Background

It is quite rare to come across reasonably reliable data for technical losses of tanks during battle, i.e. how many tanks fell out because e.g. their transmission conked out, or some other part of the complex mechanism failed.

Primary Data

Fortunately enough the war diary for Panzerregiment 5 survives, and contains such information for at least the first few days of CRUSADER. The table below gives this. Panzerregiment 5 had the oldest tanks in the Mideast, which would have clocked up substantial mileage by the time of CRUSADER.

While not 100% clear, I suspect that these are permanent losses, as ascertained after the battle, when the war diary was written up, and an explanation what caused them. The reason for this is that each of the losses for tanks needing recovery is followed by a note on why and where the tank was lost. Causes of loss are outright destruction, mobility kill in enemy territory that could not be recovered, mobility kill that was recovered but was lost later at a concentration point, or in a workshop.

5th Light Division Panzerregiment 5 tanks moving east through Arco die Fileni (Marble Arch) on the border of Tripolitania and Marmarica. Almost certainly March 1941. Bundesarchiv Bildarchiv

Caveats

It is likely that the extent of technical problems is understated here too. It is also clear that at the start of the operation the availability level drops more steeply than could be explained by the losses noted in the documentation. It is not clear why this is the case.

It is also important to note that the German and British army reporting systems are not comparable.

Operational Context

The regiment started moving on 18 November. Between 18 and 19 November, it’s strength reduced by a total of 37 tanks (11x Panzer II, 23x Panzer III, 3x Panzer IV), or 31% of its reported tank strength on 18 November, and it is not far-fetched to suppose that many of these tanks may not have been able to move, or quickly broke down, given that only 8 tanks were reported as complete losses on the day.

23 November was the day of the battle of Totensonntag, Sunday of the Dead, when 5 South African Brigade and 7 Support Group were taken to the cleaners at Sidi Rezegh.

25 November was the day when PR5 was sent into the two disastrous attacks on 4 Indian Division’s position outside Sidi Omar.

It is also worth noting that on 27 November, when the regiment was left with 2x IV, one of them had to be cannibalised (and was lost in consequence), to get the other one going again. These two technical failures are not accounted for in this list.

On 30 November it is noted that the regiment received 3x II, 4x III, and 2x IV as repaired vehicles from the division’s workshops. The strength returns make clear however that some tanks were received throughout, maybe after their crews undertook minor repairs to get them going again. 

Types of tanks in the list:

• II = Panzer II
• III = Panzer III
• IIICd = Panzer III Command Tank (grosser Befehlswagen)
• IV = Panzer IV 

Date	Combat Loss TWO1	Combat Loss (MK2)	Technical Loss (MK)	Total Loss	Technical Loss Share
19 Nov	2x III	1x II 4x III	1x III	8	13%
20 Nov	1x III	2x II 1x IV		4	0%
21 Nov	1x III	1x III	1x II 1x III	4	50%
22 Nov	1x III	3x III 1x IV	2x II 2x III 1x IIICd	10	50%
23 Nov	2x III 1x IV	5x II 6x III 1x IV	1x II 1x III	17	12%
24 Nov	2x III	1x III Cd3 2x III	1x III4	6	17%
25 Nov	1x II 9x III	1x II 1x III 1x IV	1x II 1x III	15	13%
Total	20	31	13	64	20%

Notes

1 TWO = Total Write Off, tank was destroyed by enemy action on the battlefield

2 MK = Mobility Kill, Vehicle had to be towed off the battlefield

3 This was later repaired and rejoined

4 Report not complete