Thursday, December 21, 2017

Panzer 413 - Interlude

(Source)
As Tennessee Whiskey rumbled up the road to Gouvy, Mac Peterson was still thinking about the incident at the crossroads. Should Tom have let those Tigers slide on by? If he had, Boston Beans would be rolling down the road behind them. Now Tom and his crew were dead. Gone.

Yeah, sure, they'd killed a Tiger. But another Tiger had killed them. Mac had run, no other way to look at it, they'd run away. But Jesus, square off against a Tiger? He was also pretty sure that there had been a third Tiger, skulking behind the one Boston Beans had killed.

One Tiger was iffy, two? No thanks.

"Hey Sarge, you awake up there?"

The call from his gunner snapped Mac back to the present. That's when he noticed headlights coming down the road, faint headlights. Mac realized that the snow had lightened up some, otherwise they would have run smack into whatever was coming down the road.

"Louis, halt! Jim, load armor piercing!"

"Up!"

"Easy does it boys, could be one of ours." Mac was watching intently as the other vehicle slowly approached. As it got closer, he realized that it was an M8 scout car, with infantry hanging all over it. A second followed, it too had men clinging to the outside.

When the M8 spotted the Sherman in the middle of the road, it stopped rather abruptly, almost spilling a couple of its passengers. One of those passengers jumped down and approached Tennessee Whiskey, the man was taking no chances, his Thompson was ready and pointed in Mac's direction.


(Source)
"Chef..."

Horst was on the intercom, Willi thought he knew why, but he asked anyway, when the boys started calling him "chief," it made him nervous.

"What is it Horst? Make it quick, I think that's Limerlé up ahead."

"Fuel, Chef. We're about to see if this beast can run on fumes."

"Verstanden. We should be able to fuel here, I hope. Or we will become a very expensive bunker."

Willi could see a couple of Kettenhunde* by the first house in the village ahead, which he really hoped was Limerlé.

One of the Kettenhunde stepped into the road, signalling them to stop. Willi ordered Horst to stop, he would like to run the guy over, they'd hassled him in Russia one too many times, but he decided to play nice.

"Is this Limerlé?"

"What unit are you with?" the military policeman asked, ignoring Willi's question.

"Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 506, we were attached to 6th Army, but the battalion has been directed to here, then Bastogne."

"Ja, your boys were through here four hours ago, where have you been?"

Willi had had enough of this man's arrogance, over the intercom he told Schmidt, "Junge, point your MG at this schweine, I want to get his attention." Then to the man in the road...

"We've been fighting the Amis, not bothering honest soldiers. We need fuel, does this town have any?"

Obergefreiter Johannes Töricht, was ready to order this tanker down from his hatch and give him the business, how dare he talk to the Feldgendarmerie in such a manner? Then he noticed that the tank's bow machine gun was pointed right at his head. Taking a couple of steps to his right, he noticed that the gun followed him.

"Down this road, second house on the left, I think there are some fuel cans there. Now move it, you're blocking the road!"

"Insolent child," Willi muttered as he told Horst where to go. Damn Feldgendarmerie, never fighting, always harassing honest soldiers.

Feldgendarmerie
(Source)

As the man with the Tommy-gun approached, Mac could see that the man was a major.

"Evenin' Sir, we're on the way to Gouvy, then on to St. Vith to hook up with the rest of our battalion."

"Which outfit you with Sergeant? Last I heard, St. Vith was cut off. We were ordered back to Houffalize, but we've been dodging Nazis for the last few hours." While the major had lowered his weapon slightly, it would easily swing towards Mac if he wanted. The guy was obviously on edge.

"Second Platoon, B Company of the 17th Tank Battalion. Have you heard where they might be at Sir?"

Mac was getting a bit edgy, it was getting lighter, he was hungry, he was sure his crew was hungry and he was worried that Tennessee Whiskey might be thirsty. They needed to gas up, soon.

