German Captured Artillery

Captured Artillery in German Infanteriedivisions Normandy 1944 Many of the German infantry formations in Normandy were issued with captured foreign weapons to arm their artillery regiments. The following is a break down of who got what (where the information is available).  For more information about fielding the divisions mentioned see German Infanterie Divisions in the Normandy Campaign. 16. Luftwaffefelddivision The 16. Luftwaffenfelddivision was issued with ex-soviet 7.62cm FK288(r) (ZIS-3) guns to the 2., 3., 4., and 6. Batteries. The 7., 8., and 9. Batteries were armed with ex-soviet 12.2cm FH396(r) (122mm obr 1938) howitzers.

The guns come from the SU510 76mm ZIS-3 gun (7.62cm FK288(r)) and the GE573 12.2cm FH396(r) howitzers, which comes with German crew. Additional German artillery crew is available through the Special Order range.

77. Infanteriedivision The 77. Infanteriedivision were issued with standard German artillery, but they did have ex-soviet 7.62cm FK 305(r) (76mm obr 1927) infantry guns instead of the 7.5cm leIG18 gun issued to the infantry Regiments. The points for the Infantry Gun Platoon remains the same. Use the SU560 76mm obr 1927 gun with German crew from the Special Order range.

On an unusual note the third battalion of Artillerie-Regiment 177 was armed with 8.8cm PaK43/41 guns.

91. Infanteriedivision (Luftlande) During the fighting in Normandy the 91. Infanteriedivision had continual trouble with artillery weapon and ammunition supply and used a wide variety of guns needing different ammunition.

It used 7.62cm FK297(r) (ex-soviet M39), 7.5cm FK17(t) (ex-czech M28 Skoda), 10.5cm GebH40, 12.2cm FH396(r) (ex-soviet M38), 12.2cm K 390/2(r) (ex-soviet M31/37) and a ex-soviet 15.2cm of some type. The guns come from the GE525 7.62 PaK36(r) (7.62cm FK297(r)) and the GE573 12.2cm FH396(r) howitzers, both of which come with German crew. For the 7.62cm FK297(r) use the taller shield and gun without a muzzle brake.

243. and 265. Infanterie divisions The both these Infanteriedivision was also armed with ex-soviet artillery guns. Artillerie-Regiment 243’s first two battalions were armed with 7.62cm FK288(r) (ZIS-3) guns and the third with 12.2cm FH396(r) (122mm obr 1938) howitzers.

The guns come from the SU510 76mm ZIS-3 gun (7.62cm FK288(r)) and the GE573 12.2cm FH396(r) howitzers, which comes with German crew. Additional German artillery crew is available through the Special Order range.

326. Infanteriedivision This Infanteriedivision was armed with some ex-soviet and some obosolete artillery guns. Six batteries of Artillerie-Regiment 326 were armed with 12.2cm FH396(r) (122mm obr 1938) howitzers and three batteries has old 10.5 leFH16 guns. Though not exactly the same, the Italian 100/17 howitzer (IT580) and the 10.5cm leFH16 gun are quite similar and this model can be used to represent this old German gun. For the other gun we have the GE573 12.2cm FH396(r) howitzer, which comes with German crew. Additional German artillery crew is available through the Special Order range.

346. Infanteriedivision Was armed with ex-soviet 7.62cm FK288(r) (ZIS-3) guns, 12.2cm FH396(r) (122mm obr 1938) howitzers and ex-french 10.5cm howitzers. The guns come from the SU510 76mm ZIS-3 gun (7.62cm FK288(r)) and the GE573 12.2cm FH396(r) howitzers, which comes with German crew. Additional German artillery crew is available through the Special Order range.

708., 709. and 711. Static Infanterie divisions These three divisions were armed with ex-soviet 7.62cm FK288(r) (ZIS-3) guns (all three), 12.2cm FH396(r) (122mm obr 1938) howitzers (708. ID), ex-french 10.5cm (708. and 709. ID), and 15.5cm  howitzers (709. and 711. ID), and ex-czech 10cm leFH14/19(t) howitzers (709. ID). The guns come from the SU510 76mm ZIS-3 gun (7.62cm FK288(r)), the GE573 12.2cm FH396(r) howitzers, which comes with German crew, and the IT580 100/17 (10cm leFH14/19(t)) gun. Additional German artillery crew is available through the Special Order range.