503 Battle Area (1 Viewer)

[Blowtorch]

Here's a map showing where the unit got it's baptism of fire in the first half of January 1943. It was deployed in the rear area of where the Stalingrad relief effort had jumped off (near Kotelnikovo). By the time the the Tigers arrived in January, the mission was keeping the gate open for Army Group A to withdraw from the Caucasus, and the defensive line was mainly the unnamed blue line near the 502/503 numbers which is the Kuberle river. The 2nd company of the 502 was diverted from it's original Leningrad destination to support the 503, and was deployed just north of it. On January 14th the two units merged, the 2.502 becoming 3.503, and the 503 began withdrawal west of the Manytsch to Rostov on the 16th. Fighting kept going with the 503rd being pushed back all the way to the Mius to the Northwest of Taganrog where it's last battles took place in mid February before a 6 week rest followed by a transfer to Kharkov in April. What really struck me about this story were the few pics I saw of the 503 in the Malaja Kirssanovka area fighting in mid February. Either the climate on the Black Sea is quite balmy or there must have been a marked increase in temperature, because there is no snow on the ground, just mud and puddles. The new K&C Tiger is very well suited for a diorama for this time & place. Still not short sleeve weather, but close enough!

 

[Mitch]

I knew I had seen art work and pictures of the K&C tiger before but, could not place where. Page 37 of Jean Restayn's Tigers on the eastern front shows the K&C tiger with skirts and no loss of left front gurad it also has the Panzer III bin.

However, it does show Tiger 111 of the 503rd and crew members Bieder and Mundrey which lost its left gurad and tool box as a result of battle damage. Its also in grey while, other pictures show its in field applied whitewash. Change the figure to a winter dressed crewman and this Tiger I will fit well into the unit that K&C designated it albeit a little later in time.

Geographically, I still think its a strech to issue a Tiger under the banner of Stalingrad which, was the discussion elsewhere. Rostov and the don area are within the vicinity at a push (would not fancy the walk about 400kilometers!!) but, we are not talking really close.

Also for me, the battles to relieve the 6th armie were over and, the defensive battles for the area and to hold the whole front together were the main factor.
Mitch

 

[Guy]

The 503th also fought in the West. In Normandy, it was part of PanzerGruppe West and fought against the allies around Caen; (Cagny) It escaped through the Falaise pocket but had lost most of its tanks ( 2 Tigers II were left). It ended the war in Hungary were it was completely destroyed by the Russians ( Budapest)
guy:smile2:

 

[Blowtorch]

In case some of you have JJF books Tigers in Combat I or the 503 history, Malaja Kirssanovka is near Anastassijevka which is frequently mentioned in photo captions & text. It's really interesting to note that even as late as February, the retreat must have created such a huge logistical crisis that not all vehicles got whitewashed. Some have it, some don't.

There's an interesting photo of a 503 Tiger getting a new barrel during the rest period. The tank is in grey, but the barrel is yellow. Not that I would suggest anyone repainting that splendid grey Tiger with disgusting yellow! {eek3}

Speaking of model mutilation, has anyone ripped the fenders off a T-34 yet?

 

[lancer]

In case some of you have JJF books Tigers in Combat I or the 503 history, Malaja Kirssanovka is near Anastassijevka which is frequently mentioned in photo captions & text. It's really interesting to note that even as late as February, the retreat must have created such a huge logistical crisis that not all vehicles got whitewashed. Some have it, some don't.

There's an interesting photo of a 503 Tiger getting a new barrel during the rest period. The tank is in grey, but the barrel is yellow. Not that I would suggest anyone repainting that splendid grey Tiger with disgusting yellow! {eek3}

Speaking of model mutilation, has anyone ripped the fenders off a T-34 yet?

Excellent books, so is volume 2. -- Al

 

[Blowtorch]

Excellent books, so is volume 2. -- Al

Definitely; would also recommend Kleine and Kuhn's JJF book. I would caution however against this one
http://rzm.com/books/mht/mht083.cfm

the Trojca book on the Tiger 1, except for those whom have the money to burn. It strikes me as a complete rewrite of the JJF books with little new content, and even the maps of the 503 battle areas are incomplete showing the authors didn't have a good reading comprehension for what has been written on that unit's early battles. Which of course makes me wonder what else they mucked up that I know less about.

