German Forces in North Africa 1941 to 1943: Army Lists

Note: ​The following are my attempts to model the various, basic, German infantry units that took part in the
battles in North Africa from 1941 to 1943. They are based on the German K.St.N. which are charts showing
the theoretical organization and composition of the units in the German army. I have abstracted these
slightly for gaming purposes (for example many of the messengers and hangers on have been left out), but
the basic shape of the units is there. One notable difference is the removal of the additional Senior Leader
in each of the platoons. Lack of senior leadership was a problem for the Germans in Africa, so it felt right to
do this. If you wish to add in a senior leader, then they will be available as supports so the option is still
available to you! To suggest changes/additions please contact Benjamin Joseph Still on the CoC FB group.

DAK SHUTZEN (MOTORISED) PLATOON PANZERGRENADIER (MOTORISED)

Representing the initial Shutzen regiments of the PLATOON
90th Light Africa Division on initial deployment Representing the regiments of the renamed 90th
circa 1941, assuming they hadn’t reorganised Africa Division (1942) and then re-renamed 90th
before arrival in africa. Based on K.St.N.138c Panzergrenadier Division (1943). This could also
(Schützenkompanie c (mot) einer be used to represent the regiments of the 90th
Infanteriedivision (mot)) 1.11.1941. This platoon Light Africa Division on initial deployment circa
organisation can also represent the Grenadier 1941, assuming they had in fact reorganised
regiments which arrived as reinforcements in before arrival in Africa. Based on K.St.N.1114
Tunisia in November 1942. (Panzer-Grenadierkompanie b) 1.11.1941

Platoon force rating: ​Regular, +2 Platoon force rating: ​Regular, +2

Command Dice:​ 5 Command Dice:​ 5

PLATOON HEADQUARTERS PLATOON HEADQUARTERS

Leutnant, Senior Leader, with machine pistol Leutnant, Senior Leader, with machine pistol

AT rifle, two crew

SECTIONS ONE TO FOUR

Obergefreiter, Junior Leader, machine pistol SECTIONS ONE TO THREE

LMG TEAM RIFLE TEAM Obergefreiter, Junior Leader, machine pistol

MG34 Six riflemen LMG TEAM LMG TEAM

Three crew
MG34 MG34
Three crew Three crew
LIGHT MORTAR SECTION Three riflemen Two riflemen

50mm mortar, two crew

Note:
The K.St.N. indicates the platoon would be
Note: Two additional LMGs are listed as transported in 6 x Mannschaftskraftwagen
unmanned equipment, perhaps for the truck (Kfz.70)
crews use as AA cover? I imagine they were
pressed into service with the infantry units,
however I’ve decided not to include them for
simplicity. They would have been Transported in
4x Lkw. (3t) trucks.
MACHINE GUN PLATOON (MOTORISED) MACHINE GUN PLATOON (MECHANISED)
Representing the dedicated infantry support of Representing the single battalion in the DAK who
the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions. Based on may have been equipped with halftracks. Based
K.St.N.1116 (Maschinengewehrkompanie b on K.St.N.1116(gp) (Maschinengewehrkompanie
(mot)) 1.02.1941 b (gepanzert)) 1.02.1941

Platoon force rating: ​Regular, -3 Platoon force rating: ​Regular, -3

Command Dice:​ 5 Command Dice:​ 5

PLATOON HEADQUARTERS PLATOON HEADQUARTERS

Leutnant, Senior Leader, with machine pistol Leutnant, Senior Leader, with machine pistol

SECTIONS ONE AND TWO SECTIONS ONE AND TWO

Obergefreiter, Junior Leader, machine pistol Obergefreiter, Junior Leader, machine pistol

LMG TEAM LMG TEAM LMG TEAM LMG TEAM

MG34 MG34 MG34 MG34

Three crew Three crew Three crew Three crew
Four riflemen Three riflemen Three riflemen Two riflemen

Note: Note:
The K.St.N. indicates the platoon would be The K.St.N. indicates the platoon would be
transported in 4 x Mannschaftskraftwagen transported in 2 x mittlere Schützenpanzerwagen
(Kfz.70) with the HQ and messengers etc. in (Sd.Kfz.251/1) with the HQ and messengers etc.
mittlerer, gl. Pkw. mit Gerätkasten (Kfz.15). in 2 x leichter Schützenpanzerwagen
(Sd.Kfz.250/1).
The K.St.N. also indicates the possibility that they
could also fight as four sections each of 7 men If using Sd.Kfz.251/1s as transport, two of the
and each with a junior leader. If you wish to try men from each section would act as driver and
this then the Platoon Force Rating would then gunner. As such, on disembarking, sections
become: Regular, 0. would be of 10 men with one LMG if the halftrack
is to remain manned.
MECHANISED INFANTRY PLATOON FALLSHIRMJAGER PLATOON
Representing mechanised infantry units who Representing the fallschirmjager units that fought
arrived as reinforcements in 1942/43. Based on at the second battle of El Alamein in October 42
K.St.N.1114 (Schützenkompanie b (gepanzert), and in the defence of Tunisia. I can’t find a K.St.N
Panzergrenadierkompanie a) 1.11.1941 for the fallschirmjager so I have based it on the
information found here:
Platoon force rating: ​Regular, +2 https://sites.google.com/site/ontariofjr5/articles/fjz
Command Dice:​ 5 ug39

