excepting jobs which require more than 12 hours work. The latter go to base workshops.

* These repair units are also found in German motorized divisions, and the scheme of allotment which governs their services applies equally to the motorized division.

** The sources give the theoretical principles of allotment of repair units; however, it would be dangerous to assume that the scheme is rigorously applied. There is very little difference in size between some types of repair units (especially the repair detachments); furthermore, the Germans make flexible application of any theoretical organization, and these organizations themselves are subject to frequent modification.

*** A motorized division has two workshop companies, organized as those in the armored division.