"FJR in Tunisia" Topic

I have seen 12-man squad and 10-man squad suggestions for FJR. Anyone have suggestion for those in Tunisia in '43?

I have these suggested to me -

12-man
Squad Leader w/ MP40
LMG team – LMG w/2 crew, 3 Riflemen
LMG team – LMG w/2 crew, 3 Riflemen (maybe one with MP40)

10-man
Squad Leader w/ MP40
LMG team – LMG w/2 crew, 2 Riflemen
LMG team – LMG w/2 crew, 2 Riflemen (maybe one with MP40)

Maybe x2 Panzerfausts in a squad

Thoughts?

No panzerfausts, they only came into service in October 1943 in Russia. In Tunisia you would have puppchen.

Your squad breakdowns only add up to 11 and 9 respectively.

12-man
Squad Leader w/ MP40
LMG team – LMG w/2 crew, 3 Riflemen
LMG team – LMG w/2 crew, 3 Riflemen (maybe one with MP40)

1 + (2 + 3) + (2 + 3) = 11

10-man
Squad Leader w/ MP40
LMG team – LMG w/2 crew, 2 Riflemen
LMG team – LMG w/2 crew, 2 Riflemen (maybe one with MP40)

1 + (2 + 2) + (2 + 2) = 9

Jim

The only things I've read about FJR in Tunisia had to do with seizing and defending airfields, and defensive battles to blunt the British moves towards Tunis in December of 1942.

I know they were present, and some numbers taken captive in the final fall of the Axis in Tunisia 5 months later, but I have not seen any accounts of their activities between those two points.

Quite agree there would be no 'fausts. They could well have had the 28mm squeeze bore s.PzB 41, although by the later stages of the campaign ammo might have become a bit scarce for this gun. Also there was at least one FJR combat engineer ("Pioneer") battalion flown in in the early lifts, so perhaps some of their hand-held demolitions would also be part of the kit.

An interesting topic with high potential for a wargaming force, I would think.

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Generally the FJRs fought as "elite" Light Infantry anywhere they were deployed. Though after Crete, they did very few actual drops. And those were in small numbers. No more Div. or Bde., etc., drops. Some small units like on Leros, and even a few small glider operations. Like as Gran Sasso and even the Bulge.

Wouldn't they also have the FG42 by then, since supposedly those were introduced in 1942 in limited numbers?

I'd be surprised if they had more than one LMG per squad also, especially if the squad(s) have the FG42s. Perhaps on any halftracks, if the unit is lucky enough to catch a ride on some of those.

Pre-series of the FG42 was 50 rifles produced in early 43 and first operation use was September 43.

I'm sure you saw this … link

Wouldn't they also have the FG42 by then, since supposedly those were introduced in 1942 in limited numbers?

The FG42 was designated such in November 42, but didn't get the first 50 trials rifles out to the troops until September 43 (and that was during the Mussolini rescue raid!).

Production did pick up pretty quick after that. 2000 machined-steel receivers, then they needed to change to stamped steel due to a lack of the type of steel used in the machined receivers. There were another 7000+ stamped-steel FG42s made.

Not enough to arm all the FJ, but enough to arm probably 1 in 3.

Fascinating weapon, but maybe a little too light for full-auto. It was intended to replace the MP40, Kar98K, and the MG34(!).

If you're in the US, you can get a semi-auto-only replica version for $5,500. USD Lots and lots of machining work in that receiver, it goes from 13lbs of steel down to about 3!

L4:

Thanks for the link. I am only vaguely familiar with FJ activities in North Africa, so welcome any sources.

I knew the "Ramcke Brigade" had been sent over earlier, and had fought at El Alamein. I had never before seen the story about their little "adventure" of being left behind (on foot) as the Axis retreated, and then capturing a British supplies convoy and riding back to Axis lines in the trucks (while enjoying the tobacco products, evidently).

But then there is this statement from the article:

The brigade was then engaged in the Second Battle of El Alamein, later retreating into Tunisia. Ramcke was transferred back to Germany where he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross,[2] and command passed to Major Hans Kroh. The remaining brigade was part of the capitulation of German Panzer Army Afrika in May 1943.

