I hope no one finds this question irritating, but what is the consensus as to what was the best tank of WWII. It must come down to the Pzkw V Panther and the T34/85.
I personally would go for the later model Panthers because as far as I know it had a more effective main armarment and better armour, but then again, I guess the T34/85 was alot easier to mass produce. Still, one on one I would go for the Panther.
Best tank
-
davethelight
- Member
- Posts: 1691
- Joined: 21 Dec 2002, 08:52
- Location: Australia
I'm not talking about the heaviest and most powerful, as in the JSII or Tiger II, I'm talking about the best fundamental design in terms of concept, technology, performance and effectiveness etc.
The Germans still have'nt gotten over naming their tanks after big scary felines, today they have the Leapord series. Still, I guess its got more of a ring to it than "badger" or "squirrel". Though they did experiment in WWII with a rather silly design called the "mouse". And don't forget the Elephant Tank either, or the Brumbear.
The Germans still have'nt gotten over naming their tanks after big scary felines, today they have the Leapord series. Still, I guess its got more of a ring to it than "badger" or "squirrel". Though they did experiment in WWII with a rather silly design called the "mouse". And don't forget the Elephant Tank either, or the Brumbear.
-
Christian Ankerstjerne
- Forum Staff
- Posts: 14051
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 15:07
- Location: Denmark
- Contact:
-
Christian Ankerstjerne
- Forum Staff
- Posts: 14051
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 15:07
- Location: Denmark
- Contact:
-
David C. Clarke
- In memoriam
- Posts: 11368
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 18:17
- Location: U.S. of A.
JS-II and Panther weighed the same and, from everything I've read, were equal matches on the battlefield. Panther was more manuveurable, JS-II had better armor. So, really, between the two, it's more an ideological choice than anything else. Also, you might as well consider the American M-26, which was also in the same weight range, well-armored and armed.
Of course, I once had a friend who summed this up in one sentence on the Achtung Panzer Board. He said,
"Panther is a Dog!"
Cheers, D
Of course, I once had a friend who summed this up in one sentence on the Achtung Panzer Board. He said,
"Panther is a Dog!"
Cheers, D
-
Christian Ankerstjerne
- Forum Staff
- Posts: 14051
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 15:07
- Location: Denmark
- Contact:
-
David C. Clarke
- In memoriam
- Posts: 11368
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 18:17
- Location: U.S. of A.
I'm sure it was meant as a negative Christian! The theory was that the Panther's mechanical troubles more than made up for its strengths. The lack of mechanical troubles made the T-34 and Shermans war-winners. A Panther's transmission and final drives would never have survived the hundreds of miles advances that characterized most successfull offensives by any country in WWII.
Cheers, D
Cheers, D
-
Christian Ankerstjerne
- Forum Staff
- Posts: 14051
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 15:07
- Location: Denmark
- Contact:
-
David C. Clarke
- In memoriam
- Posts: 11368
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 18:17
- Location: U.S. of A.
Christian, my friend, that's just a stat. If we want to settle the matter, we have to find the longest actual road march (either in the advance or in the retreat) made by a Panther unit. I think Hube's retreat with 1st Panzer Army in Russia would give us the data that we need, since the Army was totally cut off and forced to move without railway transport.
Best Regards, David
Best Regards, David
-
David C. Clarke
- In memoriam
- Posts: 11368
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 18:17
- Location: U.S. of A.
-
Christian Ankerstjerne
- Forum Staff
- Posts: 14051
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 15:07
- Location: Denmark
- Contact:
-
David C. Clarke
- In memoriam
- Posts: 11368
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 18:17
- Location: U.S. of A.
AHHH Christian, it's the difference between a machine with strategic qualities and one with tactical qualities. I can here the conversation:
Adolf: "I want you to drive through the Ardennes break through the enemy lines and trap the BEF at Dunkirk".
Manstein: "Sure, if you give me those cute little Czech tanks that don't break."
Adolf: "Sorry guy, but we managed to build some Panthers early, the mechanics say you'll get at least 500 Kms. out of the transmissions."
Manstein: "Well, 500K might get us out of the Ardennes if we don't have to manuvuer".
Just an imaginary conversation, but the point is that Germany couldn't have planned say, the thrust to Moscow with a tank that could only cove 500 KM before needing a major overhaul. Cheers, D
Adolf: "I want you to drive through the Ardennes break through the enemy lines and trap the BEF at Dunkirk".
Manstein: "Sure, if you give me those cute little Czech tanks that don't break."
Adolf: "Sorry guy, but we managed to build some Panthers early, the mechanics say you'll get at least 500 Kms. out of the transmissions."
Manstein: "Well, 500K might get us out of the Ardennes if we don't have to manuvuer".
Just an imaginary conversation, but the point is that Germany couldn't have planned say, the thrust to Moscow with a tank that could only cove 500 KM before needing a major overhaul. Cheers, D
-
Christian Ankerstjerne
- Forum Staff
- Posts: 14051
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 15:07
- Location: Denmark
- Contact:
