2./ Pi Btl 505 - May 1940.
Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:41 am
Hello to all, a little more about the 2./ Pi 505.....
The Company Commander drove ahead in order to designate the points at which ferries were to be constructed and to check the reconnaissance reports. - Motorcycle messengers were posted at all forks in the road as guides for the pontoon vehicles.
Considering that the reconnaissance had to be conducted under the fire of hostile machine guns concealed in bunkers, it was extremely successful. There was a perfectly level meadow with firm, dry soil and a good river bank, the conditions were favorable for ferry construction. The only objection was the lack of cover. The danger remained that the enemy might discover the presence of the many large vehicles and cover them with artillery fire.
Nevertheless, the designated vehicles arrived as early as 5:30 PM. We could plainly see the infantry crossing the river on their pneumatic rafts near Sedan. Our vehicles sped up. No long orders were required. The engineers jumped off their vehicles, uncoupled the ponton trailer, and immediately set to constructing ferries. It was astonishing with what ease the heavy bridge was put in place. A diving attack by hostile aircraft drove everybody under what little cover there was. Our nine light machine guns, kept firing at the hostile planes as fast as the guns would permit. The bombs struck the ground far from us. The bridge construction went on without a letup. Now hostile artillery fire was added. Our antiaircraft defense, which had been reinforced in the meantime, drove off a hostile observation plane, apparently, the French were under the impression that we were building a bridge in a different location. Perhaps the hostile airplane got on the beam of our radio station which was operating some distance from us. The shells came within 50 yards of our location, striking the ground in our front and rear as well as on both flanks. We were completely boxed in by the barrage. Two hostile batteries, determined to wipe us out, were plainly visible. Fortunately, as subsequent investigation showed, the village of Glaire, with its gardens, on the other bank of the Meuse prohibited any observed fire. In the record time of 38 minutes, the first 17-ton ferry and its motor tug were ready for operation.
Source: Building a Bridge across the Meuse West of Sedan for the Crossing of an Armored Division.
[From an article by Lieutenant Grubnau, German. Army, in Military Wochemblatt, 3 January 1941. Translated from the German in the Translation Section, the Army War College, Washington, D. C.]
Condensed by COLONEL F. M. BARROWS, Field Artillery.
More follows. Regards. Tigre.
The Company Commander drove ahead in order to designate the points at which ferries were to be constructed and to check the reconnaissance reports. - Motorcycle messengers were posted at all forks in the road as guides for the pontoon vehicles.
Considering that the reconnaissance had to be conducted under the fire of hostile machine guns concealed in bunkers, it was extremely successful. There was a perfectly level meadow with firm, dry soil and a good river bank, the conditions were favorable for ferry construction. The only objection was the lack of cover. The danger remained that the enemy might discover the presence of the many large vehicles and cover them with artillery fire.
Nevertheless, the designated vehicles arrived as early as 5:30 PM. We could plainly see the infantry crossing the river on their pneumatic rafts near Sedan. Our vehicles sped up. No long orders were required. The engineers jumped off their vehicles, uncoupled the ponton trailer, and immediately set to constructing ferries. It was astonishing with what ease the heavy bridge was put in place. A diving attack by hostile aircraft drove everybody under what little cover there was. Our nine light machine guns, kept firing at the hostile planes as fast as the guns would permit. The bombs struck the ground far from us. The bridge construction went on without a letup. Now hostile artillery fire was added. Our antiaircraft defense, which had been reinforced in the meantime, drove off a hostile observation plane, apparently, the French were under the impression that we were building a bridge in a different location. Perhaps the hostile airplane got on the beam of our radio station which was operating some distance from us. The shells came within 50 yards of our location, striking the ground in our front and rear as well as on both flanks. We were completely boxed in by the barrage. Two hostile batteries, determined to wipe us out, were plainly visible. Fortunately, as subsequent investigation showed, the village of Glaire, with its gardens, on the other bank of the Meuse prohibited any observed fire. In the record time of 38 minutes, the first 17-ton ferry and its motor tug were ready for operation.
Source: Building a Bridge across the Meuse West of Sedan for the Crossing of an Armored Division.
[From an article by Lieutenant Grubnau, German. Army, in Military Wochemblatt, 3 January 1941. Translated from the German in the Translation Section, the Army War College, Washington, D. C.]
Condensed by COLONEL F. M. BARROWS, Field Artillery.
More follows. Regards. Tigre.