So Im still digging but this is one very interresting part of the panzer Lehr Ide like to share and that is the "Panzer Kompanie 316FKL". FKL=Funklenk which is in reference to the radio controlled demolition vehicles used by this unit.
This unit was originally issued 10 Stug3 control tanks on 1 April 1943, There is one thing I want to note though, the original organization of this unit called for 3 platoons of 4 control tanks with 9 Borgwards and 2 company command tanks. This would mean the unit would have required 14 tanks, I could not find reference as to why but I feel the next note may hint at the over all issue in supplies all units suffered. In september 3 Tiger control tanks were handed over to the unit with the intent of equiping the entire 316 with tigers 1 or 2s.
When the Panzer Lehr division was sent to Hungary to take part in operation Margarethe the 316FKL was asked to give its 10 Stug3s to PanzerJager Abteilung 130 because they had not yet recieved there jagdpanzer4s.
After leaving Hungary and entering france at somepoint the stug3s are returned to the unit. At the start of D-day operations the 316 reports having 3 tigers and 9 stug3s in working order. In july they reported having 7 Stugs and all tigers destroyed. I could not find any reports on if any of the Borgwards had been able to make it into combat or were even attempted to be used. The reports from the Divisions over all fighting in june to july is horrific with the unit being decimated over all.
WIP
So now onto what I know about the control vehicles, From my understanding the Stug saw minor changes with the ammo being lowered to fit the additional radio equipment.
The Tiger saw the adding of a new operating equipment and radio mounts in the loaders section of the turret. The Coaxial MG was also removed along with 28 rounds from the Haul to fit a Generator for the new equipment. A new anttena was mounted to the right side of the turret and a plug was welded in the COAX MG slot.
There tigers could completely operate as normal tanks and I believe they may have tanken part in the fighting north of CAEN.
One last Fact. Following with the plan to reequip the unit with Tigers/King Tigers, 5 King tigers with the early production turret were sent for 316 but by prior to D-Day the King tiger was found to be suffering from an insane amount of mechanical issues and was planned to be trained back to germany for reworking.
After D-Day began it was realized they would not be able to send them back and they were dug in at the town of "châteaudun". I cant confirm who actually ended up crewing these 5 king tigers but an interresting fact was that the surviving pictures of King Tiger #11 is that it seems to have been knocked out from a unit that flanked the city of châteaudun.
Ok thats all I got for now on the 316 I plan to cover other parts of the Lehr soon. If you have anything you want to know on the 316FKL that I may have not included please ask!
