Baukommando Becker Zoo - Lorraine-Schlepper 37L(f) family

[Taranov]

In may-june 1940 Wehrmacht capture more 300 (from 300 to 360, various number from various sources) Lorraine 37L prime movers and Lorraine 38L APCs. Some used in german army as a Lorraine-Schlepper 37L(f), but from spring 1942 started development of various Lorraine-Schlepper 37L(f)-based convertions. In fact, not all Lorraine-Schlepper 37L(f) has been converted: small number of vehicles used in initial configuration until summer 1944. They used as a support vehicles.


Only few Lorraine 37L family vehicles survived. More 50% of survived vehicles - Lorraine 37L/44, short version of Lorraine 37L, produced as a "forest tractor". One Lorraine 37L/44 now in Russia, in private collection, walkaround of this vehicle you can found here: http://svsm.org/gallery/lorraine37l44

[Admiral Donutz]

Heh, that's a funny but cool vehicle. NIce walkaround, the thing is durty though. :p

[Kebert Xela]

i think this french vehicle is in FH1,isnt it?  ...with a SA37 mm AT-gun on top, absolutely usless 

[Knoffhoff]

Useless? That thing was the killer on Fall Gelb.
If we ever get the Pak40 version you guys will know where to find me.

[Kebert Xela]

Useless? That thing was the killer on Fall Gelb.
If we ever get the Pak40 version you guys will know where to find me.

only its look was the killer

[Taranov]

7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f)

This self propelled gun more known as a Panzerjager Lr.S. fur 7,5 cm Pak 40/1, Sd.Kfz.135, or just Marder I (from 1944). Name of this tank destroyer changed 5 times 

Development of this self propelled gun started in 23 may 1942, initial plan - 60 Pak 40 armed vehicles. But in june 1942 plans of production is changed - 170 vehicles. Production of 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f) started from end of june 1942 by Baukommando Becker. In july produced 104 vehicles, in august 66. Unlike 15 cm sFH 13/1 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f) or 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f), tank destroyer haven't "early" or "late" series, all vehicles have same design. Deck, opened from top, has been wider than 15 cm sFH 13/1 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f).

One of first 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f), superstructure number 708


In august 1942 54 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f) has been transferred to East Front. Tank destroyers of this type transferred to:

- 31 Infantry Division (one company with 9 vehicles);
- 35 Infantry Division (one company with 9 vehicles);
- 36 Infantry Division (one company with 9 vehicles);
- 72 Infantry Division (one company with 9 vehicles);
- 206 Infantry Division (one company with 9 vehicles);
- 256 Infantry Division (one company with 9 vehicles).

7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f), Heeres Gruppe Mitte, Eastern Front, winter 1942-43


Also in december 1942 334 infantry Division vehicles (one company with 9 vehicles) has been transferred to Tunisia, last vehicles has been lost in april 1943.

7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f) from 334 Infantry Division unloaded from Me-323, Tunisia, december 1942


Final of Africa career - destroyed 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f) from 334 Infantry Division, Tunisia, spring 1943


Most of 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f) has been transferred to France, lots of vehicles replace Marder III.

- H.u.D Infantry Division (one company with 9 vehicles);
- 65 Infantry Division (two company with 14 vehicles);
- 76 Infantry Division (two company with 13 vehicles);
- 94 Infantry Division (two company with 14 vehicles);
- 305 Infantry Division (two company with 13 vehicles);
- 343 Infantry Division (one company with 9 vehicles);
- 348 Infantry Division (one company with 5 vehicles);
- 158 Reserve Division (one company with 9 vehicles).

Some vehicles from France, 1942-43




In june 1944 Marder I (nickname added in february 1944) has been used in:
- PzJgAbt 709 (one company with 10 vehicles);
- PzJgKp 711 (one company with 10 vehicles);
- PzJgKp 712 (one company with 10 vehicles);
- PzJgAbt 716 (one company with 10 vehicles);
- PzJgKp 245 (one company with 10 vehicles);

Also i have information about using Marder I in 21 Panzer Division (neu):
- I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 125 (gp) - 4 vehicles;
- II./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 125 - 3 vehicles;
- I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 192 (gp) - 4 vehicles;
- II./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 192 - 3 vehicles.

Marder I from 21 Panzer Division (neu), summer 1944




Last Marder I used in winter-spring 1945 combats.

A this time only one Marder I officially survived. This vehicle has been captured by americans in summer 1944 and transverred to Aberdeen Proving Ground. Later this vehicle transferred to France, now preserved in Musee Blindes, Saumur.



