The Stab einer Panzer-Aufklärungsabteilung (armored reconnaissance battalion staff) was the staff section used in the reconnaissance battalions of armored units. The table of organization and equipment came into effect on 1 January 1944, where it replaced the 1 November 1941 version.

Summary

Unit outline

  • Unit command
  • Signals platoon
    • Platoon headquarters
    • 2 light Field telephone cable team
    • 4 Backpack radio team
    • 1 light Air force communication radio team
    • 4 Radio team
  • Baggage train
    • Motor vehicle maintenance team

Manpower and equipment

The numbers in the table refer to the original organization. See the list of changes below.

Unit command Signals platoon Baggage train Total
Personnel
Officers 4 1 - 5
Non-commissioned officers 3 10 6 19
Enlisted 12 32 10 54
Weapons
Rifles 13 41 12 66
Pistols 3 1 4 8
Submachine guns 4 1 - 5
Vehicles
Light, cross-country cars 3 1 2 6
Schwerer geländegängiger gepanzerter Personenkraftwagen (Sd Kfz 247)1 1 - - 1
Open, cross-country, 2 ton truck - 4 1 5
Closed, cross-country, 2 ton truck2 - 5 - 5
Open, cross-country, 3 ton truck - - 2 2
Light motorcycles 3 1 - 4
Light motorcycles with sidecars 3 - - 3

Organization and Equipment

Full name: Stab einer Panzer-Aufklärungsabteilung

Abbreviation: Stab Panz Aukl Abt

Number: 1109

Date: 1 November 1943

The following changes were made to the table of organization and equipment:

Date Change
2 May 1944

The Armored vehicle radio mechanic in the Signals platoon was redesignated Radio mechanic.

The following were removed from the Combat train:

  • 1 Radio sergeant
  • 1 Armored vehicle radio mechanic
12 July 1944

The Commander of motorcycle messenger section was change from being in a car to being in a motorcycle sidecar.

The following were removed from the Unit command:

  • 1 Car driver
  • 1 light, cross-country car
These changes decreased the number of pistols from 8 to 7, the number rifles from 66 to 64, and the number of light, cross-country cars from 6 to 5. They also decreased the number of non-commissioned officers by 1 and the number of enlisted men by 2.
  • Signals platoon
    • 2nd light Field telephone cable team 6 (motorized) (as first team)
    • 1st and 2nd Backpack radio team g MW (motorized)
      • Non-commissioned officers
      • 1 Team leader, Radio operator (NCO - G)
        • Rifles: 1
      • Enlisted
      • 2 Radio operator (Enlisted - M)
        • Rifles: 2
      • 1 Radio operator (Enlisted - M)
        • Also Team leader
        • Rifles: 1
      • 1 Radio operator (Enlisted - M)
        • Also Truck driver
        • Rifles: 1
      • Equipment
      • 1 Open, cross-country 2 ton truck
    • 1st light Air force communication radio team 20 VHF (motorized)
      • Non-commissioned officers
      • 1 Team leader, Radio operator (NCO - G)
        • Pistols: 1
      • Enlisted
      • 1 Radio operator (Enlisted - M)
        • Rifles: 1
      • 1 Radio operator (Enlisted - M)
        • Also Secondary truck driver
        • Rifles: 1
      • 1 Truck driver (Enlisted - M)
        • Rifles: 1
      • Equipment
      • 1 Closed, cross-country 2 ton truck
    • 1st light Radio team 80 MW (motorized)
      • Non-commissioned officers
      • 1 Team leader, Radio operator (NCO - G)
        • Rifles: 1
      • Enlisted
      • 1 Radio operator (Enlisted - M)
        • Rifles: 1
      • 1 Radio operator (Enlisted - M)
        • Also Secondary truck driver
        • Rifles: 1
      • 1 Truck driver (Enlisted - M)
        • Rifles: 1
      • Equipment
      • 1 Closed, cross-country 2 ton truck
    • 2nd, 3rd, and 4th light Radio team 80 MW (motorized)
  • Combat train
    • Enlisted
    • 1 Assistant armorer (Enlisted - M)
      • Also Secondary truck driver
      • Rifles: 1
    • 1 Car driver (Enlisted - M)
      • Rifles: 1
    • 2 Truck driver (Enlisted - M)
      • Rifles: 2
    • 1 Field kitchen cook (Enlisted - M)
      • Rifles: 1
    • Equipment
    • 1 Light, cross-country car (4 seats)
    • 1 Open, cross-country 3 ton truck
      • For fuel
    • 1 Open, cross-country 3 ton truck
      • For small field kitchen
    • Motor vehicle maintenance team
      • Non-commissioned officers
      • 1 Leader, Motor sergeant class K (NCO - O)
        • Pistols: 1
      • 1 Motor vehicle mechanic (NCO - G)
        • Rifles: 1
      • Non-commissioned officers
      • 2 Motor vehicle mechanic (Enlisted - M)
        • Rifles: 2
      • 1 Motor vehicle mechanic (Enlisted - M)
        • Also Truck driver
        • Rifles: 1
      • 1 Car driver (Enlisted - M)
        • Rifles: 1
      • 1 Armored vehicle radio mechanic (Enlisted - M)
        • In car
        • Rifles: 1
      • Equipment
      • 1 Light, cross-country car (4 seats)
      • 1 Open, cross-country 2 ton truck
        • With equipment for motor vehicle maintenance team
        • Alternatively Kfz 2/40

Remarks

  • 4 personnel were to be designated as Auxiliary stretcher bearer.
  • 3 of the rank group G members were Feldwebel (Staff sergeant).
  • The company was to have a Gas detection squad consisting of 1 Leader and 3 enlisted.
  • An officer was to be responsible for creating awareness of the tasks related to gas protection.
  • A non-commissioned officer was to be gas protection non-commissioned officer.
  • A non-commissioned officer or enlisted was to be responsible for managing tables of organization and equipment as well as manuals.
  • When in occupied territory, 1 of the 54 enlisted positions in the Train were to be manned by Foreign volunteers. The position were to be filled were at the discretion of the unit commander.

Notes

  1. Alternative medium, cross-country car. Back
  2. Alternative Kfz 2/40. Back

Sources

  1. Stab einer Panzer-Aufklärungsabteilung (Stb.Panz.Abt). Berlin : Allgemeines Heeresamt, 1943. 3 p. K St N 1109, 1.11.1943. NARA T78 R393.
  2. Allgemeine Heeresmitteilungen : Elfter Jahrgang 1944. Berlin : Oberkommando des Heeres, 1944. BArch RH 1/167.