Panzer TANK CREW INFORMATION REQUEST

Hi guys if you can answer any of these questions please leave a response below, I am writing a book.

1. What personal weapons would the tank crew use on a Pz IV? (for example if a tank commander carried an MP40 and the crew carried lugers)
2. What were the ranks of a tank crew in a panzer IV? (For example was the driver a PanzerSchutze and the commander a unteroffzier?)
3. What would happen if a tank or crew member was lost in battle during a deployment? Would they get a new tank or crew member or continue on until they have time to deploy reinforcements?
4. Where there any combined arms platoons for example a 3 Panzer IVs and 2 panzergreandier half tracks in a platoon?
5. Where there any tanks in the platoon that were different variants like a few panzer IVs and Panzer IIs or IIIs in a platoon?
6. What did the numbers on the tank mean? If a tank was called 532 what would it mean?
Thank you guys!53

 

What is your interest? Are you planning a diorama?

Much of this information is in books on panzers. Some is real nuts and bolts.

1. What personal weapons would the tank crew use on a Pz IV? (for example if a tank commander carried an MP40 and the crew carried lugers)

Not sure

2. What were the ranks of a tank crew in a panzer IV? (For example was the driver a PanzerSchutze and the commander a unteroffzier?)
Depends on the tank. A platoon or Company commander's tank will have someone more senior than an unteroffizier.

3. What would happen if a tank or crew member was lost in battle during a deployment? Would they get a new tank or crew member or continue on until they have time to deploy reinforcements?

If a tank crew member becomes a casualty in the middle of a battle, the detachment may have to carry on. Casualties to anyone other than an exposed commander begs some questions about the state of the tank itself. Every man in a tank has a specific duty in action. It is hard to fight a tank without all stations manned. Nor is there much space in which to manouvre an injured man or corpse. Once the casualty had been removed, someone spare in a tank company who could be loaned to keep the tank inn action.

4. Where there any combined arms platoons for example a 3 Panzer IVs and 2 panzergreandier half tracks in a platoon?

Not in the same platoon. However panzer units did practice close co-oiperation in small units , in particular for operations in close terrain.

5. Where there any tanks in the platoon that were different variants like a few panzer IVs and Panzer IIs or IIIs in a platoon?

By and large fighting platoons were equipped with the same type of tank, even if for logistic and movement purposes. Its a PIA if only three out of five vehicles in a platoon can cross a particular bridge.

6. What did the numbers on the tank mean? If a tank was called 532 what would it mean?

532 means No 5 company 3rd platoon tank no 2
http://bunker3030.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/beginners-guide-to-german-3-digit.html
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For much basic information on Panzer IV and crews etc I'd recommend the two Steven J Zaloga's two relevant titles in Osprey's 'Duel' series ; 'Panzer IV v Char B1 bis - France 1940' and 'Panzer IV vs Sherman - France 1944'. these are relatively inexpensive books and are packed with information.