"HG Panzer Division, Sicily, halftracks, yes or no" Topic

Hi folks: Getting ready to game 82nd Airborne vs HG Panzer Division defending on July 11 and July 12 at Biazzo Ridge south of Niscemi. Did HG Panzer Division grenadiers assault using their halftracks? I see lots of references to Tigers from Abt. 104 and Panzer IVs from HG as well as Panzergrenadiers in the attack. One set of rules/scenario book says Germans had halftracks, another just says they attacked without them. Thoughts? thanks!

I would say no half tracks – HG was in the process of being essentially re-formed after most of the original Division was captured in Tunisia, so while they had their tanks I don't think they had much in the way of half tracks; from the few pics I have seen of them in Sicily I see tanks and trucks, but no half tracks

It's a good job the Italians didn't have half tracks. If they had, HG would have pinched them. LOL

Half the Italians in the desert got captured because the Germans stole their trucks. Gotta love an ally.

Must be something to do with hot places or sand – today it's sun loungers.

Half the Italians in the desert got captured because the Germans stole their trucks.

Probably good luck for the Italians that were captured.

As Frederick says, I don't think they got any halftracks until after Sicily. The recce battalion may have had some.

The Italians captured in north Africa where kept in Egypt, reduced to weighing 40 kg, they had to dismantle the tents, in which they slept, at dawn and reassembled them after sunset. A great luck for them!

"Fire Brigades" by Kamen Nevenkin refers (in passing) to I Bn of PzGren Regt HG2 as armoured in July 1943, as part of KG Schmaltz.

He has organizational detail beginning in late 1943, with PzGren Regt HG2 having I Bn Armd and II Bn Mot, while PzGren Regt HG1 had both I and II Bns as Mot. On 7th Nov 1943, HG2 switched to two Mot Bns and HG1 now had I Bn Armd and II Bn Mot.

Gary

The book 'Herman Goring Panzer Division in Sicily' (Claude Gillono 2008) has photos of 2 half-tracks. One a 250 used as an ammo carrier and another 2 photos of what appears to be a standard 250.

Costanzo1
The Italians captured in north Africa where kept in Egypt, reduced to weighing 40 kg, they had to dismantle the tents, in which they slept, at dawn and reassembled them after sunset. A great luck for them!

That is interesting. I thought I read that less than 20% of Italians captured in Egypt or East Africa were retained in the Middle East. Most were shipped elsewhere. With labor shortages in many countries these prisoners were highly desired, especially after Italy switched sides and the Geneva Convention restrictions might not apply to those who accepted co-belligerent status. The biggest complaint I have read about their treatment at the hands of western allies was the slow rate of repatriation by the British after the war ended.

Thanks everyone! Not sure why the discussion about Italians started but good information. I did find info on Commando Supremo website and other places that it appears at least the HG Division Pz Grenadier Recon Battalion and Pioneer battalion had halftracks.