Best tanks of WWII

Kirk's Raider's

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Of all the wars ever fought no war had the variety of tanks that were involved in WWII.
By definition a tank for our purposes must have treads not wheels . It must have a cannon and one or more machine guns. A Tank must have had its primary purpose to support infantry.
We can do a separate thread on Tank Destroyers which are a bit different.
In WWII the following nations if memory serves manufactured tanks used in combat.
1.The USA
2. The UK
3.Germany
4.Italy
5.Japan
6.France
7. Hungary
8.Czechlosolvokia
9. The Soviet Union
10. Poland
11. Canada
Am I missing any?
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5fish

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As I have been told the T-34 Russian tank was throwing best tank of WW2...
 

Wehrkraftzersetzer

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best as in

1) best (without restrictions of supply) ?

2)or as in most effective (due to numbers / production time / price / maintenance time, logistics need to transport etc) ?

3) or as in engineering ?

4) or as in times of service ?

5) or in survival of the crew?

6) ratio of success / effort

1) Tiger
2a) Sherman M4
2b) Sherman M4
2d) Sherman M4
2e) Sherman M4
3) Tiger
5) definitely not Sherman M4
6) T34

have a look
 

Kirk's Raider's

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As I have been told the T-34 Russian tank was throwing best tank of WW2...
General Gurdeian (sp ?) after the 1941 Battle of the Prippet Marsh's certainly thought so. The Panther Tank has some design features of the T-34.
Post 1941 it is debatable if the T-34 was the best tank of WWII.
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Kirk's Raider's

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best as in

1) best (without restrictions of supply) ?

2)or as in most effective (due to numbers / production time / price / maintenance time, logistics need to transport etc) ?

3) or as in engineering ?

4) or as in times of service ?

5) or in survival of the crew?

6) ratio of success / effort

1) Tiger
2a) Sherman M4
2b) Sherman M4
2d) Sherman M4
2e) Sherman M4
3) Tiger
5) definitely not Sherman M4
6) T34

have a look
Certainly all valid points.
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5fish

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Getting back to the topic... Here is a link with a great summary of Hungary armor in WW2...

https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/hungary/ww2_Hungarian_Tanks.php

Snippets...

During WWII, the Hungarian army used some 1118 armored vehicles. About 924 vehicles were locally built (prototypes included), while the other 194 were delivered by Italian and German contractors. Like Czechoslovakia, Hungary developed a small industrial basis and was capable of building tanks and armored cars of its own. Famous engineers, like Nicolas (Miklós) Straussler, also brought their expertise in some fields. However, the latter mostly worked for the Allies, whereas his country was an active member of the Axis during the war.

Hungary in 1938-40
Hungary was rebuffed by the Versailles treaty after WW1, following the dislocation of the Austro-Hungarian empire and borders being redrawn, resulting in territorial losses to Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia. The Royal, but democratic regime, eventually grew more authoritarian under Regent Admiral Horthy in the late 1930s, and became sympathetic to the similar territorial claims made by Germany and the Nazi Regime. In 1938, Hungary obtained parts of Slovakia and Ruthenia and, the next year, the German invasion of Czechoslovakia gave the opportunity to secure the rest of Ruthenia. During these events, the Royal Hungarian army was mobilized and border clashes erupted around Munkács with Czech troops. While the northern border of Hungary was secure in 1940, the deficiencies of the Hungarian armour were made clear. Most units were then equipped with the 1930s Italian CV-35 tankettes, which were totally unable to stand up to regular tanks. This weakness was a problem for the Hungarian army, especially due to the remaining territorial issues with Yugoslavia and Romania. In August 1940 though, Hungarian claims (backed by Germany) against Romania led to the transfer of some parts of Transylvania to Hungarian sovereignty. Also, Yugoslavia eventually agreed to the annexation of Bánát.

The contract was signed before the Trianon Treaty was signed. Hungary was on the losing side of WW1 and was prohibited from rearming. The LKII tanks arrived on barges shipped along the river Danube. This was done in secret. The tanks were covered in wheat and tarpaulins. They were continually moved around Hungary to avoid by train to avoid detection by the Allied Military Commission inspection team. In 1927 the Commission left Hungary so the Army started to obtain more equipment. In 1930 a Hungarian light tank company was equipped with eight armoured cars one radio car and five LK two tanks. They were replaced by the L-60 Toldi Tanks.
 

5fish

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It seems this site will answer all your tank questions... https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/polish/ww2_Polish_Tanks.php

Poland just thinks old...Is Case White the start of WW2... Fall Wiess the German word for it... it is the German code name...

