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Forums - Research / WW2 |
This WW2 forum is intended for asking and discussing reference or historical related issues pertaining to WW2 (1939-1945) subjects. |
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| Subject: | Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? |  |
| Date: | Mar 22, 2008 |
| From: | Johannes Allert | |
I think disscussions like these will never end, but they certainly are good for sharing ideas and historical data.
Yes, the numbers game came in to play, but so did standardization of equipment, as well as tank doctrine. The Germans had dozens of EXCELLENT designs and types - not to mention optics and main guns. However, when it came to repair,inventory and supplying as well as distribution of all those parts,it's no wonder they lost.
The Sherman was never designed as a tank vs. tank vehicle. That was to be left to the TD's. The Sherman was meant as an infantry support vehicle. As the war progressed, the Allies had to do the usual-adapt, improvise (Firefly and M4 w/76mm) and overcome routine.
The book "Death Traps" is excellent, but one also has to read between the lines in regards to Patton's decision to go with the Sherman tank design. There was a war to be won, and to delay the offensive until US Industry could ramp up production on the M 26 Pershing, would have disrupted the offensive time tables as well as strained relations with Great Britian and the(former)Soviet Union.
As for numbers - In Steven Zaloga's book "US Tank Battles in Germany 1944-45" he states that by March 15, 1945, the Germans had a total of 239 Panzers or various types on the Western Front, while just on the US side alone, we had 6,249. The word 'overwhelming' is an understatment.
The Sherman was a simple design, but just about every country used it and it was a work horse - Wading Shermans, Flails, Mine Rollers, Bull dozers, Rocket armed, etc. Plenty of modeling options there! As a kid growing up, my favorite US Tank was actually the M-3 Stuart, but I have also come to appreciate the qualities of the M-4 Sherman. |
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 | Whats so good about the Sherman? - Paul Ramsden - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Gazza Hollett - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Otto Huuskonen - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Georg Eyerman - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Fred Schwarz - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . "Pssst! Paul,...come closer.... - mike foncannon - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Dan - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . It all depends on how you look at it. - Hans Haase - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - tom deimling - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Gary Cooper - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . "fairly rubbish" - Roy Chow - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . I read an article several years back where a Panzer General was interviewed - Steve Kubik - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . Sheer Numbers. n/t - Jim Johnson - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . "Death Traps" - J.Giglio - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . . . . Re: "Death Traps" - Fred Schwarz - Mar 22, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Rob Feehan - Mar 21, 2008 |
| . . . . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Johannes Allert - Mar 22, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Roy Chow - Mar 22, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Fred Schwarz - Mar 22, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Brian Hanley - Mar 22, 2008 |
| . . . Relatively silly topic of discussion - Glenn Gerson - Mar 22, 2008 |
| . . . . . . Re: Relatively silly topic of discussion - Brian Hanley - Mar 23, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - Mike Spivey - Mar 23, 2008 |
| . . . Discussed before - Martin Dogger - Mar 23, 2008 |
| . . . . . . Re: Discussed before - Rob Feehan - Mar 23, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Discussed before - Dan - Mar 23, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Discussed before - Mike Spivey - Mar 23, 2008 |
| . . . Re: Whats so good about the Sherman? - rob galassi - Mar 24, 2008 |
| . . . Shermanaholic - Historical Perspective - James Wechsler - Mar 24, 2008 |
| . . . Shermanaholic - Modeler's Perspective - James Wechsler - Mar 24, 2008 |
| . . . . . . Re: Shermanaholic - Modeler's Perspective - Edward Hall - Mar 24, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . Soooooo....... was it any good then? - Dave Williams - Mar 24, 2008 |
| . . . . . . Centurion - Paul A. Owen - Mar 24, 2008 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Centurion - James Wechsler - Mar 24, 2008 |
| . . . As you said... - Paul A. Owen - Mar 24, 2008 |
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