Panzer IV Universe - Tracks in the Sand

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Tracks in the Sand

Tracing the Panzer IV "Special" in North Africa

03/??/42:

Production of F2 begins, or at least F1s upgraded with L/43.^P4V-p????

04/15/42:

Hitler is presented with F2 and approves.^P4V-p51

05/??/42:

9 F2's shipped to N. Africa. Held in reserve at first. 1 more (that broke down in Italy) was shipped "later".^PT1-p181

05/25/42:

5th Pz. Reg. official inventory includes no F2s.^TAKAOH-p27

05/26/42 ~ 05/28/42:

4 F2's assigned to 5th Pz. Reg., but without ammunition (or at least without AP ammunition).

05/26/42 - 07/20/42:

2 F2's damaged beyond repair ^PT1-p180.

05/27/42 ~ 06/10/42:

Up to 19 F2's may have been used at Bir Hacheim. Rommel's own notes indicate these were not available due to lack of ammunition. Perhaps the ammunition did arrive before the final assault on Bir Hacheim, or perhaps there has been a mistranslation or contemporary misunderstanding -- maybe they only lacked a certain type of ammo, like AP. In addition to the opinion expressed by Avalon Hill Game Designer Harold Hock, there also exists a photograph that clearly shows two or three wrecked F2's lined up side by side. According to author Richard Holmes, these were "towed to a roadside dumping ground near Bir Hacheim"^AOR-p145 ^BHDC-p127.

05/28/42, evening:

5th Pz. Reg. has 4 operational F2's on front.^PT1-p????

06/11/42:

6 F2's available (The Battle for North Africa 1940-43).

06/12/42:

"Several" F2's available

06/28/42 ~ 07/28/42:

A "number" of IV's arrive in N. Africa.^{RBAC-p130,150}

07/01/42 - 08/31/42:

20 G's shipped to N. Africa.^PT1-p????

08/??/42:

30 Specials in active service ^AOR-p153 -- may not account for losses and/or those being repaired

08/15/42:

5th Pz. Reg. official organization includes total of 10 Specials.^TAKAOH-p28 8th Pz. Reg. official organization includes total of 8 Specials.^TAKAOH-p17

08/30/42:

5th Pz. Reg. has 14 operational Specials.^PT1-p???? ^TIC-p79-80 8th Pz. Reg. has 13 operational F2s.^PT1-p???? ^TIC-p79-80 Total of 27 Specials available (Rommel's War in Africa).

08/31/42:

15th Pz. Div. looses 2 Specials.^PT1-p???? ^{TIC-p94-95????}

10/21/42, evening:

8th Pz. Reg. equipment returns include 14 Specials.^TAKAOH-p122

10/23/42:

5th Pz. Reg. official inventory includes total of 15 Specials.^TAKAOH-p30 ^TIC-p99 ^RBAC-p???? 8th Pz. Reg. official inventory (including evening equipment returns) includes total of 15 F2s in its 1st and 2nd Battalions' 2 Med. Pz. Companies, with 8 in one and 7 in the other.^{TAKAOH-p21,110} ^TIC-p99 ^RBAC-p????

10/25/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 5 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

10/26/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 6 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

10/27/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 2 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

10/28/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 3 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

10/29/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 4 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

10/31/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 3 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/01/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 5 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/04/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 1 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/05/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 1 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/08/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 0 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/13/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 1 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/18/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 1 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/19/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 1 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/20/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 1 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/21/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 3 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110 8th Pz. Reg. equipment returns include 6 Specials.^TAKAOH-p124 TAKAOH-124 seems to conflict with TAKAOH-110 unless there were new arrivals and they weren't counted as returns.

11/22/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 2 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/23/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 2 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/24/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 3 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/25/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 3 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/26/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 1 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/27/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 1 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

11/28/42, evening:

15th Pz. Div. equipment returns include 1 Specials.^TAKAOH-p110

01/15/43:

New 5th Pz. Reg. 1st Battalion (initially known as "Grun Panzer Battalion") formed in Tunisia equipped with 17 Specials.^TAKAOH-p30

01/17/43:

All tanks from original 5th Pz. Reg. transferred to 8th Pz. Reg. and redesignated 8th Pz. Reg. 2nd Battalion.^TAKAOH-p30

08/??/43:	British write School of Tank Technology Report 15. Subject: G with F turret, chassis 83072. Captured in the "Middle East" after it drove a total of 301 miles.^STT15-p1