German Pioneers

[chris h]

Anybody know the differences on where and how Pioneer (mot) Kp (KstN 712) and le Pioneer (mot) Kp (KstN 714) where used?

[Kritkeen]

If I'm not mistaken (I'm an amateur ww2 history reader) KstN 714 was supposed to be on armored APCs (ie Halftracks) compared to 712 which was designed to be on trucks. Though with halftracks being short on supply most of the war, I'm not sure how many of KstN 714 structures forced to rely on trucks.

Here are authorized equipment listings just in case:

http://www.niehorster.org/011_german...kstn_0712.html

http://www.niehorster.org/011_german...kstn_0714.html

[chris h]

Looking at the KstN list again it's certainly a possiblity as the early KstN 714 le pi kp share the number with later Pi (gp) Kp.

Leo niehorster also say this.
The 3-ton trucks in the sections of the Combat Engineer Companies were the Pionier-Kraftwagen I (Pion.Kw. I), whereas the 2-ton trucks in the sections of the Light Combat Engineer were the Pionier-Kraftwagen III (Pion.Kw.III).

This ties in with the late 40/41 production dates of the 250/5 which replaced the Pion.Kw.III

[Kritkeen]

Originally Posted by chris h

Looking at the KstN list again it's certainly a possiblity as the early KstN 714 le pi kp share the number with later Pi (gp) Kp.

That makes sense to me. Especially considering Germany's inability to keep up their own organization structure standards due to lack of adequate vehicle manufacturing. I don't know for a fact, but reading available equipment reports in several source for various units it feels that there were very few units which completely received their equipment lot especially in vehicle department unless they were a favorite of someone high up .