"No Sarge, haven't heard anything about that outfit, but I know 7th Armored was supposed to fall back on Elsenborn Ridge. If I was you, I'd turn around and follow us to Houffalize."

"Love to major, but I need gas."

The major went back to the leading M8 and after a brief talk with its commander, came back to Mac's tank.

"Should be some fuel in Gouvy, if the engineers haven't torched it yet. The Krauts are coming on fast, we don't want them using our fuel, so I'd hustle Sarge." With that the major headed back to the M8, then he stopped.

"One more thing Sarge, there are rumors of Krauts running around in our uniforms, driving Jeeps or some such nonsense. Keep your eyes open."

"Copy that Major. Good luck."

"You too, Sarge. You too."


"Willi, isn't that der Spiess** over there?"

As Willi helped Horst, Peter, and Georg move another fuel drum over to 413, he looked up. Next to a small shed was a battered Kübelwagen, and sure enough, it was Otto Krämer, Fourth Company's Spiess.

"Hallo, Spiess. Was passiert?"

Krämer looked over and saw Willi and a big grin broke out on his face. He'd known Willi since Poland in '39.

Kübelwagen
(Source)
"How are you Willi? Where's the rest of your platoon?"

Sighing, Willi lowered his head, then looked back down the road into the village. "411 broke down after we crossed into Belgium, engine fire. The lieutenant was going to try and get the engine swapped out, wanted us to wait. Some SS officer ordered the rest of the platoon to get moving, we were blocking the road."

Looking puzzled, Otto asked, "So where is the young Leutnant?"

"Dead. A stray Ami artillery round sprayed some shrapnel around, a couple of wounded, but Leutnant Hansel was dead. Freak accident I guess you'd say. Then 413 was killed by a Sherman earlier this morning. Now it's just us and 414."

Otto paused, as if he didn't know what to say next, then he just blurted it out. "We just had word, München was bombed three days ago. A heavy raid, the Tommies in the night, the Yanks in the day."

Willi was from München, his parents and his sisters still lived there. Before he could ask, Otto looked at him sadly and said, "They're gone Junge, all gone."


Tennessee Whiskey was all gassed up and ready to move out. Mac Peterson was pondering his next move, probably Houffalize as the major had suggested, he'd actually found that on his map, they should be able to make it there by mid-afternoon. If all went well, but so far, nothing had gone well.

Mac looked up as the engineers seemed to be finishing up whatever it was they were doing. One of them, a Master Sergeant was walking over to him.

"Hey buddy, where you headed? Me and my guys could use a little help. A tank might come in handy. We're supposed to head for Houffalize, putting down mines and dropping trees across the road. We might get to blow a bridge or two. Interested?"

Mac looked around, the engineers had a couple of weapons carriers and a jeep. What the Hell, he could use the company.

"Sure, you guys ready to move out?"

"Yup, go ahead and roll, we'll be right behind you!"

As Tennessee Whiskey headed back the way she'd came, Mac heard a loud "woomph" and looked back to see the last fuel in Gouvy go up in a big fireball. In front of that devastation, he saw the three engineer vehicles speeding towards him.

That MSgt was gesturing at him to "follow me," he looked scared for some reason.

On the other side of Gouvy, a long column of Panther tanks from the 9th SS Panzer Division, Hohenstauffen, was moving rapidly down the road into Gouvy.


SS-Hauptsturmführer*** Kurt Langanke slapped the turret of his Panther in frustration as he saw what had to be the fuel stores in Gouvy go up in flames. His tanks needed fuel, the Belgians they'd questioned said they'd seen the Amis storing fuel in two places, Gouvy and Rettigny.

No chance of getting fuel in Gouvy. Next stop then, Rettigny.

(Source)

"Meine Panzer brauchen Treibstoff!" Langanke bellowed at the lowering clouds.

They gave him snow.

