Posted on 03/13/2016 3:36:58 PM PDT by Mariner
The T-34 was a US design given to the USSR.
I would never go as far as claiming the T-34 was the best tank of all time, but it was probably the best medium tank during WWII. the T-34 was clearly superior to the German MK.IV, and arguably superior to American M-4.
The T-34 was not a U.S. design, given to the USSR. The T-34s hull, turret, and automotives were of Soviet design. the suspension for the T-34 was based on a design by American designer J. W. Christie. The Soviets used the Christie suspension in the BT series light tanks and the T-34s.
I guess the story that T-34 design given to the USSR lend lease was an urban legend.
Was this a product of the lend lease program through Great Falls MT?
The Russians had some excellent engineers. A lot of times they had to work around the political commisars, but the press of war got things done.
Russian equipment is not always the best tactically but it is always durable.
Yes. Design of what would become the T-34 started in 1937. First vehicle production commenced in 1940. Lend Lease to the Soviets didn’t start until mid 1941.
The best tank would have been the T-34 built in Detroit instead of Chelyabinsk.
For a very short while...the Pershing was a much better tank and the kill ratio was really bad for the Koreans!!!
It was a miserable tank for the crew!!!
I suspect the “Soviet Design” was mostly pilfered from the west!!!
Our tanks were so bad I suspect the USSR would look to GB for help with tank design as opposed to the USA.
Which tank design in the British, French, German, or American origin do you think the Soviet’s pilfered. No western nation in WWII used diesel engines in tanks,
No Western nation in WWII used a Christie suspension.
Did the Amerians or the Germans use rear wheel drive for their tanks.
They were bad but there were a lot of them!!!
The M-4 Sherman was so bad it was almost criminal.
Obviously I wasn’t around back in M-4 days, but on the M-1 Abrams program, politics trumped performance. Chrysler got that program because they were in deep doo-doo financially and that was part of Carter’s bailout plan.
The kill ratio was 6:1 against the Sherman.
Then they'd run into one of these and get warmed up some more:
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.