Military Organization > Nazi Germany > German Heavy Tank Company (1944-45)
Part of: Schwere Panzer-Abteilung
Type: Heavy Tanks
Time Frame: Nov. 1944—May 1945 (Battle of the Bulge, Fall of the Reich)
Personnel: 4 Officers, 83 Other Ranks
The following was the organization of the Schwere Panzerkompanie, or Heavy Tank Company, of the German Army from November 1944 until the end of World War II. These companies were intended to be outfitted with Tiger I or Tiger II tanks, as opposed to Medium Tank Companies which were intended to be outfitted with Panthers, Panzer IVs or Panzer IV/70 (A) tank destroyers.
They were the principle combat element of the Schwere Panzer-Abteilung (Heavy Tank Battalion). Each Heavy Tank Battalion consisted of 1 Staff and Staff Company, 1 Workshop Company and 3 Heavy Tank Companies (this).
↓ Organization
Gruppe Führer (1 OF, 16 OR)
Tiger I or Tiger II Heavy Tank**
1× Company Leader (Kompanieführer), Hauptmann, armed with 1 Pistol
1× Gunner (Richtschütze), Unteroffizier to Feldwebel*, armed with 1 MP40 Machine Pistol
1× Driver (Kraftwagenfahrer), Unteroffizier to Feldwebel*, armed with a Pistol
1× Radio Operator (Funker), Unteroffizier to Feldwebel*, armed with a Pistol
1× Loader (Ladeschütze), Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter , armed with a Pistol
Tiger I or Tiger II Heavy Tank**
1× Tank Commander (Kommandant), Unteroffizier to Feldwebel*, armed with a Pistol
1× Gunner, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel*, armed with 1 MP40 Machine Pistol
1× Driver, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel*, armed with a Pistol
1× Radio Operator, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol
1× Loader, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol
Leichter Pkw., gl Cars (Kübelwagen)
1× Company Sergeant Major (Hauptfeldwebel), Oberfeldwebel, armed with a Pistol
1× Drivers for Car (Kraftwagenfahrer für Pkw), Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with 1 Kar98k Rifle
Leichter Pkw., gl Cars (Kübelwagen)
1× Weapons NCO (Waffenunteroffizier), Unteroffizier to Feldwebel*, armed with a Pistol
1× Messenger (Melder), Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with 1 Kar98k Rifle
1× Drivers for Car (Kraftwagenfahrer für Pkw), Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with 1 Kar98k Rifle
2× Kettenkrad Half-Track Motorcycles
1× Dispatch Rider (Kradmelder) each, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with 1 Kar98k Rifle each
* Of NCOs (Unteroffizier to Feldwebel), 3 in the company were to be Oberfeldwebel and 12 were to be Feldwebel. One Feldwebel per platoon was to be a driver.
** Tiger IIs were delivered to only a handful of Heavy Tank Battalions beginning in 1944. They were concentrated in certain units. For info on how they were distributed, check the "Tiger I vs. Tiger II" section of the "Discussion" section.
3× Züge (1 OF, 19 OR each)
Tiger I or Tiger II Heavy Tank
1× Platoon Leader (Zugführer), Leutnant, armed with a Pistol
1× Gunner, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with 1 MP40 Machine Pistol
1× Driver, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with a Pistol
1× Radio Operator, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with a Pistol
1× Loader, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol
Tiger I or Tiger II Heavy Tank
1× Deputy Platoon Leader (Stellvertreter Zugführer), Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with a Pistol
1× Gunner, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with 1 MP40 Machine Pistol
1× Driver, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with a Pistol
1× Radio Operator, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol
1× Loader, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol
Tiger I or Tiger II Heavy Tank
1× Vehicle Commander, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with a Pistol
1× Gunner, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with 1 MP40 Machine Pistol
1× Driver, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with a Pistol
1× Radio Operator, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol
1× Loader, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol
Tiger I or Tiger II Heavy Tank
1× Vehicle Commander, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with a Pistol
1× Gunner, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with 1 MP40 Machine Pistol
1× Driver, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with a Pistol
1× Radio Operator, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol
1× Loader, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol
Wechselbesatzung (10 OR)
2× Vehicle Commanders, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with a Pistol each
2× Drivers, Unteroffizier to Feldwebel, armed with a Pistol each
2× Gunners, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol each
2× Radio Operators, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol each
2× Loaders, Panzerschütze to Obergefreiter, armed with a Pistol each
↓ Discussion
The Schwere Panzerkompanie (Heavy Tank Company) were Tiger I and Tiger II-equipped armoured companies within the Heer and Waffen SS during World War II (although in their mid-war infancy Panzer IIIs and Hetzers were also fielded). They were the principle combat elements of the Schwere Panzerabteilung (Heavy Tank Battalion), which were independent formations intended to be attached to larger formations in breakthroughs to punch holes in narrow, heavily defended portions of the line during offensives for medium/light tanks and mechanized/motorized infantry to exploit. They were essentially meant for relatively short and specific use before being taken off the line. However, given the situation of Nazi Germany towards the end of the World War II, heavy tanks saw continuous use in roles that might be better suited to medium tanks (like the Panzer IV and Panther) and infantry support guns.
By November 1944 (the time frame of this organization), the Schwere Panzerkompanie consisted of a Company Headquarters (Kompanietrupp), 3 Platoons (Zug) and 10 reserve crewmen (Wechselbesatzung).
The Company Headquarters (Gruppe Führer) held the company's command personnel, messengers, and a skeleton crew of administrative personnel (the Hauptfeldwebel or First Sergeant and a Weapons NCO). It held 2 Tiger tanks (one of which was commanded by the Company Leader) with crews of 5 men: 1 Vehicle Commander, 1 Loader, 1 Radio Operator (sat next to the driver), 1 Driver, and 1 Vehicle Gunner. It should be noted that the Company HQ was intended to have a higher concentration of NCOs for its vehicle crews than the platoons. One tank (the one with the company commander) acted as a command tank while the other was a reserve tank. There were also 2 Kettenkrad half-track motorcycles, intended for use by 2 of the company's 3 Messengers, and 2 Kübelwagen light utility cars, for use by the Hauptfeldwebel and Weapons NCO presumably.
The Tank Platoons (numbered 1. Zug, 2. Zug and 3. Zug) were the company's combat elements. Each consisted of 4 Tiger tanks under the command of a Leutnant Platoon Leader and divided into two half-platoons (Halbzug). Unlike in Medium Tank Companies, where 1 out of 3 platoons were to be commanded by a Feldwebel, all platoons in Heavy Tank Companies were to be commanded by officers (although given the general manpower situation, NCOs would have probably sufficed). The heavy tank platoons also had deputy platoon commanders designated in the KStN, while medium tank platoons (and infantry for that matter) did not. This would make sense from an organizational standpoint as it would give each of the half-platoons a platoon leader-grade commander (whereas Medium Tank Companies had 5 tank platoons that couldn't be divided equally) but also possibly owed to the command of Tigers being more arduous than Panzer IVs or Panthers.
Each tank had 5 crew members as stated earlier. Of the crewmembers, the drivers and vehicle commanders were intended to always be NCOs, while other billets had a mix of NCOs and enlisted men. Three NCOs per company were meant to be Oberfeldwebel while 12 were to be Feldwebel. One driver per platoon was also intended to be a Feldwebel, with the assumption being that the Tank Commander in these tanks being Oberfeldwebel. The next highest concentration of NCOs was intended to be the vehicle gunners. This makes sense, given the importance of the positions for the operation of the tank and the skill necessary. The loaders were always junior enlisted by comparison, and 3 out of 4 of the radio operators (assistant drivers) were junior enlisted. It is likely that the radio operator in the platoon leader's tank would be the NCO as they would have the job of coordinating communications between the platoon's elements and the company. If a platoon were to do a leaders recon, the vehicle commanders, gunners and drivers would typically have been the crew members to participate.
The company maintained two whole spare crews that could readily replace injured or killed crewmembers. This was an increase of one whole crew from June 1944. When not needed, the spare crews would be used as assistant drivers for fuel and munitions trucks in the Workshop Company. Back in March 1943, these crews had rode with the Company Train II.
