A Unit Through the War in Flames of War: 654 Schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung – Part 1

With the release of Barbarossa and the upcoming release of Berlin, Battlefront will have effectively given coverage to the full time period comprising the Second World War for the European and North African theaters. Granted, there are many areas and operations which have received little or no specific coverage, but for the first time the full period from the invasion of Poland in 1939 to VE day in 1945 will be covered. As an avid history buff, I like to follow combat history of a unit from its inception and deployment straight through to the end of the war (or its dissolution). As a regular feature going forward, I’ll pick one of my favorite units and follow them through the war in Flames of War lists starting with this article featuring 654 Schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung.

Early War – The Fall of France

Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654 started its service as a motorized anti-tank unit equipped with the 3.7cm PaK36 anti-tank gun. The unit received a mixture of vehicles to tow the anti-tank guns, mostly civilian Opel trucks which were later supplemented with British and French vehicles captured during the conquest of France. These served alongside Krupp-Protze trucks and 1 ton half-tracks (Sd.Kfz. 10).  The unit did not participate in the campaigns in Poland, Denmark, or Norway and instead defended Germany’s frontier from any Allied advance on Germany’s Western border.

The unit’s baptism by fire came in mid-May, 1940 during the German offensive through The Netherlands and Belgium as a part of 6. Armee. From May 14-16, 1940, the unit was deployed in the Hannut-Gembloux area where it suffered numerous casualties, but also stopped an enemy armored advance.

The specific units the Abteilung was attached to during this time were:

·         May 10-11, 1940:  Headquarters, XVL Armeekorps

·         May 11-12, 1940: 3. Panzer-Division

·         May 13 through July 7, 1940:  4. Panzer-Division

·         July 7-9, 1940:  Headquarters 12. Armee

·         July 10-13, 1940:  Headquarters 2. Armee

·         July 13-?, 1940:  Divisional artillery of 3. Infanterie-Division

For the majority of the French campaign, the unit was assigned to 4. Panzer-Division, which was armed with a total of 135 Panzer I, 105 Panzer II, 40 Panzer III, and 24 Panzer IV tanks. The best list to use to actually field Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654 would be the one of the infantry lists which represent support for the Panzer divisions like the Schützenkompanie list on page 74 or the Panzerschützenkompanie on page 78 of Blitzkrieg.  The Kradschützenkompanie would also work. The anti-tank guns of the Abteilung itself could be represented either by the Schützen Anti-tank Gun Platoon on page 77 or the Anti-tank Gun Platoon on page 103.

Battle of France – Attached to 4. Panzer Division – May 13 through July 7, 1940

Schützenkompanie – Blitzkrieg p. 74

·         Compulsory:  As required by list

·         Add 654. Panzerjäger-Abteilung: One or more Schützen Anti-tank Gun Platoons (p. 77) and/or Anti-tank Gun Platoon (p. 103)

·         Not appropriate for this unit:  Bunker Flak Platoon, Czech Panzer Platoon, Assault Gun Platoon

·         Appropriate Support:  Any allowable by list

Panzerschützenkompanie – Blitzkrieg p. 78

·         Compulsory:  As required by list

·         Add 654. Panzerjäger-Abteilung: One or more Schützen Anti-tank Gun Platoons (p. 77) and/or Anti-tank Gun Platoon (p. 103)

·         Not appropriate for this unit:  Bunker Flak Platoon, Czech Panzer Platoon, Assault Gun Platoon

·         Appropriate Support:  Any allowable by list

Kradschützenkompanie – Blitzkrieg p. 80

·         Compulsory:  As required by list

·         Add 654. Panzerjäger-Abteilung:  One or more Schützen Anti-tank Gun Platoons (p. 77) and/or Anti-tank Gun Platoon (p. 103)

·         Not appropriate for this unit:  Bunker Flak Platoon, Czech Panzer Platoon, Assault Gun Platoon

·         Appropriate Support:  Any allowable by list

To model Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654, use the 3.7cm PaK 36 (GE501). Allowable tow vehicles include the Kfz 70 truck, but feel free to substitute Opel trucks (GE 430 or 431) or Sd.Kfz. 10 (GE273) halftracks.  They’ll have no impact on the game, but will give the Abteilung some unique flavor.

Early War – Barbarossa

Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654 was next employed during the invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa. The unit retained its 3.7cm PaK 36 guns and was equipped with a mixture of German, British, and French trucks and prime movers, and was initially attached to XII. Armee-Korps serving alongside several units, including an assault gun platoon beginning in June 1941.  By August it was serving as a part of 2. Panzerarmee, and at least part of the unit served alongside 3. Panzer-Division.

During this time 3. Panzer-Division fielded 58 Panzer II, 29 Panzer III (3.7cm), 81 Panzer III (5cm), 32 Panzer IV, and 15 command tanks. Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654 used a mixture of German prime movers and foreign trucks, though the Kfz 70 truck was becoming more common. Given the wide array of forces represented by the units the Abteilung was attached to, just about any list from Barbarossa with a towed anti-tank element could be chosen, including some of the new digital lists.

Operation Barbarossa – Attached to XII. Armee-Korps and 2. Panzerarmee – June 21 through December, 1941

Panzerschützenkompanie – Barbarossa p. 18

·         Compulsory:  As required by list

·         Add 654. Panzerjäger-Abteilung:  One or more Schützen Anti-tank Gun Platoons (p. 23) and/or Divisional Anti-tank Gun Platoons (p. 103) armed with the 3.7cm PaK 36 only

·         Not appropriate for this unit:  Czech Panzer Platoon, Flammpanzer Platoon

·         Appropriate Support:  Any allowable by list – note because the unit was attached to 3. Panzer-Division, the Dicker Max in the Heavy Tank-hunter Platoon is an appropriate support choice.

Schützenkompanie – Barbarossa p. 20

·         Compulsory:  As required by list

·         Add 654. Panzerjäger-Abteilung:  One or more Schützen Anti-tank Gun Platoons (p. 23) and/or Divisional Anti-tank Gun Platoons (p. 103) armed with the 3.7cm PaK 36 only

·         Not appropriate for this unit:  Czech Panzer Platoon, Flammpanzer Platoon

·         Appropriate Support:  Any allowable by list – note because the unit was attached to 3. Panzer-Division, the Dicker Max in the Heavy Tank-hunter Platoon is an appropriate support choice.

Kradschützenkompanie – Barbarossa p. 24

·         Compulsory:  As required by list

·         Add 654. Panzerjäger-Abteilung:  One or more Schützen Anti-tank Gun Platoons (p. 23) and/or Divisional Anti-tank Gun Platoons (p. 103) armed with the 3.7cm PaK 36 only

·         Not appropriate for this unit:  Czech Panzer Platoon, Flammpanzer Platoon

·         Appropriate Support:  Any allowable by list – note because the unit was attached to 3. Panzer-Division, the Dicker Max in the Heavy Tank-hunter Platoon is an appropriate support choice.

Modeling the unit in this era is essentially similar to the French Campaign. The unit did make use of capture French and British trucks for a time, though the exact models used is unclear in many cases.

The next segment will look at Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654 in the Mid-War period as the unit is first upgraded to more powerful towed anti-tank guns and is ultimately moved to self-propelled anti-tank guns and heavy tank hunters.

Links to the other parts of the article:

Part 2 covering Mid-War
Part 3 covering Late-War