German tanks and Op. Sealion question.

[Thunderchicken]

If Germany did invade Britain in 1940 what tanks do you think they would have sent across the Channel?
I'm not up on my German tank knowledge so any help would be appreciated.

[joroas]

Panzer 1, 2, 3 and early 4s and some Czech 35t and 38t.  I daresay that a number of British, French and other captured allied vehicles may have been pressed into service, too

[Westfalia Chris]

I'd support that. At the time, the bulk of the armoured divisions was made up of PzKpfw II, 38(t) and 35(t) and III, with some companies of IVs in the short-barrelled original infantry support variant. "Sturmgeschütz" assault guns were few and far between (IIRC, a single company had been fielded in the French campaign).

Obviously, as joroas pointed out, the captured French vehicles, especially the medium tank types, would have been used as well, and would probably not do too badly against anything lighter than a Mathilda II.

Finally, as an aside, there was a conversion kit developed for the Panzer III which allowed for deep wading/fording (called the "Tauchpanzer" or "Diving/Submersible Tank"). If you are prepared to include some moderately-dosed sillyness (and I'd bet you would, Neil ), I could see those trundling up the Thames, then having a hard time trying to make landfall on Embankment because none of the planners thought of the vertical walls...  

[Galland]

I will concur and say that it would consist of:

As Panzers: PzII, PzIII, PzIV, Stug, Pz35/38. I am not so sure about the french tanks, since it would require training and experience, but its possible. Maybe ersatz units would get them, or later division numbers, maybe even SS. They would have used french artillery, that I am quite sure of (especially SS units in this early stage of the war).

They would for sure have lots of armoured cars and halftracks like Sdkfz 250, Sdkfz 222 etc.

I would concentrate on PzIIIs and Pz38s, and have maybe a Stug and PzIV as bonus, if we are talking a wargaming "army".

[Etranger]

No sdkfz 250's as they weren't in service until 1941. Not many StuG or 251s around either.

[joroas]

Depends on the scale you're working on.  FOW Blitzkrieg guide is quite useful for 15mm.  In 28mm you only need a few representative tanks.

[stone-cold-lead]

Whatever tanks you choose be sure to use Foundry's Home Guard as opposition.

Don't panic Mr Mainwaring!

 

[joroas]

Don't tell him your name, Pike!

[carlos marighela]

Don't tell him your name, Pike!

You stupid boy.....

[Poiter50]

A number of the types of tanks used in France in 1940 were modified for an amphibious landing and after Sealion was cancelled, they were used for Barbarossa to cross the wide rivers of Russia.

 

I will concur and say that it would consist of:

As Panzers: PzII, PzIII, PzIV, Stug, Pz35/38. I am not so sure about the french tanks, since it would require training and experience, but its possible. Maybe ersatz units would get them, or later division numbers, maybe even SS. They would have used french artillery, that I am quite sure of (especially SS units in this early stage of the war).

They would for sure have lots of armoured cars and halftracks like Sdkfz 250, Sdkfz 222 etc.

I would concentrate on PzIIIs and Pz38s, and have maybe a Stug and PzIV as bonus, if we are talking a wargaming "army".

[Galland]

No sdkfz 250's as they weren't in service until 1941. Not many StuG or 251s around either.

I would use them, since they where indeed ready for the 1939 production range. The did however get delayed for various reasons. Take a good look at PzIV, Land-Wasser-Schlepper, ME262 and other production units, ready for the factory production lanes, but withdrawn for this or that reason. I am sure they whould have processed the 250s for this operation. We dont have a historical date for the invasion, and it can only be assumed that it would have occured before Barbarossa (or even delayed/postponed/instead of it), and hence I brought it up. Would you not use the Land-Wasser-Schlepper? I just ask, since we now are knee deep in to the elementary :-P

[jtrnka]

The Land-Wasser-Schlepper was intended for Sealion to help in the towing of barges across the channel.

Jeff @ JTFM/Die Waffenkammer

[Thunderchicken]

Thanks chaps, that is very helpful indeed and there's potential for some very interesting games.
Everyday is a school day on this forum.

When I visited Jersey I noticed the German forces brought with them a lot of French hardware and some converted Czech bits too. To think most of it was loaded onto landing craft and dumped out at sea after the war.


The tanks will be in 28mm and they will be coming up against the Home Guard and their ingenuity 

[joroas]

Although to be fair, the ranks and uniform worn in Dad's Army was not the original issue.  Until 1941, at least, most units wore a denim overall or civilian suit with a Home Guard armband to cover them under the Geneva Conventions.  There was a shortage of serge uniforms for a while.