Of particular interest for the organizations of the tank companies from June 1944 was the lack of a substantial company train (Gefechtstroß) or maintenance group (Instandsetzungsgruppe) that were characteristic of heavy tank company KStNs as late as March 1943. The train included field cooks, medical personnel, clerks, weapons personnel, the Hauptfeldwebel and several trucks. By Nov. 1944, most were moved to the battalion's supply company (Versorgungskompanie) and the company's administrative personnel/equipment were reduced to 2 Kübelwagen light utility vehicles contained within the Company HQ, the Hauptfeldwebel and Weapons NCO. More than likely the supporting units once in the company train were concentrated at the battalion level. This was part of the new round of "unrestricted" (freie Gliederung) organizational changes that streamlined companies' support elements. With the unfavorable state of the late war for Germany at the time, heavy logistics units were consolidated at higher levels to reduce duplication and be more manpower efficient. Early in the war, although the company train I would march with the company elements (something that could have still been done, with battalion-level maintenance groups being dedicated to specific companies anyways) when the company was deployed their trains were consolidated with all the battalion's trains under the command of a battalion-level officer. During this time, the trains were kept in the battalion's marshalling area and would be brought to the front to support their respective companies when necessary. Meanwhile, the company train II (which was under the command of the Hauptfeldwebel) were under the practical control of the battalion (or brigade/regimental depending on the unit) regardless. Thus, the removal of a significant company train from the tank companies themselves was a minimally invasive streamlining measure.
↓ Tiger I vs. Tiger II
Beginning in 1944 certain Heavy Tank Battalions—a limited number of about 10-20—began receiving Tiger IIs to replace their Tiger Is. This issuance varied battalion to battalion, with some being at full strength with Tiger IIs by 1945, some being a mix of Tiger Is and Tiger IIs, and some being basically combat ineffective with little more than a couple platoons of Tiger IIs, a hodge-podge of other vehicles, and unoccupied tank crews used as infantry.
There was a clear intention to concentrate the types of heavy tanks. At the beginning of the Heavy Tank Company's existence earlier in the war, tank platoons were mixed with 2 Tiger Is and 2 Panzer IIIs. By 1944, this had been done away with with homogeneous tank platoons. For the tank battalions that did receive Tiger IIs, of the ones noted in Wolfgang Schneider's "Tigers in Combat", most did not receive shipments of Tiger Is following their first Tiger II shipment.
The ideal scenario, of course, would have been a full strength battalion with 4-tank platoons of Tiger IIs in some battalions and Tiger Is in others. According to Schneider, this seems to have been the case for the 501st Heavy SS Tank Battalion which had its full complement of Tiger IIs by Dec. 1944 (it was attached to the 2nd SS Tank Division during the Battle of the Bulge). In situations where there was a mix of Tiger Is and Tiger IIs, the Tiger IIs probably would have been concentrated into specific companies. Again using the example of the 501st Heavy SS Tank Battalion, in August 1944 they fielded 1 company of Tiger IIs while every other company (including the 3 tanks in the battalion headquarters) were Tiger Is. If there were insufficient amounts of Tigers in general, the platoons would be reduced in size to 3 tanks, the number of platoons would be reduced from 3 to 2, the number of companies in a battalion would be a reduced, or a mixture of the 3. Conversely, when a battalion was overstrength, platoons could be increased to 5 tanks. This did happen, albeit on a limited scale, and was probably not ideal from a logistical point of view given as the strengthening of the one battalion would have come at the expense of an understrength one. In the field, understrength companies and battalions would often been consolidated with other Heavy Tank Battalions to form more combat effective units.
Tiger II-equipped battalions also seemed to have been concentrated at times for specific breakthrough operations. Such was the case during the Ardennes offensive (Battle of the Bulge) where 4 such heavy tank battalions were committed. One unit, the 506th Heavy Tank Battalion, was originally equipped with Tiger Is. Those Tiger Is were transferred to the 507th Heavy Tank Battalion while the 506th was reequipped with Tiger IIs for deployment to Arnhem.
Thus, the figures stated in this article should be taken with a grain of salt when it comes to practical application. Depending on the unit and time period, tank platoons could have had 3, 4 or 5 tanks (although 4 was the standard). Additionally, battalions could have had a mix of Tiger I and Tiger II companies, or even Tiger I and Tiger II platoons within the same company.
↓ Main Sources
"Schwere Panzerkompanie 'Tiger'" (K.St.N.1176) published 1 November 1944, republished by WWII Day by Day
Schneider, Wolfgang. "Panzer Tactics: German Small-Unit Armor Tactics in World War II"
Schneider, Wolfgang. "Tigers in Combat"
Forty, George. "Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II"