 

[lancer]

Definitely; would also recommend Kleine and Kuhn's JJF book. I would caution however against this one
http://rzm.com/books/mht/mht083.cfm

the Trojca book on the Tiger 1, except for those whom have the money to burn. It strikes me as a complete rewrite of the JJF books with little new content, and even the maps of the 503 battle areas are incomplete showing the authors didn't have a good reading comprehension for what has been written on that unit's early battles. Which of course makes me wonder what else they mucked up that I know less about.

Thanks for the info. I was never able to pull the trigger on the Trojca books anyway. Just too much money with the Schneider books readily available in softcovers for a LOT less. -- Al

 

[Blowtorch]

There's a really good write up on the 503's early actions in the 3rd volume of Jentz's three volume Tiger series published by Schiffer. Haven't looked at this book in years. "Tiger I & II: Combat Tactics"; It's chapter 9.3 on pages 63-70 "Halting the Retreat after Stalingrad", and has info of it's actions around Rostov that I haven't seen in any of the JJF books.

 

[graycap]

A new history of the 503rd has just been published (Sept 2012) by Heimdal, the Normandy based publisher (so its in French). The title is Tiger Abteilung 503 by Dr Franz Wilhelm Lochmann, 432 ages. It's on the Amazon UK site and costs £40.00

 

[Mitch]

I am reading that at the moment just got it from the local book shop well, online book store. Seems decent enough some good pics
Mitch

A new history of the 503rd has just been published (Sept 2012) by Heimdal, the Normandy based publisher (so its in French). The title is Tiger Abteilung 503 by Dr Franz Wilhelm Lochmann, 432 ages. It's on the Amazon UK site and costs £40.00

 

[graycap]

Would you recommend it?

 

[fmethorst]

Definitely; would also recommend Kleine and Kuhn's JJF book. I would caution however against this one
http://rzm.com/books/mht/mht083.cfm

the Trojca book on the Tiger 1, except for those whom have the money to burn. It strikes me as a complete rewrite of the JJF books with little new content, and even the maps of the 503 battle areas are incomplete showing the authors didn't have a good reading comprehension for what has been written on that unit's early battles. Which of course makes me wonder what else they mucked up that I know less about.

It's interesting you say that. I found the Trojca Tiger I book incomplete and got the impression it was rushed out. It had been delayed from earlier release dates. It was disappointing compared to their book on the Tiger II which I think is better.

Frank

 

[Mitch]

Yes for the photo's etc but, to recommend a book on a unit would depend on whether someone already knew about this unit. If they do, then there so far seems nothing startling or different from other unit accounts. If you are starting out for a reference on the unit then it will be a great start. I don't think the latter applioes to you so, its worth the £30 and pennies I paid for the pictoral element
Mitch

Would you recommend it?

 

[Blowtorch]

It's interesting you say that. I found the Trojca Tiger I book incomplete and got the impression it was rushed out. It had been delayed from earlier release dates. It was disappointing compared to their book on the Tiger II which I think is better.

Frank

The author, Waldemar Trojca himself has been developing a reputation for producing pure eye candy books, which this Tiger book seems to support. The text/research element takes second priority if that, and seems to be quickly tossed in fill. The Trojca books that I can recommend however are the ones authored by the German who does the StuG units & gained fame for his early JJF work on the Ferdinand/Elephant unit. Was the Tiger II book you mention authored by Waldemar or just published by him?

 

[graycap]

Yes for the photo's etc but, to recommend a book on a unit would depend on whether someone already knew about this unit. If they do, then there so far seems nothing startling or different from other unit accounts. If you are starting out for a reference on the unit then it will be a great start. I don't think the latter applies to you so, its worth the £30 and pennies I paid for the pictorial element
Mitch

Mitch,

Thank you for that - at the moment I'm working out what books I can persuade my family to get me for Christmas so this one might be a contender!