Best Tank of WWII

[Nemesis77]

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy

Originally posted by: Nemesis77

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy

2.) Yeah, but that still doesn't say much. Fighting and holding back Germans != Effective Tank Strategy. Just because they progressed during the war doesn't mean they didn't suck.

Could you provide me with links that show how brits sucked at tank-warfare?

Nope. Just from what I remember in reading. =\ We can agree to disagree, though.

agreed

But back to the original thread. The M-10 wolverine wasn't bad at all, nor where the Russian 100mm and 122mm guns. The Soviet IS-2 was a great heavy tank, also. I think the Germans should have made more Panzers and Panthers, but that's just me.

The Soviet heavy tanks (such as JS-II, JS-III, SU-152 etc.) were really good. In some respects they were better than German heavy tanks (Tiger etc.). But the Soviet designs suffered from few shortfalls that severly hindered them. For one, the targeting-optics weren't as good as on German and western designs. Also, the tanks were slow and they had limited number of ammo. But they had big guns that could take out just about anything enemy could throw at them (excluding JagdTiger. It's frontal armour was never penetrated during the war), and they were heavily armoured, so knocking them out was really difficult.

 

[BigNeko]

The British have made the best guns in the western world up until the early 80's.

For some reason, I used to hear that the Italians made the best naval guns in WW2.

For modern tanks, doesn`t the German Leopard have a powerpack, where they can change out the engine in the field in less than four hours?

As for the shell with the skunk gas, at one time there was a round developed that created acetylene gas, this would overspeed the enemy tank`s engine and cause it to rip itself apart, but because this is considered a softkill, was discontinued.

My three cents.

 

[Nemesis77]

Originally posted by: BigNeko

The British have made the best guns in the western world up until the early 80's.

For some reason, I used to hear that the Italians made the best naval guns in WW2.

Could be. Italians leaved alot to be desired in the WW2, but their navy was pretty good and they had top-notch battleships.

 

[J0hnny]

Man, I've been playing Steel Panthers since the very first game came out for my 486 machine. Nothing beats the original game, not even Steel Panthers: World at War. I've also tried Combat Missions, but it's too buggy for my tastes, although the 3D aspect is awesome.

As for the best tank in World War II, I would have to say the Tiger (not the King Tiger) because when it was introduced on the eastern front, it took out anything the Russians could muster against them.

I wish the Cold War would have led to a giant tank battle between the Americans and the Russians. Too bad Russia collapsed.

 

[440sixpack]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
I read before that of 120 assorted Panzer III's and Panzer IV's, they were the mobile reserve unit for the area, and in moving the 50km to the front, only 35 of them made it. That is not acceptable. It usually isn't that bad for those tanks, however.

Yeah one must remember by that point in the war the German supplies of fuel/spare parts/ammo etc. were getting worse by the day. Many perfectly good or repairable vehicles were abandoned simply due to the current logistical situation.

King Tigers and Tigers may be the best armored/gunned tanks, but their reliabilty sucked even worse. I read somewhere of the first 10 King Tigers to drive to the front from the railroad tracks (not far...can't remember actual distance) only 2 of them made it. They were extremely slow cumbersome beasts. However, well positioned, they could do extreme damage.

Oh, and reguarding Micheal Wittman, he was extremely lucky in taking out that British column with his buddies. They almost caught him, but not quite. The British were all out of their tanks on a break...

Here are some links about Wittman:


Achtung Panzer!

