Home Page World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations Last Updated 24.12.2016
German Army Organizations
Motorcycle and Reconnaissance Battalions, Panzer Division
late 1941 through mid-1942
Reconnaissancen
 
1941 - 1942 Organizational Symbols Abbreviations and Terms Used

 Motorcycle Battalion
    [D] Headquarters, Motorcycle Battalion
    [D] Armored Car Company
    [D] Motorcycle Company, Type b
    [T] Motorcycle Company, Type b
    [D] Armored Light Reconnaissance Company
    [D] Motorized Heavy Weapons Company
    [D] Light Transportation Column, Armored Reconnaissance Battalion

Notes:
[D] = Diagram with vehicle manning
[T] = Text with organization and personnel billets

NOTES:
Owing to the losses suffered by the Germans in 1941, as well as an overlapping of missions by the two battalion types, it was decided to merge the motorcycle and reconnaissance battalions. By mid-1942, this reorganization was mostly completed. Most motorcycle battalions retained their designation, whereas only a few of the the reconnaissance battalions retained theirs. (In mid-1943, the motorcycle battalions were once again re-designated as Panzer reconnaissance battalions.)
The main changes to the 01.02.1941 motorcycle battalions resulted in the 01.11.1941 organization depicted above. They were: the motorcycle MG companies were dissolved; two HMG and two 8cm mortars, with their crews, were then transferring to each of the motorcycle rifle companies, the remaining HMG were moved to the Antitank Gun Platoon in the heavy weapons company as LMG. Furthermore the independent signal platoons were incorporated into the motorcycle battalion headquarters, the armored car companies were added, as were the light reconnaissance columns. Following this amalgamation, the start of the conversion of the motorcycle-equipped reconnaissance companies to armored halftracks, or Volkswagens, began. [Note: This latter change is difficult to follow, as initially the reconnaissance companies continued to use the motorcycle designation — and organizational symbol — even though they were equipped with Volkswagens. This unfortunate habit also applied to the tactical symbol on the vehicles themselves.]
The composition of these new battalions varied somewhat. See table below.
 
Organization of the Panzer Divisions' Motorcycle and Reconnaissance Battalions
28.06.1942
Panzer
Division		 Battalion
28.06.1942		 Units amalgamated
to form present Battalions		 Date Recon. Companies Heavy Company Platoons Recon.
Column
Amd.Car Mcl Armd Afr mot/IG armd/IG ATG ATG Engr
  1       1 Mcl.     1 Mcl. + 4 Armd.Recon. 01.06.42 1 3 – – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
  2      2 Mcl.     2 Mcl. + 5 Armd.Recon. [1] 16.03.42 1 3 – – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
  3      3 Mcl.     3 Mcl. + 1 Armd.Recon. 25.04.42 1 2 1 – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
  4    34 Mcl.   34 Mcl. + 7 Armd.Recon. [2] 05.03.42 1 3 – – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
  5    55 Mcl.   55 Mcl. + 8 Armd.Recon. 04.09.41 1 3 – – 1 – 37mm – 1 1
  6      6 Mcl.     6 Mcl. + 57 Armd.Recon. 01.02.42 1 2 1 – 1 1 28mm 50mm 1 1
  7      7 Mcl.     7 Mcl. + 37 Armd.Recon. 23.05.42 1 2 1 – 1 1 28mm 50mm 1 1
  8      8 Mcl.     8 Mcl. + 59 Armd.Recon. 25.01.42 – 3 – – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 –
  9    59 Mcl.   59 Mcl. + 9 Armd.Recon. 14.03.42 1 2 1 – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
10    10 Mcl.   10 Mcl. + 90 Armd.Recon. 01.04.42 1 2 1 – 1 1 28mm 50mm 1 1
11    61 Mcl.   61 Mcl. + 231 Armd.Recon. 01.12.41 1 2 1 – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
12    22 Mcl.   22 Mcl. + 2 Armd.Recon. 27.11.41 1 3 – – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
13    43 Mcl.   43 Mcl. + 13 Armd.Recon. 10.04.42 1 2 1 – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
14    64 Mcl.   64 Mcl. + 40 Armd.Recon. 01.04.42 1 2 1 – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
15    33 Armd.Recon.   [3] – 1 – – 1 – – 37mm 50mm 1 1
16    16 Mcl.   16 Mcl. + 57 Armd.Recon. 01.02.42 1 2 1 – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
17    17 Mcl.   17 Mcl. + 27 Armd.Recon.. 01.04.42 1 3 – – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 –
18    18 Mcl.   88 Armd.Recon. 21.12.41 – 3 – – 2 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
19    19 Mcl.   19 Armd.Recon. [4] 01.05.42 1 3 – – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
20    20 Armd.Recon.   20 Mcl. + 92 Armd.Recon. 01.01.42 – 3 – – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 –
21      3 Armd.Recon.   [5] – 1 – – 1 – – 37mm 50mm 1 1
22    24 Mcl. New. Raised 10.09.41 – 1 2 1 – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
23    23 Mcl. New. Raised 13.09.41 – 1 2 1 – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
24      4 Mcl. New. Raised 01.12.41 – 1 2 1 – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
25   III/146 Mcl. New. Raised 19.05.42 – 3 – – – – – – – – –
90         [6] New. Raised 01.12.41 – 1 3 – – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 –
GD  GD Mcl. New. Raised 01.03.42 – 1 2 1 – 1 – 28mm 50mm 1 1
[1] Only the 1st Company of the 5th Armored Reconnaaissance Battalion was incorporated. The rest of the battalion had previously been dissolved on 11.08.41.
[2] Sources vary. Tessin indicates both 05.03.42 and 05.05.42. Kriegsgliederung des Feldheeres indicates 13.12.41.
[3] Never amalgamated with a the 15th Motorcycle Battalion, which had been used to raise the III./104th Motorized Infantry Regiment on 27.05.42.
[4] A previous 19th Motorcycle Battalion had been incorporated into the 19th Armored Recoinnaissance Battalion on 14.08.41.
[5] The 21st Panzer Division never had a motorcycle battalion.
[6] The 90. leichte Infanterie-Division had only the Aufklärungskompanie 580, comprising one Volkswagen platoon, one armored car platoon, one AT platoon, and one light AA platoon.