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To: SAMWolf
We equiped everyone, the Soviets entered Berlin wearing American boots, driving American trucks

Studebakers in the main,though IHC and Dodge were well represented.Their more modern ZIL trucks look a hell of a lot like Studebakers , even now. You know,the Russians got almost 100% of the M 4 A 2(76mm) production. These were the tanks that took Vienna and apparently,their crews were pretty fond of them.

81 posted on 12/31/2003 10:23:34 AM PST by gatorbait (Yesterday, today and tomorrow......The United States Army)
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To: gatorbait
I have a picture of a Russian" Sherman in Vienna somewhere.

They hated the Grant's though:

M3 Lee\Grant Tanks - When the United States rearmed in 1940 they saw France overrun by the German panzers and felt they had to build a tank with thick armor and a powerful gun. The tank designers ran into an unforeseen problem, there were not currently any U.S. foundries capable of manufacturing large castings of turrets and hulls in large quantities. So the tank had to be improvised, having a 75mm gun mounted to one side of the body, and a small turret with a 37mm gun. The armor was riveted together due to the casting problem. Unfortunately it was found out if the tank hull was struck by a shell, even if it did not penetrate the armor, it would result in rivets popping off into the interior of the tank. This caused high crew casualties. Additionally the Grant was rather tall and thus an easy German target. The Soviets used it anyway, despite the depressing nickname "a grave for seven brothers". The U.S. eventually solved the casting problem and decided to produce a more improved tank known as the M4 Sherman.

86 posted on 12/31/2003 12:04:32 PM PST by SAMWolf (I live in a quiet neighborhood - they use silencers)
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