I am interested in the history of the 17th (Motorcycle) Company of the Infantry Regiment GrossDeutschland. Having recently read the first volume of Helmuth Spaeter's 'History of Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland', I have found some answers, but unfortunately found new questions.
I know that this company joined the IRGD as a reconnaissance company on July10th 1940, at the latter stages of the campaign against France. Soon it was joined by a few other companies to form the 5th (V) Battalion of IRGD, until the formation of the GrossDeutschland division in early 1942.
I am interested in the order of battle for this company, which the above book only partialy explains. It states the following:
Company commander with 1 x Kfz18, first aid motorcycle combination and one motorcycle
Armoured car platoon, 4 with MGs and 1 with 2cm cannon
3 sections of motorcycles, each with 3 BMW combinations, the first of each with mounted MG
1 5cm mortar team on combinations
1 heavy MG platoon on combinations
Does anyone know how many platoons there were and what the make up of the vehicles was in each in each platoon? I feel that the above information is not as complete as it could be, such as:
1/ How was the armoured car platoon formed in terms of sections? (is it 1 car per section?)
2/ Did the 3 sections of motorcycles form the 2nd platoon alone?
3/ How many motorcycles formed the mortar team?
4/ Which platoon was the mortar team part of or was it a platoon on its own?
5/ How many motorcycles formed the MG platoon?
6/ What other support vehicles did the company have as assets for logistical or signals use?
In depth questions I know, but any help or advice is gladly welcomed. Thanks
I know that this company joined the IRGD as a reconnaissance company on July10th 1940, at the latter stages of the campaign against France. Soon it was joined by a few other companies to form the 5th (V) Battalion of IRGD, until the formation of the GrossDeutschland division in early 1942.
I am interested in the order of battle for this company, which the above book only partialy explains. It states the following:
Company commander with 1 x Kfz18, first aid motorcycle combination and one motorcycle
Armoured car platoon, 4 with MGs and 1 with 2cm cannon
3 sections of motorcycles, each with 3 BMW combinations, the first of each with mounted MG
1 5cm mortar team on combinations
1 heavy MG platoon on combinations
Does anyone know how many platoons there were and what the make up of the vehicles was in each in each platoon? I feel that the above information is not as complete as it could be, such as:
1/ How was the armoured car platoon formed in terms of sections? (is it 1 car per section?)
2/ Did the 3 sections of motorcycles form the 2nd platoon alone?
3/ How many motorcycles formed the mortar team?
4/ Which platoon was the mortar team part of or was it a platoon on its own?
5/ How many motorcycles formed the MG platoon?
6/ What other support vehicles did the company have as assets for logistical or signals use?
In depth questions I know, but any help or advice is gladly welcomed. Thanks