Sherman Vs Panther

[purple]

The Sherman used 4 different powerplants incl a radial aircraft engine in the M4 and M4A1, the twin GMC diesel in the M4A2, the Ford V8 in the M4A3 and the Chrysler multi bank in the M4A4. The M10 tank des troyer and quite a number of the 90mm gun armed M36 tank destroyers also used the twin GMC diesel.

Quite a few of the diesel engined Shermans were supplied to the Russians and also to the Brits/Canadians. The USMC also used the diesel engined tanks because of the availability of marine diesel fuel.

Our first post war tank was the diesel engined M4A2E8 with the wider track and 76mm gun. These were in use by reserve armoured units until 1970. When I went thru the Armoured Corps School in Camp Borden 51 yrs ago Shermans were still being used as training vehicles. There were also several white painted ones used as live targets for ATGMs with dummy warheads. There were also a couple dozen de - turreted ones at Meaford which were used as Kangaroo APCs. I learned to drive a Sherman and found it to be a fun vehicle to drive, quite a change from the D2 Cat that we used for land clearance on the farm.

 

[Pak75]

Gotta consider the Allies had to transport their tanks from the US by ship,as well. Heavier tanks would have meant lesser numbers. As anything else a trade off. Some of the last German tanks were about useless because bridges couldn't handle the weight.

Grizz

As well as the fact that a Sherman could be repaired by soldiers with basic automotive knowledge and the parts of the Sherman were easily swapped out at forward repair areas rather than having to be shipped back to the states for major component replacement.

 

[teenahlake]

Remember that something like 75% of the German tank losses were from airpower. the introduction of the RP3 rocketby the Commonwealth, and 3.5 and 5" FFAR's by the US, and Soviet RS-82 and RS-132 rockets devastated German Armored Columns.

I watched a documentary, and the German penchant for perfectionism worked against them. Sometimes close enough is good enough, especially if it gets more tanks out the door.

 

[Juster]

Remember that something like 75% of the German tank losses were from airpower.

I fail to remember that. After Goodwood, 10 out of 301 German tanks examined could be attributed to air launched RP. The RAF would often claim to destroy more tanks in one day than were actually present. Non-enemy action was the main killer.

Edit:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=-P...ian tank losses "mechanical failures"&f=false


Gen. Guderian: "60-70% through mechanical failures (eastern front), 15% AT, 5% artillery, 5% mines, 5% others. "

Note: figures are only a very rough aproximation, source was very hesitant about answering this question.





Gen. Dietrich: "Mechanical failures, 30%, air, 10%, AT, 15%, tanks, 45%. Losses due to artillery were negligible. Most feared by crews: Allied tanks and TDs."

Gen. Hausser:" During long movements to the zone of action, 20-30% fall out due to mechanical breakdowns failures. If we consider the rest as 100% - 15% are lost through mechanical failures, 20% through air attacks, 50% through AT defenses, 15% knocked out by artillery. Tanks and TDs are the most feared by german crews."


Edit again: This is good,"Tank Tactics, From Normandy to Lorraine," by Roman Jarymowycz, Chapter 13 "Who Killed Tiger": The Great Tank Scandal, page 265-266:

http://worldwartwozone.com/forums/index.php?/topic/12340-panzer-tales/page-14

 

[Juster]

To be fair, Allied Strategic and Tactical airpower contributed greatly to mechanical breakdown of German kit, since replen, maintenance, repair and production were hit hard by heavy bombers and ground attack. Tricky to tow a Jagdtiger in the dark down windy country roads.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

I had a biography written by an Ottawa resident who had had full and interesting young life. Born in Canada to ethnic German parents, the family moved to Germany in the 1930s. He got drafted and went to the armoured corps. The crew had Panzer IV tanks and a tank destroyer IRCC. They had a barrel strike that damaged the gun, and they were out of action for many weeks before the techs could get to it. Then shortly afterwards, the tank was bogged or damaged and they had to blow it in place. For all their time in combat, I think they only a chance to shoot at a dozen Russian tanks. Not much actual contact time.