Panzer iv

modeler#1

Does anyone know the location of Panzer divisions equiped with the Panzer iv in Italy 1943?  

I just did a quick Google search: panzer division, Italy, 1943

Got a pretty extensive list of sources. Right off the top, looks like you could go with the 16th Panzer Division (which had Pz IVs). At the time of the Allied invasion, it looks like you had the 26th and 29th Panzer Divisions as well, plus 15th PzGrdr and 1st Fallshimjager.  Herman-Goering Panzer Division was there too (almost forget them...)

Hope that helps.

There were many Panzer Divisions that were in Italy during the war, many for just brief periods of time, including the 1st SS PD...some of those that were there for long periods include the 26th PD and the HG PD...another formation that used tanks and fought in Italy for a ong period was the 15th Panzergrenadier Division...   

I'm sure all of the info given is good. One volume of my German Weapons DVD series (all based on Goebbels' propaganda flicks) is based on the Stug III/IV. They noted that in Italy the Germans sent a lot of assault guns and fewer tanks. The idea is that because of the bad terrain (mountains or ruins or ruins on mountains) that tank vs tank shoot-outs were very rare and the ambush more common. Also fit with the almost strictly defensive German goals in Italy. I did a Brummbar a while back (big, ugly self-propelled 150mm support AFV) and Dragon noted that an unusual number of those were sent to Italy. Fits the pattern mentioned. So the Germans would bring in Stugs or something else carrying a gun: take a few shots, hustle the thing out of harms way. Certainly makes sense. After Falaise when it looked for a few weeks like the West might cave, the Wehrmacht put the heavy lifting in the hands of their tank destroyers that were ideal for ambush and delay but not so hot on mixing it up in a counter-attack. Slowed up the allies enough that the front stabilized in October and allowed the Ardennes. A proper tank with a turret would have been preferable if you were counting on counter-attacks where the other guy might be getting some of the first shots. Always a lot of tanks in the East. Still would have been lots of tanks in Italy. It was a big war. Even a secondary theater was big.

Eric