Panzergrenadier

Panzergrenadier

• Top left: German Bundeswehr Panzergrenadiers behind a Schützenpanzer Marder.
• Top right: Austrian Bundesheer Panzergrenadier in front of a Schützenpanzer Ulan in 2016.
• Lower left: Austrian Bundesheer Panzergrenadier in front of a Schützenpanzer Ulan.
• Lower right: German Bundeswehr Panzergrenadiers during a training exercise at the Jägerbrück Training Area in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, 2010.

Panzergrenadier (pronunciation

The doctrine originated primarily in Nazi Germany during World War II and is today used by name in the countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Sweden.

Doctrine

Panzergrenadier combat is conducted in close cooperation with IFVs. Each Panzergrenadier squad has its own designated IFV during battle. Combat can be conducted either from within the vehicle via portholes in the walls or hatches on the roof etc., so-called mounted combat, or from outside the vehicle in its vicinity using dismount-hatches at the back of the vehicle, so-called dismounted combat.

Combat missions consist of ambushing, fire support, reconnaissance, spearhead attacks, etc. Depending on the armament, the IFV can have a varying degree of active participation in the battle. Early examples simply featured a pair of rifle-calibre machine guns. Modern day examples traditionally use medium-caliber (20–60 mm (0.79–2.36 in)) autocannons and integrated missile-systems in a revolving turret. Unlike traditional mechanized infantry, Panzergrenadiers do not use armoured personnel carriers (APC) in their doctrine, as APCs are intended as "armoured taxis" and by design lack the ability for mounted combat.

Use

The Panzergrenadier

Sweden also adopted the Panzergrenadier doctrine in 1942, to some extent independently, although lacking dedicated infantry fighting vehicles until 1943.^[1]

German Wehrmacht

Forerunners (Schützen)

The term Panzergrenadier was not adopted until 1942. Infantry in panzer divisions from 1937 onwards were known as Schützen (literally in German: Gunners) Regiments; they wore the same rose pink piping on their uniforms as the tank crews (with an "S" cypher that distinguished the Schützen from the tank and anti-tank units that also wore that colour). Soldiers in special Motorized Infantry units wore the standard white piping of the Infantry. In 1942, when Infantry Regiments were renamed as Grenadier Regiments by Hitler as a historical homage to Frederick the Great's Army, the Schützen regiments (and the soldiers in them) began to be redesignated as Panzergrenadier regiments, as did Motorized Infantry units and soldiers. Their Waffenfarbe was also changed from either white (in the case of Motorized Infantry) or rose pink to a meadow-green shade previously worn by motorcycle troops. Some units did not change over their designations and/or Waffenfarbe accoutrements until 1943, and many veteran Schützen ignored regulations and kept their rose-pink until the end of the war.

Wehrmacht Panzergrenadiers during World War II

The term Panzergrenadier had been introduced in 1942, and was applied equally to the infantry component of

Wehrmacht Panzergrenadier equipment

The use of armoured

When the armed forces of

• 
  SPz 11-2 Kurz
• 
  SPz 13-3 Lang
• 
  SPz Marder 1
• 
  SPz Marder 2
• 
  SPz Puma

Bundeswehr doctrine

In the

The Armoured military forces consist of the

Panzertruppe and the Panzergrenadiertruppe. [...] Due to the mobility and protection offered by their armoured fighting vehicles, the Panzergrenadiertruppe is especially suited for swift changes between mounted and dismounted combat to maintain the momentum of armoured troops. [...] The direct and close cooperation of the Panzertruppe and the Panzergrenadiertruppe is, next to the cooperation with Combat support, mandatory to succeed. Their versatility and reactivity enables them to gain and maintain the initiative and bring about the decision.^[5]

According to the HDv 231/100, the fighting of a Panzergrenadier Battalion is characterized by the following aspects:

"The fighting of the battalion is characterized by:

• the combination of fire and movement,
• attacking in conjunction with main battle tanks,
• swift changes between mounted and dismounted combat,
• close cooperation between mounted and dismounted forces,
• the particularly mobile combat, [...]"^[6]

Bundeswehr Panzergrenadier units

After the newest phase of the transformation process the German Army will be fielding the following active Panzergrenadier battalions:

• Panzergrenadierbataillon 33, Neustadt am Rübenberge
• Panzergrenadierlehrbataillon 92 (Demonstration battalion), Munster
• Panzergrenadierbataillon 112, Regen
• Panzergrenadierbataillon 122, Oberviechtach
• Panzergrenadierbataillon 212, Augustdorf
• Marienberg
• Panzergrenadierbataillon 391, Bad Salzungen
• Panzergrenadierbataillon 401, Hagenow
• Panzergrenadierbataillon 411, Viereck

Additionally, in 2008 two inactive Panzergrenadier Battalions were formed:

• Panzergrenadierbataillon 908, Viereck (with Panzergrenadierbataillon 411 as supplying and maintaining unit)
• Panzergrenadierbataillon 909, Marienberg (with Panzergrenadierbataillon 371 as supplying and maintaining unit)

Training and development of the Panzergrenadiertruppe is usually performed by the

• 
  Tgb m/42 KP

  with mounted infantry
• 
  Pbv 301

  with dismounted infantry
• 
  Pbv 302

  with mounted infantry
• 
  Pbv 302

  with dismounted infantry
• 
  Strf 9040

  with mounted infantry

Swiss Army

Switzerland adopted an the

The Schützenpanzer 63 was eventually replaced with the Hägglunds

The two existing Panzergrenadier battalions of the Austrian Bundesheer use the Austrian version of the ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development) armoured fighting vehicle, known as the Schützenpanzer "Ulan".^[9] The Waffenfarbe of the Austrian Panzergrenadiers is black.

Notes

References

• Panzergrenadier