Allied use of captured Axis AFVs and Tanks

The US 83rd Infantry Division IIRC also used a captured ME-109 with the words 83rd Inf Division on the underside of the wings to try and prevent being accidently shot down by our own troops.

 

Since 1943, Soviets captured some number of various variants of Panther, which equipped some of their tank units such as Lieutenant Sotnikov's Guard Company. This unit used captured Panthers as late as spring of 1945, when they had 3 Ausf As, while operating in Prague (Praga) - district of Warsaw. Soviets held Panthers in high regard and considered captured Panther to be a prize. Captured Panthers were then given to successful crews as a kind of reward. In order to keep them running captured German mechanics were pressed into service and in 1944, Panther's manual was printed in Russian for distribution among tank crews. Captured vehicles temporarily remained in their original colors but with markings of their new owners. Later, some were repainted in dark green and were marked with large tactical markings and white stars for indentification purposes.

"It is suggested to the Red Army to use such German tanks as StuG III and Pz IV due to their relability and availability of spare parts. The new German Panther and Tiger can be used until they broken down without trying to repair them. They have bad engines, transmission and suspension." - Department of Weaponry of the Red Army, late 1944.

Captured Panther being inspected by Soviet soldiers and officers.
Soviet soldiers painted the name TIGER on the front armor plate and first three letters TIG (in Russian) are visible. In 1943/44, to the ordinary Soviet troops all German Panzers were known as "Tigers" and all assault guns as "Ferdinands", while all German soldiers as "Fritz" or "Gans".
Photo and information provided by Dmitry Pyatakhin.

Small number of captured Panthers was also pressed into service by British (e.g. Ausf G "Cuckoo" from 4th Battalion of 6th Coldstream Guards Tank Brigade, North-West Europe, 1944/45), Canadian, French and American units and three were used by the Polish Home Army during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, against its former owners. Also small number was captured and operated by the French resistance in mid 1944. They took part in fighting in the Rouen area, where two of them were destroyed on August 30th of 1944 by Tigers from sSSPzAbt 102. This was probably the most interesting combat situation involving Panthers.

British PzKpfw V Panther Ausf G "Cuckoo"
from 4th Battalion of 6th Coldstream Guards Tank Brigade, North-West Europe, 1944/45.

Achtung Panzer! - Panther

 

I know the Australians used alot of captured M11/39 and M13/40 Italian tanks early on in the Western Desert in their divisional cavalry squadrons. I have pictures somewhere of some of these vehicles with big white kangaroos painted on the hull and turret.

 

Yep. I remember building a model kit of that version of it. IIRC they were captured and Used at Tobruk.

 

Although technically not captured from the Axis but the Australians also used Renault R-35 captured from Vichy troops and used in Syria.

 

Yeah thats becasue we arn't a country that has alot of industrial power most of our equipment came from captured supplies or allies

 

T.A.'s Aussie captures:




Cheers,
Adam.

 

The Panther-equipped tank company under command of Gds.Lt. Sotnikov vic Praga (Warsaw's suburb). Poland, Aug. 1944. [1]


Captured Axis Vehicles. Tanks. Photos

 

A train load of repaired "Prague" (Pz.38(t))tanks on its way to the line units. Soviet Western Front, July 1942. [1]

 

The crew of a Panzerjäger I SP gun is specifies combat mission. The Separate Tank Battalion of the 31st Army, Aug. 1942. The vehicle has a standard Soviet 4BO paintwork and is fitted with a Soviet-type headlight. [1]

 

Scout V.Kondratenko, former tractor driver, got behind the enemy lines and hijacked fully operational enemy tank to the friendly positions. North-Caucasian Front, Nov. 1943. [1]

 

Tankers heading into combat the captured Sdkfz 231 armored car vie. Karmanovo. Soviet Western Front, Aug. 1942. [1]

 

PZ III

 

I re-painted this model based on the info at the sites linked:

 

I find it interesting that they used white stars instead of red ones.

 

Does any one know why white stars were used?

 

This is from memory, so don't trust it fully, (or at all...) but If I recall, though not taken up universally the white star was agreed upon as a universal identifier as the Allied armies began to converge. Like that white band painted around many Soviet turrets in Berlin it would present less opportunities for 'blue on blue' incidents.
I think.

Either that or a complete lack of red paint...

Cheers,
Adam.

 

That makes some sense. But the Reds running out of Red???

 

The Five-Year Plan was getting to its close, new supplies had approval pending of Politburo decision.

 

Its cos they ordered a batch of pink by mistake... So they went for white stars...