Platoon force rating: ​Regular, +2

PLATOON HEADQUARTERS
Command Dice:​ 5
Leutnant, Senior Leader, with pistol

AT rifle, two crew PLATOON HEADQUARTERS

Leutnant, Senior Leader, with machine pistol

SECTIONS ONE TO THREE

Obergefreiter, Junior Leader, machine pistol SQUADS ONE TO THREE

LMG TEAM LMG TEAM Obergefreiter, Junior Leader, machine pistol

MG34 MG34 LMG TEAM LMG TEAM

Three crew Three crew
MG34 MG34
Three riflemen Two riflemen
Three crew Three crew
Three riflemen Two riflemen
Note: If using Sd.Kfz.251/1s as transport, two of
the men from each section would act as driver
and gunner. As such, on disembarking, sections LIGHT MORTAR SECTION
would be of 10 men with one LMG if the halftrack
50mm mortar, two crew
is to remain manned. One rifleman

In the K.St.N. There is a Pak36 listed as part of

the platoon. However, it’s unclear how this was
crewed (are the crew from one of the support
platoons or drawn from the platoon itself?) I
thought it best to leave this as a support option
instead.

General Notes:

KtSN archive: ​http://www.wwiidaybyday.com

There is also some debate as to whether the LMG teams should be 2 or three men at this point. I have
decided to go with 3 men for consistency the with newer published lists, but of course feel free to make
changes if you feel it better represents the period (though this will affect force ratings). I hope it is helpful!
German Forces in North Africa 1941 to 1943: Supports

LIST ONE From To

Satchel Charge Feb 41 May 43
Medical Orderly Feb 41 May 43
Engineer Mine Clearance Team, 3 men Feb 41 May 43
Engineer Wire Cutting Team, 3 men Feb 41 May 43
Engineer Demolition Team, 3 men Feb 41 May 43
Adjutant Feb 41 May 43
Minefield Feb 41 May 43
Barbed Wire Feb 41 May 43
Road Block Feb 41 May 43
Kubelwagen, no crew or weapon Feb 41 May 43
Opel Blitz 1.5t Truck, no crew or weapon Feb 41 May 43
Kettenkrad, no crew or weapon Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 7, no crew or weapon Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 10, no crew or weapon Feb 41 May 43
Kfz. 70, no crew or weapon Feb 41 May 43
Motorcycle and Side-car, no crew or weapon Feb 41 May 43
Entrenchments for one team Feb 41 May 43
LIST TWO From To
Panzerbüchse 38/39 (AT Rifle) Team, 2 men Feb 41 May 43
Le.GrW36 5cm Mortar Team, 3 men Feb 41 May 43
Pre-game Barrage Feb 41 May 43
Senior Leader Feb 41 May 43
LIST THREE From To
Sd.Kfz. 221 with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Pz.I Ausf. A or B with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 42
Sniper Team Feb 41 May 43
2.8 cm sPzB 41 (AT Rifle) Team, 2 men Oct 42 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 250/1, no Crew or Weapon Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 250/3, no Crew or Weapon Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 251/1, no Crew or Weapon Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 251/3, no Crew or Weapon Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 250/1 (2 cm Panzerabwehrbüche 785 (s)) with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
PaK36 37mm Anti-Tank Gun with 5 crew and Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
LIST FOUR From To
75mm Ie.18 with 5 crew and Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Engineer Section with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 10/4 (2cm AA Gun) with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 10/5 (2cm AA Gun) with Junior Leader May 42 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 7/1 (2cm AA Quad) with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 251/10 with Junior Leader Aug 41 May 43
Forward Observer with 81mm Mortar Battery Feb 41 May 43
MG34 on Tripod Mount, 5 crew Feb 41 May 43
MG42 on Tripod Mount, 5 crew Dec 42 May 43
PaK38 50mm Anti-Tank Gun with 5 crew and Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Panzerjäger I with Junior Leader Mar 41 Nov 42
Pz.III Ausf. F (3.7cm Gun) with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Captured A12 Matilda Mk. II Nov 41 May 43
Captured A15 Crusader Mk. I/II Dec 41 May 43
LIST FIVE From To
Regular Infantry Squad with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 222 Armoured Car (2.0cm Gun) with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 231/232 Armoured Car with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Sd.Kfz. 233 Armoured Car with Junior Leader Dec 42 May 43
Pz.III Ausf. F, G or H (5.0cm Gun) with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Pz.III Ausf. J (Long 5.0cm Gun) with Junior Leader May 42 May 43
Pz.III Ausf. L or M with Junior Leader Dec 42 May 43
Motorcycle Aufklarungs Squad with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Pz.II Ausf. C (2.0cm Gun) with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
Pz.IV Ausf. D with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
PaK40 75mm Anti-Tank Gun with 5 crew and Junior Leader Dec 41 May 43
Captured M3 “Honey” Stuart Dec 41 May 43
LIST SIX From To
Pz. I Ausf. A Flamm* Jun 42 Jun 42
Pz.II Ausf. F (2.0cm Gun) with Junior Leader Dec 41 May 43
Pz.III Ausf. N with Junior Leader Dec 42 May 43
Pz.IV Ausf. E or F1 with Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
StuG III Ausf. D with Junior Leader Dec 42 May 43
Marder II with Junior Leader Dec 42 May 43
Marder III with Junior Leader Mar 42 May 43
Marder III Ausf. H with Junior Leader Dec 42 May 43
Pz.Sfl. II Hornisse May 42 Jun 42
LIST SEVEN From To
Pz.IV Ausf. F2 or G with Junior Leader Dec 42 May 43
StuG III Ausf. F/8 with Junior Leader Dec 42 May 43
88mm FlaK 18/36/37 with 5 crew and Junior Leader Feb 41 May 43
LIST NINE From To
15 cm sIG 33 auf Fahrgestell Pz.Kfw. II (Sf) (AKA Sturmpanzer II ‘Bison’) Feb 42 May 43
with Junior Leader
LIST TEN From To
Pz. IV Tiger I with Junior Leader Dec 42 May 43

