Panzer Korps Afrika Korps Serial Number -
Panzer Korps Afrika Korps Serial Number - ->>> https://cinurl.com/2taJ5T
Apart from the battalion of Panzer Is that were supplied to the CCA, the Afrika Korps in North Africa also received an additional number of Panzer Is from the 1st SS Panzer Division. Most of the vehicles were near-complete Panzer Is, but some were stripped of their tracks and superstructure to become half-track vehicles. This issue is discussed below.
The Panzertruppen in Italy, however, are more of a mixed bag. As in the case of the Afrika Korps, the Panzer Is in the Italian army were contributed by all three Panzer Regiments. However, many of the Panzer I tanks in the Italian army were not Panzer Is, as the Italian army had a large number of Panzer IIIs in the same area of operation as the Panzer I tanks. Many of the Panzer Is were fully complete vehicles, but many were incomplete and others were stripped of their superstructure.
The Afrika Korps was created in 1943 as part of the 22nd Panzergrenadier Division. The original force of soldiers was drawn from the Army Group Africa, who was later transferred under the command of Gen. Rommel.
This wide variety of Panzer Is and the diverse issues faced by the Wehrmacht (see below) caused the Panzer Is to be varied in appearance, as they were used by many different factions, from the Panzertruppen to the Panzer-Gruppen.
The Panzer Is in the Panzertruppen in Italy were used to support the Italian army, but were not used to contest the German forces in Italy. The majority of the Panzer Is were removed from the frontlines and were used as mobile workshops.
Given the lack of documents, it is difficult to ascertain just what was used and what was lost. However, some sources suggest the loss rate of Panzer Is in North Africa was quite high. The most common cause of tank loss was mechanical breakdown, caused by the often harsh conditions of the desert. The Panzer Is in North Africa suffered from poor maintenance and mechanical failure. The high level of mechanical breakdown resulted in a very high rate of disposal. At the height of the campaign, the Panzer Is in North Africa were removed from active service to be rebuilt.
In the spring and summer of 1942, Adolf Hitler began to play up the potential value of Panzer I Ausf.A to the German panzer arm. At the time, the number of Panzer I Ausf.A in service was approximately 2,000, and these were scattered all over the front, serving in various formations. However, at Kasserine, the 1st Light Division had suffered such heavy casualties that the divisional commander, General Amilcare Guillaumat, asked Hitler to send him a replacement battalion equipped with Panzer I Ausf.A to replace their shattered units. Hitler refused, saying that they were in no shape to be sent to the front. However, he then ordered General Guderian to form a panzer division from those already in service, and he also ordered a panzer brigade from the replacement training division in France to create a battalion. The panzer brigade and battalion were to be made up of the units that would have been the 1st Light Division. The only problem with this plan was that the units chosen were not all ready to become panzers. 827ec27edc