12/31/08

Tiger II Tanks Documented in the Ardennes Offensive (continued)

This list provides information on tanks positively identified by photographic evidence or veterans’ accounts as having been a part of s. SS-Pz.Abt. 501 during the Ardennes Offensive.  Tanks are listed by turret number and tank commander, where known.  The names of the tank commanders are taken from Patrick Agte’s book.  Disposition lists where the tank was knocked out or abandoned.  Description includes whether the camouflage paint was applied by brush or spray, whether or not the tank was painted in the “light and shadow pattern,” and other features. 

3. Kompanie

304 – Company Headquarters Squad Leader

Disposition:  abandoned in the Ardennes, exact location undetermined.

Description: brush, light and shadow pattern but photographs do not clearly show paint dots, turret numbers appear to be the same light shade as 332. Other details not visible. Seen in post-battle photographs taken by a soldier of the U.S. 987th Field Artillery Battalion.  This unit was located near Malmedy during part of the campaign.

US soldiers examine 304 and the big 88mm shells.  (all photos courtesy Terry Keller)

312 - SS-Oberscharführer Heinrich Ritter

Disposition: knocked out by tank destroyer near Goronne (west of Vielsalm), probably around 30 Dec 44 during 1. SS-Pz.Div. attacks against Bastogne.

Description: brush, paint pattern not clearly visible, turret numbers appear to be the same light shade as 332. Other details not visible. Seen in post-battle photographs.

Tank 312 appears to have had a partial coat of thin whitewash.  (US National Archives at College Park, Signal Corps Collection, 111-SC-198889)

331 - Platoon Leader (SS-Hauptscharführer Rolf von Westernhagen)

Disposition: halted by final drive failure and abandoned on hill east of Stavelot.  Description and other information unknown.  Documented in Ardennes Offensive by Rolf von Westernhagen’s account.

332 - SS-Unterscharführer Otto Blase

Disposition: abandoned and captured on the N33 at Coo-Biester 25 Dec 44.  Recovered by US Army and shipped to Aberdeen Proving Ground for testing in 1945.  Acquired by Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor at Fort Knox in 1991 and restored.

Description: probably spray, no light and shadow pattern, turret numbers painted in medium blue outlined in yellow.  No national cross, no 1. SS-Pz.Kps. insignia. This tank has chassis serial number 280243 and turret serial number 280091.  It was completed by the Henschel factory on 11 September 1944, first issued to Army s. PzAbt. 509, then recalled and issued to s. SS-Pz.Abt. 501 in early December 1944. (11)

The saga of 332, with photos

334 - Tank commander unknown

Disposition: knocked out on road between La Gleize and Bourgomont at “Les Tcheous” 22 Dec 44.

Description: brush, light and shadow pattern but paint dots not visible, turret numbers appear to be the same light shade as 332 (but eyewitness accounts say the numbers were red with white outline), no national cross, 1. SS-Pz.Kps. insignia not visible.  Seen in post-battle photographs.

334 sits beside a knocked out Sherman of TF McGeorge on the road from La Gleize to Bourgomont. (US National Archives at College Park, Signal Corps Collection)

Later 334 was pushed to the side of the road to clear the way for traffic, and the scrap dealers began disassembly of the tank by prying back the top turret armor.  (December 1944 Museum, La Gleize)

Tanks with Unknown Turret Numbers 

__3 - Tank commander unknown.

Disposition: immobilized with thrown track on the N33 above the Marechal Mill, La Gleize, 18 Dec 44.  Its crew stayed with the tank because it could still fire, and it was abandoned on 22 or 23 Dec 44.

Description: brush, light and shadow pattern, other details not visible. Veterans’ accounts say this was a 3. Kompanie tank.  Other sources claim that it is 2. Kompanie tank, and that a different photo shows the turret number 223.  The possibility that it is a 2. Kompanie tank is valid, but no published photo shows any number other than the final digit 3.  (Note: Schneider’s Tigers in Combat II and some Internet sources have claimed that this is the same tank as “104” in the Chemin Vielle-Voie in La Gleize; that it was hauled into La Gleize and used by 82d Airborne soldiers for bazooka practice.  This is very unlikely; why would anyone (local Belgians or US Army) go to the trouble of dragging a disabled 69-ton tank up a steep hill for almost two kilometers and through three sharp curves for bazooka training, when there were plenty of tanks lying around in La Gleize?  Also note the comparison of the paint scheme on the rear plates, which clearly is different on the two tanks.)

The tank which threw track was a favorite subject for US photographers.  The smoke is probably a result of a soldier having thrown a grenade in the turret.  The comparison of the paint pattern on the rear plate shows that this was not tank 104.  (US National Archives at College Park, Signal Corps Collection)

____ - Tank commanders unknown.  Various tanks were photographed during the advance by SS war reporter teams.  These could be tanks that are already accounted for.

Two Tigers pass groups of US prisoners near Merlscheid early in the advance.  Stills from captured films.  (US National Archives at College Park, Signal Corps Collection, 111-SC-198241 top and 111-SC-198242 center; these photos show the same tank from front and rear)

All text copyright 2005-2009 Gregory A. Walden. All rights reserved; material from this website may only be republished with the author’s permission.