SATCHEL CHARGE
The satchel charge is shown on Table Seven, Hand-Held Anti-Tank Weapons. The charge may be used
once by any Section on the table when commanded by the Senior Leader commanding the platoon who is,
we assume, carrying it with him up to that point. How the charge works is detailed in Section 9.3.4, Tank
Hunters. A maximum of two satchel charges may be selected by a German force.

50MM MORTAR TEAM

The 50mm mortar has only H.E. rounds; no smoke being provided. It has a minimum range of 12”, but
closer than that the crew may use their rifles.

TWIN MACHINE GUNS

The twin machine guns on the Panzer I fire with a firepower factor of 8 to represent the enhanced
firepower.

AUFKLARUNGS SQUAD
Three motorcycles with side-cars transport the reconnaissance squad. It has one LMG with two crew on
one machine and three riflemen on the other two. When dismounted this operates with one Junior Leader,
a two-man LMG Team and a five-man Rifle Team.

FALLSCHIRMJAGER UNITS
The 2.8 cm sPzB 41 AT rifle was seemingly associated with the fallschirmjager units and the Ramcke
Fallschirmjager Battalion may have had MG42s in the advance to El Alamein around June 1942.

FLAMMENWERFER AUF PANZERKAMPFWAGEN I AUSF. A

This was an in theatre modification converted in preparation for the assault on Tobruk on June 19th 1942
and as such I have limited the use of the tank to the period of the assault on Tobruk. I have used +13 for
‘Flame’ using the CoCulator which gives a support list value of 6. This may be one level too high, but I’ve
erred on the side of over rating than under rating.

PZ.SFL. II HORNISSE
Only two of these experimental halftracks were produced and tested at the battle of Gazala where one was
captured and the other destroyed, but after knocking out three enemy tanks.
German Forces in North Africa 1941 to 1943: Arsenal
Tables

