What is notable about this counterattack against the Anzio beachhead is the fact that one Panther battalion was deployed against US forces for the first time. The battalion commander was ordered not to allow any of his Panthers to fall into enemy hands, so he maintained distance with US forces and engaged in long range fire only. I do not have further detailed information about whether or not the new Panther battalion suffered any losses. But what I am curious about is the allied reaction to this new weapon. Did they write it off as potentially being another German rarity like the Tiger I?
Wolfy, I have a book at home on Anzio. At work at the moment. I will look for you when I get home tonight.
Sorry Wolfy, My book has no info on Panther numbers either deployed or destroyed. On Fischfang, it only mentions large numbers of tanks and other heavy equipment were destroyed. I will keep looking though.
All I was able to find so far is that the Panthers were designated 1 battalion, 4th Panzer regement, of the 14th Army. They were sent to Anzio as a consolation from Hitler since he denied Kesselrings request for two additional divisions for the offensive. No info on numbers. As for the reaction, The US and British mainly thought that it was just another very large tank that the Germans would be incapable of placing in use in large numbers.
