B'44....Heavy Tank Bn. 506...is it in the game?

[FM WarB]

Dupuy claims that the "Tigers" at Andler were Stugs attached to 18 VG. Mistaken Tiger scare. Are Sledghammer and rhzev's sources good German sources? Parker, Nafziger and Dupoy tend to be well respected among sceanrio designers, and MacDonald and Cole's perspective is decidely American. I had the 506 coming in on the 20th in a Bulge scenario (Dark Winter). Maybe I was wrong.
An interesting topic.

[rzhev42]

Well the author of Sledgehammers used "Tigers in Combat" as a reference.

"Tigers in Combat" by Wolfgang Schneider is a book on the sPZ Abt's of the Heer that uses the units War Diary. It is basically a listing of the pages from the diaries so each day gets a short paragraph on the units actions and also lists strengths and losses at various times.
I would consider this book as a primary source since it uses actual primary information (ie the units war diary)

Below I have provided the contents in the book on the sPZ Abt 506 from 1 Dec 1944 to 2 Feb 1945.


01.12.44 11 tanks are operational. The front-line is now behind the river ROER. The battalion is relocated into the GREVENBROICH area for refitting. 4 tanks are in long-term maintenance, one is sent to factory maintenance. Schwere Panzerkompanie “Hummel” (Oberleutnant Flöhr) (equipped with TIGER I, organic maintenance platoon) is subordinated to the 506 by order GenSt.H./OrgAbt Nr. I 16486/44 geh. 18.12.44)

08.12.44 Delivery of 6 TIGER II tanks.
+ 6
36

10.12.44 28 tanks ready for action.

13.12.44 Another delivery of 6 TIGER II tanks.
+ 6
42

15.12.44 TIGER “2-11” is captured by the 129th Ordnance Battalion in GEREONSWEILER.
- 1
41

Mid Dec 1944 Railway transport to the EIFEL region in preparation for the attack towards MALMEDY.

17.12.44 Instead of this road march via HELLENTHAL - LOSHEIMER GRABEN - SCHOENBERG to the south. Skirmish in ANDLER. 506 and 301 Fkl (total of 22 tanks operational) are attached to the 6th Panzerarmee.

18.12.44 5 TIGERs advance in LULLIGEN-LELLGEN at approx. 10.00 hours starting at Lentzweiler street towards the Lullingerkamp. On top of the height the leading tank receives a pointblank hit. The tanks withdraw and try it again about three hours later but are stopped outside of HEISDORF; 2 US tanks are knocked out. 2 TIGERs attack at LONGSDORF road towards 206 junction; 6 AT-guns and 1 tank knocked out.
- 1
40

19.12.44 Several US tanks pass LULLIGEN towards BASTOGNE; 1 TIGER is knocked out.
- 1
39

21.12.44 Attack with Grenadierregiment 294 (18th Volksgrenadierdivision) supported by several TIGERs along the SCHÖNBERG road.

22.12.44 15 - 20 TIGERs are in an assembly area in ESCHDORF.

23.12.44 Several TIGERs are in security position in BOURSCHEID facing KEHMEN.

24.12.44 Attack from KEHMEN across the hill-line near BOURSCHEID towards ADLER, 1 TIGER is knocked out.
- 1
38

25.12.44 Air attack on TIGERs in ESCHDORF, 2 are destroyed.
- 2
36

31.12.44/01.01.45 Abortive attack on BASTOGNE.

01.01.45 12 TIGERs support an attack of the 12th SS - Panzerdivision west of MICHAMPS.

02.01.45 Counterattack of the 12th SS against enemy positions near WARDIN; 15 M4’s are knocked out.

03.01.45 Attack starting at 13.30 hours on both sides of the road from COMPOGNE to LONGCHAMPS against positions of 502nd Parachute Battalion. The TIGER in front is hit by an AT gun of C Battery of the 81st AT Battalion; the turret is ripped off. The attack is suspended.
- 1
35

08.01.45 German counterattack from BOCKHOLZ to GOESDORF and from NOCHER to DAHL. The space near BUDERSCHEID is covered by 1 TIGER.

12.01.45 Front near DASBURG is stabilized. According to General der Panzertruppen West the battalion still has 45 tanks and 3 command tanks!

13.01.45 Defensive action near BASTOGNE. The tank of Oberleutnant Paul breaks down with damaged final drive. The tank of Leutnant Tegethoff is ordered to recover but is knocked out with 8 direct hits! (MOINET, 10 km northeast of BASTOGNE, by the 6th Armored Division). Delaying action via HOUFALIZE to German territory.
- 2
33

15.01.45 17 tanks operational.

17.01.45 US breakthrough east of BASTOGNE; 1 TIGER I and two TIGER II tanks have to be destroyed by own crews.
- 3
30

Mid-Jan 1945 Major Lange is relieved of command by CIC of 5th Panzerarmee, Generaloberst von Manteuffel. Hauptmann Heiligenstadt is appointed as new commander.

22.01.45 Defensive position near BRACHTENBACH.

01.02.45 26 tanks in maintenance in the area east of PRONSFELD.


Michael Avanzini

[HirooOnoda]

Thanks for this post Michael. It appears that this unit should come in sooner than it does in the game.

[FM WarB]

Very good reference and I've been persuaded entry on the 17th for at least part of the batalion is warrented. Are those numbers assigned or operational totals? I suspect the operational numbers would be smaller.

[Rev Rico]

Parker does mention on p280 that it is possible the 506th helped in the battle of St.Vith since its advance elements reported to II SS Korps HQ that they reached the area on the 17th.

In my homemade B44 CG I have the 506 entering in bits and pieces from the 17th to the 20th.

[Rev Rico]

Parker also mentions the 519th Hvy JgPz Btl as being part of 6 SS PzArmy's initial OOB. Is it in the game at all?

[Glenn Saunders]

I'm curious what source the designers of B'44 used to have them arrive on the 20th.

Greg Smith from HPS was the guy responsible for the Campaign Setup and the OOB. I think he was mainly using Dupuy, but I don't know where or how he came to assign this unit as he did.

It was a while ago so I doubt he would know for that matter.

Glenn

[HirooOnoda]

Thanks for listening to us Glenn.

Will this be addressed in a future patch?

[Glenn Saunders]

Thanks for listening to us Glenn.

Will this be addressed in a future patch?

There are some games I can do almost anything I want to in future patches. Unfortunately B44 and MG44 are not two of them Bith those games had maps and OOB created and maintained by other people. So my role is one of verfifying issues which need to be address in the code, or making any changes I deem necessary to scns which have my name on them.

Glenn

[HirooOnoda]

Very good, who maintains B'44 if I may ask?