Fuel dump near Stavelot.
(Source)







* Kettenhunde, literally "chain dogs," German Army slang for military policemen because of the gorget worn while on duty which was suspended from a chain.
** der Spiess = German Army slang for a unit's first sergeant.
*** SS-Hauptsturmführer, Captain in the Waffen SS (SS = Schutzstaffel, Protection Squadron), the Nazi Party's armed forces. Separate from the Army, Air Force, and Navy.

64 comments:

  1. I believe I have run into descendants of Obergefreiter Johannes Töricht.
    They were all cut from the same mold and had a view of their own importance that was wrong by orders of magnitude.
    I like these tankers and I am also greatly concerned about their future.
    You have set the reading hook deeply and I haven't any wish to remove it.

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    Replies
    1. Look up "töricht" using Google Translate. I think you'll get a kick out of that.

      I'm not even sure where these guys are going to end up. But I'm having fun writing this.

      Delete
    2. "Ideals are peaceful. History is violent."

      I did like the character of Wardaddy. A lot.

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    3. Yep, I closed the Google Translate window with a smile.

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    4. Where will they end up? Oh, I dunno, probably about a mile away from that last photo. :)

      Delete
  2. Ooooo.....another installment......so quickly........tank you!

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  3. I hope you realize this is cruel and unusual punishment if you don't have another installment posted very quickly!!

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  4. Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike snow, except at a distance?
    Just reading this tale drops the temperature in the room.
    Thanks a lot!

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    Replies
    1. Perhaps I should post a picture of a warm fireplace with every installment of this tale?

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    2. As someone who has spent time in an armored vehicle (M113 four deuce FDC), in Germany, during the coldest winter in some years I can sympathize with your dislike of the white stuff. Sarge's depiction of armored operations in wintertime is spot on.

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    3. Thanks Flugelman.

      I got to "play outside" in the snow from time to time as part of my military duties. But I still like snow...

      As seen from my living room with a cup of hot coffee!

      Delete
    4. Flugelman:

      You had to use a M113 for FDC? I got an M577 for my FDC. Much more headroom. Of course, a much taller target. On the other hand, no one was going to be shooting at us in California.

      Merry Christmas,
      Paul L. Quandt

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    5. For all you civvies, FDC = Fire Direction Center, think artillery fire.

      The M113 and the M577 are both fully tracked armored vehicles. From the sources I've seen, the M577 (used as a command and FDC vehicle) is based on the M113. The M113 started life as an armored personnel carrier and was used extensively in Vietnam.

      And Paul is right, the M577 is much taller. More headroom, bigger target.

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    6. "From the sources I've seen, the M577 (used as a command and FDC vehicle) is based on the M113."

      Yes, the M577 was an M113 with the top cut off and another 12 to 18 inches of aluminum welded on ( you could see the weld line ). Much fun on night motor marches to ride sitting on the tc ( track commander ) hatch cover with my boots braced against the forward edge of hatch. Most verboden ( sp? ), which is why I only did it at night.

      PLQ

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    7. P.S. "...which is why I only did it at night." Well, that and the fact that we were only traveling three to five miles per hour.

      Paul

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    8. Sarge, apologies if this is taking the thread off track. Let me know and I will desist.

      Paul, we were issued the M113 in 1961 to replace our M37 3/4 ton trucks. We had built a box enclosure in the bed and one on the trailer. We kept the trailer and towed it with the M113.

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    9. Paul - good to have that confirmed by one who knows.

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    10. And again to Paul - there's lots of things I only do at night. Especially when I was on active duty. No big shots around after sunset.

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    11. Flugelman - talking about the military and our equipment is always appreciated and never "off topic." Military, it's what we do here. (And I get to learn cool stuff.)

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    12. Flugelman:

      A friend and I built a box enclosure in the bed of a Gamma Goat ( M-? ) assigned to my section. It failed totally. I'm happy that yours worked.

