Germany WWII Army Logistics panzertruppen

An old rule says: Supply is not everything, but without supply everything is nothing.

This phrase clearly shows the importance of maintenance and logistics for an army.
A powerful armored formation can be useless against the enemy when it runs out of fuel or ammo.
For a commanding officer logistics are as important for his succes as operational command is.
The logistical support elements are designated as combat and fieldtrains (Gefechtstross).
On the march and during operations it is divided into the combat trains I and combat trains II.
In a rest or refitting area there is no need to seperate the trains.
Gefechtstross It must be kept small.
Its composition changes and must be matched to the requirements of the battle.

Gefechtstross I can include:

* Refuelling vehicles
* Ammo carriers
* Recovery vehicles (Bergefahrzeuge)
* Vehicles for technical and weapon specialists and their equipment
* Replacements crews
* Field kitchen (Fieldkuchen)

In every company a gefechtstross is lead by an experienced NCO.
On the march the gefechtstross remains with the (forward) combat elements.
Upon deployment it consolidates with the other companies combat trains of the batallion, this combined force is lead by a batallion officer.
This enables it to be brought forward rapidly from the batallion rear area to exchange crews and provide supplies before the unit goes into combat.
All remaining vehicles of the trains go to the gefechtstross II (field train).
In each company these field trains are lead by the company first sergeant (Hauptfeldwebel) also known as Spiess.
The field trains are controlled by the batallion or by any higher HQ from an organization the batallion is attached to.
Experienced officers and NCOs should be in command of both types of trains.

During operations the repair and maintenance sections(instandsetzunggruppen) belong to the combat elements.
The batallion commander orders their commitments.
The leader of the maintenance section, batallion engineer, decides which vehicles are turned over to the regimental repaircompany (werkstattkompanie) for repairs and maintenance.
He maintains communincations with the batallion CO.

The rations vehicles (verpflegungswagen) of the HQ and the line companies belong to the ration supply train. (verpflegungstross)
This train is lead by the rationsofficer off the batallion.

The bagagetrains (Gepacktross) are collocated within the batallion, they belong to the field trains if they are not moved on orders of higher HQ formation.

Medical services (Sanitaetsdienst) are run by the batallion surgeon (Abteilungsartz)
Prompt medical attention, especially in combat must be assured by having a doctor accompany the attack in an armored ambulance.
The establishment of the aidstation (truppenverbandplatz) and the transfer of wounded to the aidstation( hauptverbandstelle) are the mission of the second doctor.
Those facilities must be at least 1 kilometer apart from the other logistic locations so they will not be involved in combat in the event of an attack.
They must be suitably marked (red cross)
The batallion CO decides if or not the hospital will be camouflaged, in the event of airattacks the camouflage must be removed.
During operations the company medics are assigned to SPW's.
The company commander decides where he sets up his aidstation and when the medics should start their work.
Every man in the unit must be aware of their position.
The company CO reports the location of his aidstation to the bn HQ.
When men are hurt they have to be taken care of and protected by their platoon, the platoon commander reports casualties and will continue his mission.
The company commander than decides whether the wounded will:
* be taken along by their own crew.
* be left behind at a medical collection pointor
* be cared for by the company medics.

If the companymedics do not have suffivcient transportation assets the company CO than decides whether:
* a multiple commitment of the medics can be made.
* other available transport assets are to be utilized.
* additional assets must be requested or
* tanks are to be used for medical transport.

The primary duty of the repair and maintenance company is repairing tanks.
They can only do their job the best way if they are working in a save area.
Therefore its it is necesary that the company during ongoing operations will remain in the same location for several days before it relocates.
A timely and pertinent commitment is decisive for the maintenance of the combat strength of the formation.
Empty supply trucks must be released immediately, they take back wounded to an aidstation and than drive to the supply area without delay.
Personell can only rest when they have supplied a unit and moved the wounded back to safety.

Cargo capacity of the average supply trucks:
* 3 ton truck: 2200 liters of fuel in 110 jerrycans or 11 barrels.
* 4,5 ton truck: 3600 liters in 180 jerrycans or 18 barrels.
The companies and ultimately all the crews support logistical resupply measures by advance planning as well as constant reports and immidiate reports about damage and losses.
The company first sergeant is responsible for forwarding rations.
He will collect them at the fieldkitchens and transports them to the various (frontline) units.
When on the move a company can feed itself with emergency rations.
Such rations need to be in fulll suplly on every vehicle at all times, carefull planning is necesary.
Crews of disabled tanks/halftracks stay with their vehicle untill its repaired.
If a vehicle is lost crews will go to the holding area for replacementcrews.

In almost every situation the the tactical commander reports :
* The number of available fighting vehicles and tanks.
* Level of ammo and fuel
* Requirements for rations, clothing and other supplies needed to fullfill a mission.
He includes the time requirements for picking these items up and bringing them forward in his estimate of the situation.
Platoon leaders and the logisticsofficer support the companycommander.
The logistics officer of the batallion advises the batallionscommander and bears overall responsibility for the supply personnel of the batallion.
To a large extent company operational readiness isdetermined by preventive maintenance of the equipment and weaponsystems.
Its the task of every soldier to keep his equipment and weapons in working order, by following the manuals.
And by performing maintanance and paying attention to operational limits.
By following up these standards, even towards the end of the war, the German army managed to perform as well as they did throughout the war.