6 JAPANESE WARSHIPS BELIEVED SUNK IN FIGHT, 4 DAMAGED; U.S. LOSES CRUISER AND DESTROYER (7/7/43)

Map Key:

German:
PzC: Panser Corps
AC: Army Corps
ID: Infantry Division
PzD: Panzer Division
PzGrenD: Panzer Grenadier Division (I don’t know why Glantz did not use the more conventional “PzGr”
PzB: Panzer Brigade
PzAbt: Schwere Panzer Abteilung (Heavy Tank Battalion, usually denotes a detachment of Tiger tanks)

Soviet:
RC: Rifle Corps
GRC: Guards Rifle Corps
RD: Rifle Division
GRD: Guards Rifle Division
TC: Tank Corps
GTC: Guards Tank Corps
TB: Tank Brigade
MRB: Motorized Rifle Brigade
MC: Mechanized Corps
GMC: Guards Mechanized Corps
TR: Tank Regiment
CC: Cavalry Corps
GCC: Guards Cavalry Corps
ATB: Anti-tank Brigade (these units were created especially for Kursk and were not typically found afterward).

The Soviet Tank Army was typically composed of two tank corps and one mechanized corps. The tank corps had three tank brigades and one brigade of motorized infantry. The mechanized corps was still in its infancy at this time and did not have a clear TO & E. But it was typically more powerful than a tank corps.

As you can see from the map, in addition to the tank armies, the Soviets also had a plentiful amount so independent tank and mechanized corps. They would typically be attached or made subordinate to an army. For example, 5th Guards Mechanized Corps was not officially part of 5th Guards Tank Army, but fought as an attachment with that army for so long this summer that it was virtually another corps unit of that army. The other tank corps were nominally independent, but starting at the end of 1943, they were more or less recognized as being organic components of their controlling combined arms armies. Most Shock Armies and Guards Armies had organic tank corps.

As you can see from the maps, the Soviets had A LOT of formations at the point of the German attack. This is one of those rare battles where both sides know when and where the battle will take place, and they know the other side is expecting them. Both sides know the other has gone “all in” and put all the stakes on the table.

In this case, the stakes being the bodies of their soldiers.

Sorry, had a typo:

Glantz uses “PzDet” instead of “PzAbt” for the Tiger tank detachments. Panzer Detachment is a good English translation for “Panzer Abteilung.”

10 Panzer Brigade with XXXXVIII Panzer Corps has most of the Panther tanks committed to Citadelle. There are a couple battalions with 9th Army as well. I believe 9th Army as all of the Ferdinands, but I could not find where they were in one order of battle I was looking at. There are Tiger tanks on both sides of the salient, and there appear to be Tiger tanks in every Panzer Corps, either as detachments or organic to Panzer Divisions.

Also, it is a myth that the SS Panzer Divisions were equipped with Panthers at Kursk. None of them were. Some of the SS Panzer Divisions didn’t get their Panthers until early 1944. At this time, SS Totenkopf is missing a Panzer Battalion, as it is back in Germany fitting out their Panthers. The main German tank is the long barreled PzIV, but there are still a significant number of PzIIIs in service, even in the SS Divisions.

Thanks for that legend.

TB: Tank Brigade

My brain froze and I couldn't come up with B = Brigade.

TR: Tank Regiment

Frozen brain couldn't link "R" with Regiment either.

Thanks again.

As you can see from the maps, the Soviets had A LOT of formations at the point of the German attack. This is one of those rare battles where both sides know when and where the battle will take place, and they know the other side is expecting them. Both sides know the other has gone “all in” and put all the stakes on the table.

Those maps make your point clear. They are the most detailed I have ever seen. Thanks again.

The main German tank is the long barreled PzIV

That was a good reliable tank which continued in use well after the war. One wonders what might have happened had the Germans used sloped armor on it?

The funny thing is nobody thought to use sloped armor until the T-34. Even the Tiger was a big metal box. But all tank designs up to 1940 lacked sloped armor, and that includes the PzKwIV. It was a serviceable tank only because the Germans knew how to use it, and it had that long 75 that kept the T-34s at bay.

“Those maps make your point clear. They are the most detailed I have ever seen.”

One of the reasons I like to read Glantz on the Eastern Front is the maps. I was always a map guy; tested off the charts on map reading in a battery of aptitude tests in 8th grade. I used to draw my own maps as a kid.

I’ll try to scan and post more through Prokhorovka; Glantz has one for about every other day of the battle.

It was a serviceable tank only because the Germans knew how to use it, and it had that long 75 that kept the T-34s at bay.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that the Russians would use captured panthers and tigers until they broke down at which point they would abandon them but would actually make repairs to the Pz IVs. I never knew if it was a matter of parts availability, ease of service, or some of both.

I believe the Pz IVs were used by Arab armies in the 6 day war.

Thanks for the detailed maps. I'm learning a lot more about this very important battle than I knew before.

Seeing the level of Russian preparation makes the German hesitation at the highest level understandable. But, as you point out, it is the soldiers who will pay the price.

The German propaganda piece on the bombing war is just laugh out loud ridiculous. I wonder how much of Goebbels domestic propaganda was this ham handed.

Morison's Volume 6 "Breaking the Bismarks Barrier" is about the only thing I've found that covers that period in any detail. It's very much the the naval establishment's view of the campaign but if you've read "Neptune's Inferno" you'll be pretty much able to fill in the blanks.

Mostly during 1943 it's more columns of cruisers with destroyers on either end passing in review of the Japanese formations, until they almost ran out of cruisers. At which point almost in desperation they sent up two divisions of destroyers and met the Japanese destroyer on destroyer at Vella Gulf. They knocked off 3 of the 4 Japanese ships engaged.

The other thing that Morison never mentions is Magic and Ultra, and the fact that Halsey knew what was facing every formation he sent up The Slot. Knowing that makes it even harder to understand why they didn't do a better job of adapting tactics to the various situations.