Panzerwrecks 13: General corrections & updates from Daniele Guglielmi

I received an email from my friend Daniele Guglielmi, author of many Italian theatre books, with a few corrections and observations. Over to you Daniele:

Page 1, you can see at lest three types of tyres on the AB41s: two of Celerflex models (taken from trucks), and Artiglio di sicurezza (run-flat, very rare). It’s possible that the other wheels had the other two models used: Artiglio and Libia.

Page 4, did not both the Marder III Ausf. H and M have the same crew of four?

Page 11, Pignataro (not Pignatora).

Page 18 etc., the StuG and StuH III belonged surely to the StuG Brigade 242; this unit had a particular way to bring the side spare track links.

Page 28, in October 1944 the Tiger number 334 was used as a target on the beaches of Riccione, at the presence of the new 8th Army commander, Gneral McCreery. The German tank was totally destroyed by the shots of 6pdr, 17pdr and 75mm guns.

Page 50, StuG Brigade 242, as above see the reversed side spare tracks.

Page 51, Artena, not Ortona (which lies 200 km east)

Page 52, did not the Sd.Kfz. 7/2 belong to the Hermann Goering Division?

Pages 58, 59, I think that the Sd.Kfz. 10 was found near the Tiger of the s.Pz.Abt. 504 destroyed in Cecina on 1st July, 1944; the pictures came form a roll of the same series. Apart for the Tiger unit, in the area there was the 16. SS Panzergrenadier-Division RFSS, which employed some StuG III Ausf. F8 and G.

Page 74 etc., many photos were taken by British and New Zealand reporters on 28 June 1944 near Ficulle (Terni), a town with an important railway station. The Regio Esercito (Italian Royal Army) received in 1941 two Canon de 194 GPF sur chenilles Saint Chamond (named Cannone da 194/32 su affusto a cingoli Saint Chamond). After the Italian armistice of 9 September, 1943, the two vehicles were captured by the Germans, who used them (as 19,4cm Kanone 485(f) GPF) for the coastal defence of the town and the port of Civitavecchia (west of Rome). One of these two SPG is now exposed in the museum of Aberdeen, Maryland, USA.

Page 78, I believe that the first dug-in Panther showed was in the Gothic line north of Pesaro, on the eastern side of the line, in August 1944 and the second one on the Gustav line in May 1944.

Page 92, I believe that the circular unit insignia was for the Panzer-Regiment 26, not for the whole 26. Panzer-Division, which used the old marking (see on the two Panzer IVs at the pages 90 and 91, on the turret skirt and on the front of the hull) until the end of war.

Page 96, probably the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G destroyed in Villa Grande in December 1943 belonged to the 90. Panzergrenadier-Division.