Michael Wittmann on Panzer III

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Hello, please help me with solving the case “Michael Wittmann on Panzer III” what we discuss on Modelforum at Czech Republic. We know that MW certainly rode Pz.III from end of December 1942 till middle of April 1943 before his carrier on Tiger. Probably it was Pz.III L or M, and it had turret number 4L1. the best source is panzerace.com but there is only illustrative photo. Please if you have got some accurate info, or pictures for this topic (or at least some Pz.III of 1.SS div.LAH from first months of 1943), plase post it here.

Thank you very much for your help!!!

2

I’m not up on the latest research, but I thought MW was a StuG commander then went to the tigers?

3

actualy he had a sdkf. 222 aurmored car the a stug then a pz. 3 then a tiger

4

hmmmmm…I was aware of the 222 and the StuG but not the Mk III…what unit was the Mk III in—LAH?

5

Keep also in mind that StuG III was made of a Panzer III tank with a modification of the upper infrastructure. So in fact, MW did drove a Panzer III, which is a StuG.

Maybe that is the confusion is about [%-)]

Ben

6

hmmmmm…I’m gonna take the stance that the Zimm guys did on an earlier post: show me a pic and I’ll believe MW drove a Mk III…THAT is the “Golden Egg” of armor modeling…for that matter show me a pic of a guy in a factory troweling zimm on an AFV…not the AFTER pics, but a guy actually doing it…LOL

7

I can only highly recommend a couple books for your research. I am still on volume one, and it is a very good read that covers far more than just MW. I scanned the front and back covers so that if you decide to hunt a copy down you have the neccassary info, and a couple pages depicting the (1) command structure, and a couple pics of their light panzers. As you can imagine the majority of pics are of the infamous Tigers, but there are some of the other types also. Beyond the pics are excellent descriptions of the vehicles within that make it easy to form a mental picture on your own.

Good luck with the build and hope I provided some useful info.

8

I saw those books a couple of weeks ago at a Barnes and Noble and almost picked them up…however, most of the info is rehash, although there were some unit orders of battle that I had not seen before…still haven’t seen MW in a Mk III…

where did you pick your copies up at?

9

My local Barnes and Noble routinely stocks this series.

10

I did notice that they listed the order of battle for LAH Tigers during the Kursk offensive…there is a guy in the Kursk GB a while back that was looking for the particular turret number on a Tiger for a specific tank Commander…I believe it may have been: 1325…it would be cool if you scanned in that diagram for his benefit…and mine…lol

11

I picked the books up at my local Barnes & Noble, in preparation for an airline ride activity. It has proven to be more than just a rehash of info, (according to the author anyway) there is a lot of corrections over previous publications. And below is the Kursk command structure.

12

I found a vid on youtube on MW combat career

go to http://youtube.com/watch?v=BaDgc2MHQ

it tells all of the vehicals used by MW (including the PZ3 MR)[:D]

13

does anyone have the photos of the MW StuG because i am about to build a StuG III and i would like to make it look like his and what were the colors on this StuG would it be the pazer grey?

14

Personally, I find the Stackpole series to be mediocre at best. The research is rudimentary and there are some glaring errors in the text(s).

15

LOL…I hardly think UTUBE is the emminent source for military history…show me the pic !

16

uuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…[:-^]

17

It’s interesting this thread popped up. I checked out the box to my StuG III Ausf A by Dragon that was coming along nicely until I had it sitting up with the tracks drying on one side and my wife decided to play with a beach ball and guess what? WHAM destruction. Not repairable. Anyway to the point, it’s still got good parts for spares so I kept what was left, and am looking at the box and there is the name Michael Wittmann right on the top. Right above the words ‘LAH’ Barbarossa 1941. As I’ve said in another post my knowledge of armor is somewhat lacking to put it mildly but am always willing to learn. Can someone tell me the significance of this particular StuG and Wittmann himself? It would be greatly appreciated. I learn alot by reading these forums, but sometimes ya just gotta ask.

Michael

18

…the kit you are referring to was issued by DML and has markings to depict MW’s StuG earlier in the war…his association with the StuG is fairly well documented…less so is his association with a Mk III…LAH refers to the 1st SS Panzer Division, to which MW belonged until he was transferred to SS Tiger Abt 101, the unit he was with in Normandy until his death…

19

So I’m assuming he was of some fame, either in his command or survival experience, or his prowess on the battlefield? The only other question I have is regarding the kit, to me when I hear the word Barbarossa it brings images of an old western movie from the 70’s. I appreciate the info, I think i may just have to pick this thing up again and build it. Lets hope this time it doesn’t meet it’s demise at the hands of my wife with a beach ball.

Michael

20

you have some reading to do my friend. Michael Wittman was the 2nd highest (?) scoring panzer ace (german) in ww2. so yes, he is sort of a big deal.

i’d suggest wikipedia… and then the books previously suggested.

barbarossa - the name of the operation to invade the soviet union.