GERMAN ARSENAL TABLE

TANKS
VEHICLE ARMOUR A.P. H.E. SPEED NOTES
Pz.I Ausf. A/B 3 - Twin Average Low Profile
MGs
Pz. I Ausf. A Flamm 3 Flame Flame Average Low Profile
Pz.II Ausf. C (2.0cm Gun) 3 4 6 Average Co-ax MG, 20mm
Autocannon
Pz.II Ausf. F (2.0cm Gun) 5 4 6 Average Co-ax MG, 20mm
Autocannon
Pz.III Ausf. F (3.7cm Gun) 4 5 3 Average Hull and Twin Co-ax FP 8
Pz.III Ausf. F (5.0cm Gun) 4 6 4 Average Hull and Twin Co-ax FP 8
Pz.III Ausf. G (5.0cm Gun) 4 6 4 Average Hull and Co-ax MG
Pz.III Ausf. H (5.0cm Gun) 5 6 4 Average Hull and Co-ax MG
Pz.III Ausf. J (Long 5.0cm Gun) 5 7 3 Average Hull and Co-ax MG
Pz.III Ausf. L 6 7 3 Average Hull and Co-ax MG
Pz.III Ausf. M 6 7 3 Average Hull and Co-ax MG
Pz.III Ausf. N 6 5 6 Average Hull and Co-ax MG
Pz.IV Ausf. D 4 5 6 Average Hull and Co-ax MG
Pz.IV Ausf. E/F1 6 5 6 Average Hull and Co-ax MG
Pz.IV Ausf. F2/G 6 8 5 Average Hull and Co-ax MG
Pz. VI Tiger I 8 12 7 Slow Hull and Co-ax MG, Slow
Turret, Heavy Armour
Captured A12 Matilda Mk. II 7 5 1 Slow Co-ax MG
Captured A15 Crusader Mk. I/II 5 5 1 Average Co-ax MG
Captured M3 “Honey” Stuart 4 5 3 Fast Hull and Co-ax MG
TANK DESTROYERS
VEHICLE ARMOUR A.P. H.E. SPEED NOTES
Panzerjäger I 3 6 4 Average Open Topped
Marder II 3 9 5 Average Hull MG, Open Topped
Marder III/Marder III Ausf.H 4 9 5 Average Hull MG, Open Topped
SELF-PROPELLED GUNS
VEHICLE ARMOUR A.P. H.E. SPEED NOTES
15 cm sIG 33 auf Fahrgestell 4 8 13 Average Open Top, Low Profile
Pz.Kfw. II (Sf)
Pz.Sfl. II Hornisse 3 9 5 Average Open Turret
StuG III Ausf. D 5 5 6 Average Exposed Top MG, Low
Profile
StuG III Ausf. F/8 6 9 5 Average Top MG, Low Profile
TRANSPORT AND ARMOURED CARS
VEHICLE ARMOUR A.P. H.E. SPEED NOTES
Kettenkrad 0 - - Fast Partially Halftracked, Low
Profile, Small, Open
Topped, Capacity - 1 Team
Kubelwagen 0 - - Wheeled Low Profile, Small, Open
Topped, Capacity - 1 Team
Opel Blitz 1.5t Truck 0 - - Wheeled Capacity - 1 Section
Sd.Kfz. 7 0 - - Fast Open Topped, Capacity - 1
Section
Sd.Kfz. 10 0 - - Fast Open Topped, Small,
Capacity - 1 Team
Kfz. 70 0 - - Wheeled Low Profile, Small, Open
Topped, Capacity - 1 Team
Sd.Kfz. 250/1 2 - MG Fast Open Topped, Low Profile,
Small, Capacity - 1 Team
Sd.Kfz. 250/1 (2 cm 2 2 1 Fast Open Topped, Low Profile,
Panzerabwehrbüche 785 (s)) Small
Sd.Kfz. 250/3 2 - MG Fast Open Topped, Low Profile,
Small, Capacity - 1 Team
Sd.Kfz. 251/1 2 - MG Fast Open Topped, Low Profile,
Capacity - 1 Section
Sd.Kfz. 251/3 2 - MG Fast Open Topped, Low Profile,
Capacity - 1 Section
Sd.Kfz. 251/10 2 5 3 Fast Open Topped, Low Profile
Sd.Kfz. 221 Armoured Car 2 - MG Wheeled Small, Low Profile, Open
Turret
Sd.Kfz. 222 Armoured Car (2.0cm 2 4 6 Wheeled Small, Low Profile, Open
Gun) Turret, 20mm Autocannon
Sd.Kfz. 231/232 Armoured Car 3 4 6 Wheeled Co-Ax MG, 20mm
Autocannon
Sd.Kfz. 233 Armoured Car 3 5 6 Wheeled Fixed Gun, Open Turret
AA VEHICLES
VEHICLE ARMOUR A.P. H.E. SPEED NOTES
Sd.Kfz. 10/4 (2cm AA gun) 1 4 6 Fast Open top, Small, 20mm
 Autocannon
Sd.Kfz. 10/5 (2cm AA gun) 1 4 6 Fast Open top, Small, 20mm
Autocannon
Sd.Kfz. 7/1 (2cm AA Quad) 0 4 12 Fast Open Top, 20mm
Autocannon
GUNS AND SUPPORT WEAPONS
WEAPON A.P. H.E.
Panzerbüchse 38/39 (AT Rifle) 3 1
2.8 cm sPzB 41 (AT Rifle) 5 2
75mm Ie.18 Infantry Gun 4 6
PaK36 37mm Anti-Tank Gun 5 3
PaK38 50mm Anti-Tank Gun 7 4
PaK40 75mm Anti-Tank Gun 9 5
88mm FlaK 18/36/37 12 7