This is rather typical of the accounts of other FJ units in Tunisia that I have seen. Two battalions were flown in to Tunisia secure airfields in November/December 1942. One FJ Pioneer Battalion was dispatched to Tunisia in December. There were some FJs involved in blunting the British drive towards Tunis in December. There were a couple small scale airborne ops in December (one with gliders IIRC). The next reference I find of them is their surrender in May.

But … but … but … there was a whole lot of action in Tunisia between December and May! The battles for the passes of the Eastern Dorsal, Ousseltia Valley, Sidi Bou Zid and Kasserine(!), El Guettar, the Mareth Line, Longstop Hill, etc. So much fighting, but no mention of the FJ?

Light infantry played a significant role in the fighting in the hills from North to South. Hard to imagine that as capable a light infantry force as the FJ were left idle while the front moved vor-und-zuruck.

Just wondering …

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Light infantry played a significant role in the fighting in the hills from North to South. Hard to imagine that as capable a light infantry force as the FJ were left idle while the front moved vor-und-zuruck.

It's worth remembering that the competition between the branches of the German military was vicious.

It'd take a lot of effort to get Luftwaffe troops like the FJ assigned to defend some airfields moved someplace else, probably an order from Hitler Himself.

I pulled this off the net, may be of interest:

Among the Fallschirmjäger rushed to Tunisia in November 1942 were the elite pioneers of Major Rudolf Witzig's Fallschirmpionier Battalion, of the XI Fliegerkorps. They, along with two battalions of the 5. Fallschirmjäger Regiment (FJR.5), were rushed into action to stop the Allies taking Tunis.

Witzig's pioneers were involved in some of the first fighting with the Allies on 17 November when they clashed near Jebel Abiod.

later Witzig's battalion welcomed the reinforcements of Tietjen's 2 Kompanie returning to the unit after serving in the Ramcke Brigade. The Northern sector had also been reinforced with the arrival of Fallschirmjäger "Pionier" Regiment "Barenthin" consisting of two battalions and commanded by Generalmajor Walter Barenthin, the senior pioneer officer of the XI Fliegerkorps.

Witzig's battalion continued fighting in the northern sector when the Allied attacks started once again. They fought tenaciously, defending every inch of ground and by the end of April were down to two officers (including Witzig), four NCOs and 27 men.

As the Allies boxed in the Axis forces in May, Witzig and a few of his men managed to commandeer a motorboat and escaped to Italy.

….and those elements of FJR 5 being absorbed into the HGD in Tunisia -

Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 5

Kommandeur:

Oberst Walter Koch, 5.42 – 2.43
Maj Müller, 1.44 – 2.44
ObLt Karl-Heinz Becker, 2.44 – 4.45

Formed in 5.42, Stab and I./FJR.5 new, II. and III./FJR.5 from II. and III./Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1. In 7.42 II./FJR.5 was sent to Africa and joined Brigade Ramcke, while the rest of the regiment transferred to Reims (training for Operation Hercules, attack om Malta). Stab, I. and III./FJR.5 were transferred to Tunisia in November 1942, joining Brigade Ramcke. II./FJR.5 was apparently disbanded shortly afterwards. On 2.43 FJR.5 was redesignated Jäger-Regiment Hermann Göring, now part of Division General Göring. Destroyed 5.43.

L4:
Thanks for the link. I am only vaguely familiar with FJ activities in North Africa, so welcome any sources.

you are welcome ! Being a former US ARMY Para/Air Assault trooper, I am interested in Airborne units of all armies and wars.

I knew the "Ramcke Brigade" had been sent over earlier, and had fought at El Alamein. I had never before seen the story about their little "adventure" of being left behind (on foot) as the Axis retreated, and then capturing a British supplies convoy and riding back to Axis lines in the trucks

That is something airborne units have to adapt to. Since once you are on the ground, generally you walk !

And something similar happened to the surviving Italian Folgore Paras at El Alamein. They had to "procure" some transport too. link

My mistake on the numbers. I am looking at the Chain of Command suggested lists.