PzKpfw VI „Tiger” tanks, in early July 1943, as part of „Unternehmen Zitadelle”, unit Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505, advancing mounted Panzergrenadier infrantry.
Despite suffering the loss of 21 out of their 26 Tigers in just two days, they managed to take down an impressive tally of 111 Soviet tanks.
Did you know?
German Panzergrenadier units also trained to ride atop German armor, and by 1944 this was commonplace since trucks were rare and often couldn’t keep up with the armor in cross-country terrain. Some Panzer Divisions did forbid the practice due to certain dangers, though not because soldiers were falling off. It was because the infantry dismounted too late once under fire, and took heavy casualties due to incoming fire striking near or on the tank. This isn’t surprising, as doctrine demanded in 25 MAY 1942 manual Heeres Druckvorschriften 299/4a Ausbildung und Einsatz der Schutzenkompanie that Panzergrenadiers fought Mounted in their SPW (Schutzenpanzerwagen or SdKfz 251) vehicles. Bataillon Philips (I./PzGrLeRgt 901) rode into battle atop Panther tanks in action around Vire in JUL 1944.
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