      Paul

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    13. OAFS:

      "...there's lots of things I only do at night. Especially when I was on active duty. No big shots around after sunset."

      Roger that! Working the overnight shift during Gulf I was much easier because of that fact.

      Paul

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    14. Flugelman:

      The M-37 is one of my all-time favorite military vehicles. That and the twice and a half. I have had the joy of driving the duce, but not a weapons carrier. The M-37 was out of service by the time I played with the Army. Much to my sorrow.

      Paul

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    15. I like that, the twice and a half.

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    16. I worked the mid shift at Kadena and swings at Kunsan. I almost forgot what officers looked like.

      😁

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    17. Gama Goat was the M-561, actually designed by Chance-Vought Aircraft aircraft. Kind cool!

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    18. "Gama Goat was the M-561, actually designed by Chance-Vought Aircraft aircraft. Kind cool!"

      Well, it was the only vehicle ( tracked or wheeled ) not to get stuck in the mud at Camp Bob the time it rained for days. However, it was a total PITA driving it on the highway from Richmond, CA to Camp Bob and back. BTW: The U.S. Army thinks that only the driver of a tactical vehicle needs a decent seat. Which is why I soon became a driver; at least until I became senior enough to be the track commander.

      Paul

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    19. So passengers are secondary?

      From what I understand, Soviet tank design doesn't even consider crew comfort.

      Delete
  5. Great stuff, Sarge. Many tanks. Heh, every time I see an M8, I'm reminded of an episode of Adam-12.

    At my first job after I was discharged, a co-worker told me about his dad at the start of the Bulge. My memory is a bit dim, but I'm sure his dad was army, and maybe engineers or commo. Anyway he and a few buddies had a jeep and trailer, and the trailer was full booze and other "goodies". These guys were wheelin' and dealin'. They were on their own and happened to stop on a hilltop. They watched as a column of King Tigers came around a bend in the distance, and straight down a road to a cross roads which was guarded by an American anti-tank gun (37mm?). The gun crew bounced several rounds off the lead Tiger, which never bothered to open fire. It just drove over the gun. The guys in the jeep got the hell out of there.

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    Replies
    1. I doubt the 37mm would even annoy the crew, let alone hurt the tank.

      Delete
    2. Thanks to much reading of Ian Hogg, I know of two instances of King Tigers falling victim, spectacularly, to 37mm fire. One was killed by an M-5 Stuart, and one was killed by an M-8. In both instances, it was the US vehicle having a King Tiger cross the street in front of them, in a town. The M-5 and the M-8 both fired right into the rear of the King Tigers, which ruptured the fuel tanks, allowing burning fuel to flow into the crew compartment, setting off the ammo load. It wasn't the sort of thing either vehicle could count on.

      In Armoured Thunderbolt, there is a photo of a Panther hit in the glacis by a 75mm APC round. This particular Panther had been built out of defective armor, with the wrong amount of molybdenium. The glacis plate shattered. This shot was made against a Panther that had been abandoned in the bocage fighting, and towed to a field, so the 57mm; 3 inch; 75mm; 76 mm, and 17 pounder could be tested against it. The performance came as quite a surprise to everyone, but after the armor was investigated, and the flaws detected, the tests were called invalid. I bet it sure surprised the guys in the Sherman that mad the shot, though!

      In the photo of the M-8, is the second beatie an M-20, or is it just an M-8, looking boxy from stuff strapped to the turret?

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    3. Scott - 2nd vehicle is an M-8, looks like a tarp draped over the front of the turret. I think that the M-20 had an open top didn't it?

      If you chase the link under that M-8 photo, the story of an M-8 killing a Tiger is there. One of the commenters claims it was a Panther, not a Tiger.

      I have seen the King Tiger in La Gleize, Belgium, with what looks like a 75 mm AP round embedded in the glacis just in front of the driver's position, yes, embedded, it didn't penetrate.

