In 1938, the 1st Panzergrenadier Brigade was formed to create a highly-mobile unit of mechanized infantry and tanks. The 2nd Panzergrenadier Brigade was formed two years later. Originally, the brigades had only one tank battalion; in 1942, the decision was made to double the number of tank battalions in the brigade, as well as adding a heavy mortar company.
The Panzergrenadier Brigade is designed to provide the tank battalions with direct infantry support in the form of halftrack-mounted infantry, as well as armoured engineering and mechanized artillery assets.
Chilean Panzergrenadier Brigade:
2x Tank Battalions: 519 men (35 officers, 95 NCOs, 389 other ranks), 451 small arms (202 pistols, 163 rifles, 86 submachine guns), 8 medium machine guns, 2 81mm mortars, 18 field cars, 9 light trucks, 38 medium trucks, 22 scout cars, 54 tanks
2x Panzergrenadier Battalions: 977 men (34 officers, 155 NCOs, 788 other ranks), 799 small arms (139 pistols, 468 rifles, 156 submachine guns, 36 light machine guns), 78 rifle grenade launchers, 22 heavy machine guns, 14 60mm mortars, 4 81mm mortars, 13 AT rifles, 4 AT guns, 40 motorcycles, 35 field cars, 22 light trucks, 22 trailers, 71 halftracks, 4 gun tractors
1x Reconnaissance Battalion: 505 men (30 officers, 76 NCOs, 399 other ranks), 444 small arms (161 pistols, 182 rifles, 77 submachine guns, 24 light machine guns), 8 medium machine guns, 2 81mm mortars, 12 motorcycles, 20 motorcycles with sidecars, 19 field cars, 5 light trucks, 52 medium trucks, 14 half-tracks, 56 scout cars, 18 armoured cars
1x Mechanized Artillery Battalion: 364 men (17 officers, 38 NCOs, 309 other ranks), (32 pistols, 252 rifles, 55 submachine guns, 4 light machine guns), 16 field cars, 21 light trucks, 32 medium trucks, 12 self-propelled guns.
1x Engineering Battalion: 678 men (16 officers, 69 NCOs, 593 other ranks), (27 pistols, 421 rifles, 110 submachine guns, 44 light machine guns), 84 field cars, 65 light trucks, 17 medium trucks, 35 half-tracks, 10 armoured engineering vehicles
1x Brigade Support Troops: 671 men (31 officers, 87 NCOs, 553 other ranks), (181 pistols, 379 rifles, 39 submachine guns, 9 rifle grenade-launchers, 3 light machine guns), 22 motorcycles, 14 motorcycles with sidecars, 57 field cars, 73 light trucks, 36 trailers, 92 medium trucks, 2 half-tracks, 4 scout cars, 4 armoured recovery vehicles
TOTAL: 5,210 men (232 officers, 770 NCOs, 4,208 other ranks), (1,083 pistols, 2,496 rifles, 765 submachine guns, 165 rifle grenade-launchers, 147 light machine guns), 24 medium machine guns, 44 heavy machine guns, 28 60mm mortars, 14 81mm mortars, 26 AT rifles, 8 AT guns, 114 motorcycles, 34 motorcycles with sidecars, 282 field cars, 226 light trucks, 80 trailers, 269 medium trucks, 193 half-tracks, 78 scout cars, 18 armoured cars, 108 tanks, 8 gun tractors, 12 self propelled guns, 4 armoured recovery vehicles, 10 armoured engineering vehicles.