In an effort to reduce the damage that Russian raiding detachments are inflicting on railroad tracks in German-held territory, the Germans are hastily improvising railroad patrol cars out of truck parts, captured Soviet reconnaissance vehicles, and the armor plate of partly destroyed tanks. The unorthodox result is known as an "armored Zepp" (see fig. 12). An "armored Zepp" is employed to rush an assault detachment of Panzer Grenadiers to any section of a railroad where the presence of Russian demolition troops is suspected.

Figure 12. German Railroad Patrol Car (armored).

The Panzer Grenadier assault detachment can deliver fire from the railroad patrol car, and, equipped with rifles, machine pistols, and hand grenades, may leave the car to fight the hostile force. It is reported that sometimes the Germans also send supporting troops, who take up positions along the railroad embankment and give covering fire to the assault detachments, in cooperation with the heavy gun (37-mm or 50-mm) of the "armored Zepp." Meanwhile, the assault detachment approaches the Russian demolition troops by bounds, and seeks to destroy them.