10,5 cm leFH-16 auf Geschutzwagen
auf Fahrgestell Mk VI 736 (e)
From 227. Infanterie-Division
Page 1
History
September 1939-April 1940 Eifel area
May 1940 Holland, Belgium
June 1940, Le Havre France
July 1940-September 1941 Northern France,
Belgium.
October 1941 Transit to Northern Russia
November 1941-April 1942 Wolchow area
227. Infanterie-Division was formed on 26 Aug 1939 as part
of the 3. Welle (wave). After performing border security duties in the Eifel
region, the division took part in the invasion of the Low Countries and France
in May-June 1940. It remained in France on coastal defense, security and
training duties until October 1941 when it transferred to northern Russia.
Story of
Alfred Becker
Hauptmann Alfred Becker was an interesting man.
He started the war in the west with his Batterie (12.) horsepowered. After
reaching the first dutch artillery depot Ammersfoort with 227. ID, he equipped
his Batterie and the recon element of 227. ID with motorized vehicles with
captured Belgian (TAL artillery tractor) and dutch vehicles. The end of French
campaign finished for his unit in Normandy. Immediately after, in June 1940, he began to
built the first Geschutzwagen auf
Fahrgestell Mk VI 736 (e) based on abandoned Vickers Mk IV.
Although the battery had only two guns, the 15.AR.227, he succeeded in only six
months, with men of his battery working day and night to create a complete
battery.
Initial
tests have been shooting at the range of Harfleur near Le Havre (France).
The first test of the complete battery are
realized to Beverloo (Belgium).
Alfred Becker and his men built:
- 12 Mk VI with 10.5cm-leFH 16
- 6 Mk VI with 15cm-le-FH 13
- unknown number of Bren
Munitionspanzer
There were
two different version build by Hauptmann Becker and his staff in France in
1940. 12 Vickers MK IV with 10,5 cm lFH 16 and 6 with 15 cm sFH 13. The photo
shows one of those armed with the 10,5 lFH 16. The vehicles were issued to 15.
Batterie, ArtReg. 227 (=1. StuG Batterie). The vehicles were successfully used
for 1,5 years at the Eastern Front, possibly up to 1942.
June 1940, Le Havre
France
1940, june, Harfleur. First conversion of Alfred Becker.
(Picture from book
Regenberger, Dr. Werner: Scheiben. Horst. "Beutepanzer
unterm Balkenkreuz")
1940, june, Harfleur. First conversion of Alfred Becker.
July 1940-September
1941 Northern France, Belgium.
(From Waffen-Arsenal. Sonderband S-35. Gepanzerte Rariteten auf Radern und Ketten bis 1945. Wolfgang Fleisher.)
(From "Beute-Kraftfahrzeuge und Panzer der
deutschen Wehrmacht" Walter Spielberger)
(From "Beute-Kraftfahrzeuge
und Panzer der deutschen Wehrmacht" Walter Spielberger)
(From "Beute-Kraftfahrzeuge
und Panzer der deutschen Wehrmacht" Walter Spielberger)
(From "Beute-Kraftfahrzeuge
und Panzer der deutschen Wehrmacht" Walter Spielberger)
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