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    4. The Panther I refer to had a hole the size of a trash can lid spalled off the front. It was hit in Normandy, after the bogage fighting. Let me see if I can find a photo online.

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    5. http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/8347/pantherisignyii.jpg

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    6. That is some poorly formed plate! Right around the bow MG mount. Ouch!

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  6. Great selection of photos. They really, REALLY add context and credibility.

    This is getting right up there with the likes of "Killer Angels" historic fiction account of Gettysburg. And, that is damn good! Basically just filling in some entertaining dialogue while strolling along the waypoints of historical facts, but tremendously educational... and entertaining.
    It also adds a higher level of respect for those engaged in combat- on both sides.
    John Blackshoe

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  7. OK, I'm going to STOP reading these installments and wait for the finished product. (Unless you want me to be a beta reader.) I read all the Grey Man series installments on OldNFO's site and when the books came out found myself wondering if I'd already read the books. I read many books multiple times, but there's nothing like the first time for enjoyment.

    That having been said, I heartily implore you to continue towards a full book and I look forward to reading it in its entirety in one night, sitting by the fire with a glass of excellent single malt scotch in hand. The sooner the better.

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    1. While the story is going in a direction I'm liking, I don't consider this a finished product. Sort of a fleshed out outline. These installments wouldn't make a full book even if I posted an installment everyday between now and spring. (Well, actually that might make a full book.)

      The story isn't nearly as fleshed out as what Old NFO (Cajun) posts on his site. Reading it in book form will probably give you a sense of déjà vu, but I hope to add more detail. Consider this a sketch with the full painting yet to be revealed.

      A work in progress, but I like where it's going.

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    2. Oh, that wasn't a complaint. That was praise. I don't want the first reading to have ANY deja vu'. This is good S417, and I want to enjoy every bit of it.

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    3. OAFS:

      I don't remember if I have made this offer before, but I am ready and eager to be one of your first readers. I have ( I believe I've mentioned a time or 15 ) experience in this field.

      Standing by to serve,
      Paul

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    4. I know that Paul, when I get a manuscript, you'll get a copy.

      Delete
  8. This is a really good story. I eagerly await more of it.

    Thanks for the post.

    Merry Christmas,
    Paul L. Quandt

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  9. I don't really think anyone except maybe MPs like MPs, but to be fair theirs is a thankless job. Oddly enough, I was surprised to learn years ago that municipal and other police departments are hesitant to hire former MPs--something to do with having to retrain them "their" way instead of just training them. And it doesn't help to remind Army MPs that Ted Kennedy was briefly one of them....

    As for the gorgets worn by the German MPs, that was originally a part of a knight's armor designed to protect his throat. The collar brass we wear on our uniforms? The Brits call those "gorget tabs"; the last remaining vestige of metal armor. Ironic on soldiers increasingly clad in synthetic armor....

    Keep up the good work--I'm really getting into this. Nice photos, too....

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    Replies
    1. The gorget was used by officers in various armies in the 18th and 19th centuries as well to signify that they were on duty.

      Epaulets on uniform shirts? Vestigial armor as well.

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    2. What's the only thing more dangerous than an 18 year old with a gun? An 18 year old with a gun, a badge and a beanie. Don't get me started.

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    3. Heh, I note for the record that we've had this convo before. No doubt we'll have it again.

      😒

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    4. Army version--

      If you have a low IQ
      you can wear a white hat too.
      Sound off!
      One, Two!
      Sound off!
      Tree frog!

      Delete
  10. The Germans had a 37mm antitank gun at the beginning of the war; it quickly became known as the "door knocker" because that was all it could do with Russian tanks....

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    1. I checked, a lot of countries started the war with a 37mm gun.

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    2. The US Army's 37mm AT gun M-1 was a copy of the German 37mm.

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  11. i like the job you did numbering 413 and 414!

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    1. Actually all I had to do was change the initial number on the Tiger on the right, it originally said "113." But thanks for noticing!

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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