"On 13th June 1944, a week after D-day, following a drive from Beauvais under repeated air attack, 2nd Kompanie of sSSPzAbt 101 led by Michael Wittmann had 4 Tigers and Panzer IV on Hill 213 ahove Villers Bocage. His orders were to stop the advance guard of the British 7th Armored Division (the famous 'Desert Rats') from advancing through the township, outflanking the German line and gaining the road to Caen. At about 8:00am, Wittmann's company struck a column of British armor travelling in a sunken road near Villers Bocage. Wittmann waited until the vehicles reach the range of 100 meters and then destroyed leading and tail vehicles, blocking the escape route for the rest of the column. From the cover of a small wood, Wittmann's own Tiger fired on and 'brewed up' the leading half-track, destroyed the last vehicle, and then knocked out the surprised British column piece by piece. In a hectic five-minute engagement, Wittmann's company destroyed some 25 Cromwell and Firefly tanks and another 28 vehicles (14 half-tracks and 14 Bren gun carriers) of 4th County of London Yeomanry Regiment ("Sharpshooters") of 22nd Armored Brigade before pulling back unscathed. Meanwhile, the other 3 Tigers and PzKpfw IV on Hill 213 fired in support and eight more from 1st Company moved into Villers Bocage to wipe out another British tank squadron. In the street fighting that followed, Wittmann's Tiger had its track blown off by 6pdr anti-tank gun, forcing the crew to bail out, and two more Tigers were destroyed by infantry PIAT projectiles. But by evening, Villers Bocage was in German hands, and the British had lost 25 tanks, 14 half-tracks, 14 Bren gun carriers and hundreds of men. It cost 501st Battalion six of its precious Tigers to take the village, but for weeks afterwards British attackers were cautious in their approach. The British drive on Villers Bocage and Caen was stopped cold by Wittmann's attack."

And the Tigers arrived on the scene relatively late in the war, so picking it is like picking the Me 262 jet fighter over the P-51 Mustang.

Actually, Tigers were in production starting in 1942.

 

[TechieZer0]

Hear it from the Germans who faught in the war including a great Tanker story at Linky.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

My vote goes for the Tiger

nik

 

[Pastfinder]

I guess I need to justify my remarks for the T-34 and Tiger I. The T-34 was extremely well balanced in the three key design areas for tanks, namely speed, armor and firepower. Coupled with the production capacity of the Soviets, it was an incredible machine.

The Tiger I was revolutionary in its firepower range and its armor, but it wasn't designed for speed. Considering that the Germans only built a couple thousand Tigers, the Kill to loss ratio is outstanding. The Tiger could engage targets at twice the distance of their opponents and sustain hits that would have knocked out other tanks.

The Sherman tank deserves honorable mention, mainly because its speed and production numbers allowed it to be everywhere, all the time and be repaired and serviced with ease compared with the Tiger I.

The King Tiger really came too late in the war to do much good and its fuel economy and speed were its fatal flaws. True, if put in a good position it could annilate its opponents, but in the Battle of the Bulge, the King Tigers were simply too big and heavy to be really effective. Once many of them ran out of gas and ammo, they had to be spiked and abandoned.

 

[Aquaman]

The germans should have concentrated on fewer super tanks and just stick with what worked. I think the outcome would have been different in the bulge if they used a majority of Panthers as opposed to King Tigers. The Maus tank was ridiculous though........ sure it had a 120mm gun and loked very intimidatig but it would be so slow and allied air power would have taken it out.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Nemesis77]

Originally posted by: Aquaman
The germans should have concentrated on fewer super tanks and just stick with what worked. I think the outcome would have been different in the bulge if they used a majority of Panthers as opposed to King Tigers. The Maus tank was ridiculous though........ sure it had a 120mm gun and loked very intimidatig but it would be so slow and allied air power would have taken it out.

Assuming that they would have had anything that could penetrate it's armour. And the funny thing is... Germans were planning even bigger tanks than Maus :Q! Check this beast out!

Weight: 900000-1000000kg
Lenght: 35.00m
Width: 14.00m
Height: 11.00m
Armament: 2 x 280mm SK.C/34 L/54.4
1 x 128mm Kanone
8 x 20mm Flak 38
2 x 15mm Mauser MG 151/15

Jeebus :Q!

 

[Aquaman]

That is just plain crazy.......... even if they built that it would move so friggin slow that an airplane (ie. Typhoon) would take it out with rockets or if it did not have proper support......... the infantry would just walk up to it and blow it up.

What did Hitler think......... I'm going to scare them with these big mothers

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[PsychoAndy]

Hitler kinda had a thing for large tanks. Another bad decision.

 

[Pastfinder]

bump