Replies

Another problem for the Germans was a fetish for very heavily armored, difficult to build, heavy tanks. The PzKw V Ausf. A, D, and G (Panther) were a good medium tanks. Armed with the KwK 42 75mm L70 gun and weighing 45 tons, it was rushed into production and frequently broke down. Many, not all, of its problems were cured by mid 1944, but allied bombing induced shortages cut production numbers.

The PzKw VI Ausf. E (Tiger I) was very heavy at 56 tons. It had a KwK 36 88mm L56 gun. Recovery of knocked out Tigers usually required another Tiger to recover them and so many tanks that should have been fixed and returned to service had to be destroyed in place.

The PzKw VI Ausf. B (Tiger II) was even heavier and larger than the Tiger I. The Tiger II up-gunned to the KwK43 88mm L71 gun. Weight increased to 75 tons and the tank's great weight hampered mobility and recovery when broken down or damaged.

Total production for PzKw V (all versions) was about 6,000; production for all PzKw VI Ausf. E was 1,347; production for all PzKw VI Ausf. B was 492. These were Germany's best tanks and total production was 7,839. In comparison, America not only produced all manner of armor for its own use, but for its Commonwealth allies and Russia. America buried its enemies under a flood of production.

“... The PzKw VI Ausf. E (Tiger I) ...”

SS Captain Michael Wittman did some serious damage with one of those... at Villers Bocage, right after D-Day. He took out some 14 British tanks, 15 personnel carriers along with 2 anti-tank guns within the space of 15 minutes.

“...America buried its enemies under a flood of production....”

True that... saw a film clip of B-24 Liberator production a couple nights back on History channel. They were cranking those things out every couple hours.

Could we do that level of war again? I don’t know...