Heavily damaged Grossdeutschland Tiger I

Nov, 2024.

1. Heavily damaged Tiger I photos

Here are several photos it is said that several Tiger I tanks of the 11 Kompanie III Abteilung Panzer-Regiment Großdeutschland were heavily damaged by Soviet bombing while being transported by flatcars on August 14, 1943.

2. Major Gomill's report and photos

In a report on August 31, 1943, Major Gomill, the commander of the III Abteilung Panzer-Regiment Großdeutschland, wrote

On August 14, 1943, while en route to Nyzhnia Syrovatka Station on the flatcar transport, the battalion lost four Tiger I tanks and most of the repair squad equipment. We unloaded at that station.

This is likely to be the explanation for these photos.

On the other hand, if you look at page 39 of Wolfgang Schneider, Tigers in Combat 2, you will find the following description, which seems to refer to this report by Major Gomill

14 August 1943: Detrainment at Nish. Ssirowatka. During the transport four tanks of the 11./Panzer-Regiment “Großdeutschland” burned out. The equipment of the maintenance section is lost as well. 

3. Summary of the report

The station where the damaged battalion unloaded from the flatcar is thought to be the Nyzhnia Syrovatka Station, which is in the central western part of modern-day Ukraine.

According to the report, 

The battalion moved from Nyzhnia Syrovatka Station in the southwest direction to the battalion headquarter which was located 110 km away, and all units arrived around noon on 14 August.

It is unclear from the Major's report at what time the battalion began unloading operations, however, you can find that the unloading operation at the station, the time taken to change the transport tracks to the terrain tracks, and the 110km march, at last the whole unit completed the march around midday on August 14th.

When we look Wolfgang Schneider, Panzer Tactics,

Tiger required more frequent maintenance stops. The first time was after driving 5km, and after that it was specified as every 10 to 15km.,

so there is no doubt that the 110km march made heavy strain on the Tiger's running gear.

In fact the Major's report states,

10 Tigers suffered minor damage and breakdowns while moving from Nish. Ssirowatka to the battalion headquarters command post.

Finally, the report states the difficult situation the battalion was in, 

The battalion was to prepare for an attack at 3:00 am on the following day, 15 August, with no supplies, repair teams, recovery platoons or spare parts.