good stuff...
Posted on 03/18/2013 3:52:39 PM PDT by JerseyanExile
reminder to send to Mark
Tank info
Quite the article, thanks.
Thought you might be interested.
Because the Germans didn't use any at Kursk, and the Allies had no reports from the Russians as to the effectiveness of it, or what it would take to kill one.
Sure was. I've seen most of that material as far back as 1966, when I was going through Armor MOS training at Ft Knox. The WWII archives of the Patton Museum were made available to us, and a tour of the place was on our activities.
Having it here, saves me having to go to Ft Benning to find it. Thanks. Beat another training film any day....
Ping.
I’m glad I could be of service.
Any guesses as to whether Panthers would have made a difference at Kursk?
Only if Patton hadn't invaded Italy. Play ball!
Not what the article states:
“This report was based on information provided by the Soviets, as the Western allies had not yet met any Panthers in combat. The Soviets had captured or recovered several Panthers after the great armored battles of Kursk and their subsequent great advances across the Ukraine in the summer of 1943.”
Great article. As informative as any by Steve Zaloga.
Amazing find!
A great book on the subject is “Death Traps: The Survival of an American Armored Division in World War II,” by Belton Cooper. The author was in charge of recovering, cleaning out and repairing or dismantling damaged and destroyed tanks for Patton’s 3rd Armored Division.
One of the revalations in the book is that the US was ready to replace the Sherman before DDay. The US Army could have gone to war in France with the M26 Pershing, which was ready to start being produced as the US main battle tank in late 43. The major oppenent of the change was none other than Gen. George Patton, who falsely believed that a heavier tank with wider tracks would have to be slower on roads. He took the view that tanks would fill the roll of cavalry, running free behind enemy lines, and did not consider tank to tank fighting to be a major role. The Germans had other ideas, and the Amecans were forced into unequal battles that cost over 100% casualties in his tank crews over a period of 8 months.
Great article. Clarifies a lot of the organizational response to the panzer threat in the desperate days of 1944.
good stuff...
So how exactly does the tribe go about wiping the Chieftan’s hatch.
Or does he wipe himself?
Part of the situation was Army Ground Forces doctrine. Tanks were vehicles of exploitation. They were to play the role of horse cavalry. Tank to tank warfare was to be the domain for the tank destroyer force. The Pershing was a not ready for early 1944 manufacture. Consideration was given to replacing the Sherman with the T 20 series. These tanks had the lower silhouette of the Pershing but carried the same armament as the 75mm and 76mm Shermans. The Shermans proved ideal for the open warfare of July, Aug and early Sept 44, and combined with the Jabos of the 9th AF their results would not have been improved upon had they been replaced with half as many Pershings.It was true that in tank to tank battles US tankers were ata disadvantage, but in infantry combat US troops were also at disadvantage given the quality and numbers of the MG42 which all but negated any advantage of the Garand over the Mauser. What really gave US forces a solid advantage was the superiority of its artillery. In terms of its quality, numbers and time on target doctrine it was the King of the battlefield from the earliest days at Kasserine to the very end.
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