An exceptionally rare combat report recorded the action of the 1.Flamm-Kompanie/PanzerRegiment 26 near Mozzagrogna, Italy on 28 November 1943 . This outfit was unique in that the Panzer-Flamm-Zug attached to each PanzerAbteilung of Panzer-Regiment 26 was expanded into a company-sized unit. This was achieved by adding platoons of Sturmhaubitze and Sturmgeschütze confiscated from the Italians to create the `Flamm-Kompanie'. This report stated that for the first time Flammpanzer in PanzerRegiment 26 had gone into action with favourable results:

`During the evening of 27 November, the enemy penetrated the main battle line and captured the town of Mozzagrogna. Having been attached to the 65 Infanterie-Division, the 1.Flamm-Kompanie together with the 1.Aufklärung-Schwadron (1st recon squadron) were to attack at 0500 toward Mozzagrogna with the objective of throwing the enemy out of the town and restoring the main battle line. The combat orders for the company declared in part:
"Together with 1.Aufklärung-Schwadron, the town is to be retaken while it is still dark before enemy airforce activity begins. To avoid losses, the tanks are to be pulled back under cover of darkness to the ravine by Mozzagrogna."
`At the start of the counter-attack the combat strength of the 1.Flamm-Kompanie with an attached platoon from the 7.Panzer-Kompanie was five Flamm-Panzer, four Pz.Kpfw.IV (7.5 cm Kw.K.40 L/48), one Pz.Kpfw.IV (7.5 cm Kw.K. L/24), three Sturmhaubitze (10.5 cm) (ital.), and three Sturmgeschütze (7.5 cm) (ital.).
`After brief instructions on co-operation with tanks were given to the Aufklärung-Schwadron, at about 0500 the 1.Flamm-Kompanie started to counter-attack. All combat elements of the company reached the entrance to the town at about 0600. Here the combined Flammpanzer and gunarmed armoured vehicles began to attack. `The attack surprised the opponent resulting in the capture of the town by about 0730 hours. Cooperation with the Aufklärung-Schwadron left much to be desired. Their individual sections, intended for employment as close defence for the tanks, followed behind, bunched together. It was thereby unpreventable that losses occurred to the infantry. The commander of a Flammpanzer, Feldwebel Hoffmann, was shot in the head and killed during an attack against a field fortification which had been hastily erected in the town.
`An artillery hit broke the track and damaged the drive sprocket of Feldwebel Bock's Flammpanzer, leaving it immobilised. This incident was not noticed since Feldwebel Bock had advanced as the head of his section. His radio message, sent before dismounting, went unheard. This was caused bv several radio sets being knocked out of service by shock waves from closely detonating shells and bombs.
`To prevent congestion during the return trip vehicles were ordered to return single and spaced far apart to the old assembly area. This fact aided in explaining why at first the absence of the Flammpanzer of Feldwebel Bock was not noticed by any member of the company.
`About an hour after the withdrawal of the company, the British brought up reinforcements and enemy fighter-bombers crossed above the town. The Aufklärung-Schwadron partially evacuated the town. After being fired at by a machine gun and infantry while attempting to repair the track, Feldwebel Bock knew that he had to abandon the Flammpanzer and blew it up. He withdrew with his crew until he met several soldiers from the Aufklärung-Schwadron. He and his crew then took part as infantry in the fight until the main battle line was again in our hands. The crew arrived back at the company position at about 1700.
`The 1. Flamm-Kompanie brought in an English captain and 13 Indian soldiers as prisoners. The enemy losses in dead and wounded, partly through flame-thrower action, partly by gunfire, were at least as high. During the return trip in day light, the tanks were spotted and decimated by repeated enemy bombing attacks. Four Flammpanzer, four Pz. Kpfw.IV, two Sturmhaubitze and three Sturmgeschütze were lightly damaged. Only one Pz.Kpfw.IV (L/24) and one Sturmhaubitze remained fully operational. The damaged Panzers were towed away from the enemy lines.'

If you're interested in more info or photos, please read the following mentioned books.

Literature:
- Flammpanzer - German Flamethrowers 1941-1945, Doyle, Jentz, 1995, Osprey