[烛光生存狂]-坦克大战驱逐舰

Panzer vs. Destroyer

On May 22, 1940, the 2nd Panzer Division was ordered to advance and seal off the port of Boulogne, France on the English Channel. Other Panzer divisions were sent to the ports of Calais and Dunkirk. The invasion of France was not to end for almost another month.

On the 23rd of May, Panzer Regiment 3 of the 2nd Panzer Division was in Boulogne. It was the end of a successful day. All the coastal fortifications had been taken. The Panzer crews were preparing supper and relaxing. English destroyers were patrolling up and down the English Channel. Unseen by the Panzer crews one of the destroyers was on a course straight for the Boulogne harbor. The commander of the fourth company, Oberleutant von Jaworski saw this in his binoculars and called out: "Alarm! The destroyer wants to land troops! Two heavy tanks prepare for combat." (These are the Mark IV tanks equipped with the short 75 mm cannon.) The drivers started their engines and the tanks were made combat ready. The company commander jumped onto one of the tanks and they took off.

Both tanks race onto the street. Their treads spray sparks on the stone pavement. When the street becomes covered with rubble the tanks turn and ignoring trees and fences go cross country. The tanks advance until they can see the harbor docks about 70 meters away. The company commander sounds out "One o'clock, range 500 meters, destroyer!" and immediately comes the reply of the gunner: "Target recognized" -- the first shell leaves the barrel -- 50 meters too long. Using his binoculars the tank commander sees troops standing on the deck preparing to land. The gunner corrects the range, the second shell leaves the barrel -- a direct hit on the foreship in front of the bridge. A split second later another hit five meters higher. Parts of the ship begin to whirl through the air. The remains of the foredeck are obscured by smoke.

The range adjusting is finished. The loader works quickly and shell after shell leaves the barrel. The force of the incoming shells drives all which are not swept from the deck to seek cover. The destroyer increases its speed to escape the observation of the tanks. This change of position interrupts the fire of the tanks only momentarily. Only now does the ship's crew try to defend themselves -- from the aft, broadside after broadside is fired. The smoke grows and occasionally conceals the whole ship. From the opposite height of the harbor enemy anti-aircraft guns begin to fire. About 10 muzzle flashes are recognizable. The location of the tanks is announced presumably by radio to the other destroyers and they cover the tanks with a hail of high-explosive and shrapnel shells. All the hatches are closed. The company commander jumps off the tank and seeks cover -- the earth trembles and shakes. Howling and clattering the shell splinters smash against the armor plating, but the crew is not stunned. Smoke from the tank's shells begins to cloud the gunner's and commander's sights. Every time a shell is ejected the loader is hit in the face by a glowing flame. The air becomes thick and caustic. The driver and radio operator assist the loader so that there is no interruption in the rapid fire.

The continued fire fight forces the destroyer to locate to the outer harbor. Some hours later the destroyer sinks.

After the sinking, one of the crews drew a destroyer on the tank commander's cupola. The number on the ship in this drawing is 523, which coincidentally is the also the date of the sinking (although in German it would be written 235).

Boulogne surrendered two days later.

From May 23 to May 29, Panzer Regiment 3 captured over 25,000 prisoners (12,000 French, 2,500 English, 10,700 Belgian, and 600 Dutch).

Crewmen of one of the tanks:

Oberfeldwebel Langhammer, tank commander;

Palmreuther, gunner;

Ivantschitz, loader;

Denscheilmann, driver;

Sichelstiel, radio operator;

None of these men received the Knight's Cross for this action.

Oberleutant von Jaworski died before the invasion of France ended. He was one of only three officers from Panzer Regiment 3 to die during the invasion of France. Reportedly, some of the other crew members are still alive today.

What was the name of this British destroyer?

How many men were wounded or died during the sinking?

To what unit and branch of service did the landing troops on the destroyer belong?

Sources:

Strauß, F.J. Die Friedens- und Kriegsjahre der 2. (Wiener) Panzerdivision in Wort und Bild 1961.