How many Marder I survived in reality - who knows. Need to ask old french collectors, they have lots of hiding AFVs

[Taranov]

Grosser Funk und Beobachtungspanzer auf Lorraine-Schlepper 37L(f)


Lorraine 37L based artillery observation vehicle, equivalent of SdKfz 250/5. In fact, it's vehicle with most modifited hull in Lorraine-Schlepper 37L(f) family. Added new roof for engine deck, and combat compartment (with open top) with FuG 12 radiostation. Armanent - one MG-34 on the mount. Baukommando Becker factory produced 30 Grosser Funk und Beobachtungspanzer auf Lorraine-Schlepper 37L(f), they used in self propelled batterys, 15 cm s.FH 13 auf Lorraine in first. In 1944 some vehicles used in 21 Panzer Division (neu).

[Taranov]

12,2 cm Kanone(r) auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f)

It's been unique conversion of Lorraine 37L, only one vehicle produced. As a armament in this self-propelled gun used soviet-built 122-mm M-30 howitzer mod.1938. Configuration of 12,2 cm Kanone(r) auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f) looks simitar than 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f) and 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f) Alkett-built. 12,2 cm Kanone(r) auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f) used as a support vehicle on the one of german armored trains in France.

[Kebert Xela]

never heard of this...so its a russian gun on a french tank, mounted on a german train? 

[Taranov]

10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f)

Development of this self propelled gun started in 23 may 1942, initial plan - 60 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer armed vehilces. Design of 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f) based on the expreimental Selbstfahrlafette auf Lorraine Schlepper "mobile gun-carriage". Unlike 15 cm sFH 13/1 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f), construction of deck more looks like 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f). Production of 15 cm sFH 13/1 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f) and 7,5 cm Pak 40 auf Selbstfahrlafette auf Lr.S. (f) have more priority, it's a reason why production of 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f) started only in 1942. Alkett produce only 12 vehicles in september 1942, they transferred to gep.Art.Rgt 1 (Sfl) and gep.Art.Rgt 2 (Sfl).

Alkett-built 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f)


In december 1942 first two vehicles has been produced by Baukommando Becker. Design of rear side of SP gun has been changes: deck design more looks like 15 cm sFH 13/1 (Sf) auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f), also added recoil spade (long version). Additional 10 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f) has been assembled by Baukommando Becker in summer-fall 1943.

Baukommando Becker-built 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f)


All 24 vehicles of this type has been transferred to Pz.Art.Rgt. 155, as a part of 21 Panzer Division (neu). In june 1944 all vehicles still used in Pz.Art.Rgt. 155:

- 4./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155, 6 10,5 cm le.FH 18 auf Lorraine
- 5./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155, 6 10,5 cm le.FH 18 auf Lorraine
- 7./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155, 6 10,5 cm le.FH 18 auf Lorraine
- 8./Pz.Art.Rgt. 155, 6 10,5 cm le.FH 18 auf Lorraine

Last vehicles of this type has been lost in august 1944 in Falaise Pocket.

Destroyed Alkett-built 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f), France, summer 1944

Abandoned Alkett-built 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f), France, summer 1944


Oficially all vehicles of this type lost for history. But... In 2008 Alkett-built 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f) has been sold in France to russian private collector. Without upper part of superstructure, without 10.5 cm leFH 18, but alive!

Now 10,5 cm leFH 18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.S. (f) in Russia, vehicle need superstructure rebuilding and new gun.

[Anlushac11]

This one was in FH. 


http://ww2photo.mimerswell.com/tanks/d/utl/fr/lor/02777.jpg

The French 47mm SA37 was actually a bit better than the German 50mm PAK38 and the Germans used all the ones they captured as 4.7cm PAK 181(f) and setup French munitions factories to produce PzGr.39 ammo for it. The French 47mm is not same gun as on the Skoda 47mm on the Panzerjager I.

IIRC the Panzerjager Lorraine schlepper was pretty lethal in Operation Barbarossa as long as it wasn't shooting at T-34's and KV's. They were used up by attrition.

I had one in a Operation Barbarossa map I used to be working on way back when and in play testing the 47mm gun did quite well against BT's, and T-26's and armored cars.

This page has some pics of what looks like a dug in French 47mm APX on one of the D-Day beaches.

http://atlantikwall.superforum.fr/les-armes-d-infanterie-f7/47-cm-pak-f-utah-beach-1944-a-aujourd-hui-t2842.htm

[Mspfc Doc DuFresne]

This is freaky, Taranov, just hours ago I looked up this vehicle for the first time. Weird...

i think this french vehicle is in FH1,isnt it?  ...with a SA37 mm AT-gun on top, absolutely usless 

Nah, that thing was devastating on Counterattack 1940, as long as you didn't get hit. I hid in a conveniently shaped section of hedgerow so only the gunner's sights were exposed, and knocked off some panzers at long range. I was then machine gunned from behind by an Skfdz 222, while one second later a StuG 3 shot the gunshield and the entire vehicle blew up. It was not very survivable, apparently.

[Kebert Xela]

It was not very survivable, apparently.

As I´ve said...useless 
but as an active Fh1 player, I have had only good experience with me killing those things...as a result of thin armor and I believe exposed gunner

[:| Hi]

At least I got to see some cool photos out of it

[DLFReporter]

At least I got to see some cool photos out of it

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