The responsibility for maintenance of Tiger tank transport tracks

Inspector General of Armoured Troops

Secret

Headquaters of OKH, 28 Sep, 1943

Gr Org Ia No.4861/43 g.

Reference: General staff of  Army/Chief of the transport.

File Index Number.43 f 18.02 E 6/Verk. dept (V.2). 

Number 3824/43 Secret. from 22 Sep, 1943.

Subject: Transport tracks for Pz.Kpfw.Tiger.

Report: Army Group North

1.) The Tiger tank is equipped with combat [terrain] and transport tracks up to a certain amount of production.

Both types of tracks are the equipment of tanks.

2.) It is not changed by the regulation commanded in D 659/2a - "Merkblatt zum Verladen von Gleiskettenfahrzeugen auf der Eisenbahn"-, according to which, after unloading the Tiger tank, the transport tracks are to be placed on the SSyms railroad flatcar and considered as stock of the SSyms railroad flatcar.

3.) The maintenance of the loading chains is thus a matter for the Panzer-truppe. (Tiger detachments), not the railroad service units. After unloading in the area of operation, it is therefore the duty of the [tank] troops to load the transport tracks ready for use - i.e. cleaned, properly assembled and complete (96 track links) onto the SSyms flatcar.

4.) The commanders of the Tiger battalions or commanders of the company of the Tiger companies, whose armored fighting vehicles are being transported by railway or are being supplied to the Tiger tank must have the transport commanders responsible report that the provisions of D 659/2a and the above order have been strictly carried out.

5.) 520 mm wide transport tracks still available with the troops are to be made available immediately to the general of the transport responsible for the area of operations via the BvTO [chief transportation officer on an army staff] of the armies.

Chief of Staff.