Records of the Ia of the Second Panzer Division. May-June 1940.

坦克大战驱逐舰

1940年5月22日，德国第2装甲师奉命前出并封闭英吉利海峡沿岸的布洛涅港。其他的装甲师则被派往加来和敦刻尔克。法国战役似乎再有一个月就可以结束。

5月23日，第2装甲师第3装甲团到达布洛涅，这一天进展顺利，所有的海岸要塞都被控制。德国坦克兵们开始准备晚饭并休息。此时英国驱逐舰正沿海峡来回巡弋。其中一艘驱逐舰径直向布洛涅港驶来，而没有被德国坦克兵发现。四连连长，冯·雅沃尔斯基（von Jaworski）中尉从他的双筒望远镜中发现了驱逐舰，大叫：“警报！驱逐舰准备卸载军队，重型坦克两辆准备战斗！”（他们装备的是装备短管75毫米炮的四号坦克）。车手们启动发动机，坦克做好了战斗准备。连长跳上一辆坦克，出发了。

两辆坦克冲入街道，履带在石铺路面溅起点点火花。当街道变成砾石面时，坦克转弯撵过树篱驶入野地。坦克一直冲到他们能看到70米外的码头的地方。连长发令：“一点钟方向，距离500米，驱逐舰！”炮手迅速回应：“目标识定！”——第一发炮弹飞离炮膛——远了50米。通过望远镜，雅沃尔斯基连长可以看到站在驱逐舰舷甲板上准备登陆的士兵。炮手调整了距离，发射了第二发炮弹——直接命中舰桥前方！瞬间之后，又一发炮弹击中比第一发弹着点高五米处。部分舰体飞向空中。剩余的前甲板被浓烟吞没。

调距完成，装填手动作迅速，炮弹一发接一发射向敌舰。舰上幸存的人四处躲避。驱逐舰加速试图逃离坦克的射程。驱逐舰位置的变化只是暂时干扰了坦克的射击，到了这时，驱逐舰上的舰员才想起自卫——从舰尾，两舷，开炮还击。烟越来越大，有时遮没了整个驱逐舰，从港口的另一侧，敌军的高射炮也开炮支援驱逐舰。可以看到10次炮口焰。坦克的位置很可能已经通过无线电通知了其他驱逐舰，后者向坦克倾泻高爆弹和破片弹。坦克关上了所有的口盖。连长跳下坦克，寻找隐蔽处——大地都在颤抖。炮弹的弹片击中坦克装甲板发出巨响并在内部产生回声，但乘员们并没有被震晕。坦克炮产生的烟遮住了炮手和车长的瞄准具，每次退壳，装填手的脸上都要受到热焰的侵灼。坦克内的空气变得混浊而刺鼻。车手和机电员也帮助装填以保持连续快速射击。

持续的交火迫使驱逐舰退往外港，几小时后沉没。

击沉驱逐舰后，一名坦克乘员在炮塔上的指挥塔上画上了一艘驱逐舰。画中驱逐舰上的舷号是523，巧得是这也是击沉驱逐舰的日期（但在德国，该日期写作235）。

布洛涅于两天后投降。

从5月23日到同月29日，第3装甲团抓获了超过25000名战俘（12000名法国人，2500名英国人，10700名比利时人和600名荷兰人）。

其中一辆坦克的成员：

军士长Langhammer，车长；

Palmreuther，炮长；

Ivantschitz，装填手；

Denscheilmann，车手；

Sichelstiel，机电员。

没有人因为此次战斗而获得骑士十字勋章。

冯·雅沃尔斯基中尉死于法国战役结束前，是第3装甲团在法国战役中阵亡的仅有的三名军官之一。据说，车组的一些其他成员至今健在。

沉没的英国驱逐舰的舰名是什么？

沉没时伤或亡多少？

驱逐舰上的登陆兵属于哪个军兵种哪支部队？

仍然是谜。

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