Fall Weiss ("Case White", "Plan White"; German spelling Fall Weiß) was the German strategic plan for the invasion of Poland. The German military High Command finalized its operational orders on 15 June 1939 and the invasion commenced on 1 September, precipitating World War II.[1]


On the eve of Fall Weiss (Case White) and the subsequent campaign (Kampania wrzesniowa in Polish), the Polish forces had 1012 tanks and a hundred armored cars (880 tanks according to other sources) at their disposal. 220 of these were modern light 7TPs (of Polish design), Renault R35s (French) and Vickers Mark Es (British). There were also 792 older models, mostly tankettes (690) and 90 antiquated French FTs, dating back to 1919-22. They were facing the Wehrmacht’s 2400 tanks and, above all, a new tactic combining breakthrough concentration, rapid advance and envelopment under constant, real-time air support. The most common Polish tankettes were no match for Panzer III and IV. However, it appeared that, on some occurrences, some Polish units obtained great successes, notably using ambush tactics and specially equipped tanks. The 7TP used a high velocity gun better than the Panzer III’s “door knocker” and it was lethal at short range. The twenty modified TKS tankettes equipped with the Nkm wz.38 FK 20 mm cannon also obtained good results. Late prototypes could have made a difference if the attack would had been a delayed by about five months.

 

Kirk's Raider's

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It seems this site will answer all your tank questions... https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/polish/ww2_Polish_Tanks.php

Poland just thinks old...Is Case White the start of WW2... Fall Wiess the German word for it... it is the German code name...

Fall Weiss ("Case White", "Plan White"; German spelling Fall Weiß) was the German strategic plan for the invasion of Poland. The German military High Command finalized its operational orders on 15 June 1939 and the invasion commenced on 1 September, precipitating World War II.[1]


On the eve of Fall Weiss (Case White) and the subsequent campaign (Kampania wrzesniowa in Polish), the Polish forces had 1012 tanks and a hundred armored cars (880 tanks according to other sources) at their disposal. 220 of these were modern light 7TPs (of Polish design), Renault R35s (French) and Vickers Mark Es (British). There were also 792 older models, mostly tankettes (690) and 90 antiquated French FTs, dating back to 1919-22. They were facing the Wehrmacht’s 2400 tanks and, above all, a new tactic combining breakthrough concentration, rapid advance and envelopment under constant, real-time air support. The most common Polish tankettes were no match for Panzer III and IV. However, it appeared that, on some occurrences, some Polish units obtained great successes, notably using ambush tactics and specially equipped tanks. The 7TP used a high velocity gun better than the Panzer III’s “door knocker” and it was lethal at short range. The twenty modified TKS tankettes equipped with the Nkm wz.38 FK 20 mm cannon also obtained good results. Late prototypes could have made a difference if the attack would had been a delayed by about five months.
Actually the first use of combined air,armor, infantry and artillery wasn't by the Germans but by the English at the battle of Camberia in WW1.
The British broke through the German trench's but the tanks outran the infantry and they faced German artillery on their own which was not good.
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Kirk's Raider's

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best as in

1) best (without restrictions of supply) ?

2)or as in most effective (due to numbers / production time / price / maintenance time, logistics need to transport etc) ?

3) or as in engineering ?

4) or as in times of service ?

5) or in survival of the crew?

6) ratio of success / effort

1) Tiger
2a) Sherman M4
2b) Sherman M4
2d) Sherman M4
2e) Sherman M4
3) Tiger
5) definitely not Sherman M4
6) T34

have a look
In terms of reliable tanks that could be easily mass produced the winners would be the Sherman and T-34. The Sherman might get the nod for being more reliable due to skilled American workers.
Of course the Sherman's armor was simply to thin to deal with German tanks such has the Tiger and Panther that had far superior cannon and armor.
The British in 1944 tried to rectify this situation by installing their 3.7 inch anti-aircraft gun to replace the original 75mm low velocity cannon.
The 3.7 inch gun was ballistically similar to the German 88mm cannon.
The "Firefly" could kill Tigers and one Firefly near Normandy took out three Tigers including the top German Tank Ace Michael Wittenberg with no British losses.
Of course a Firefly really stood out with it's long barrel and German Tank crews knew to take them out before dealing with the short barrelled Sherman's.
The Firefly was at best an interim solution.
The eventual solution was the American M-26 Pershing Tank with a 90mm cannon but they arrived very late in the war but did kill a few Tiger's.
The British solution was the Cheftian Tank but the war was about over when they came out.
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Kirk's Raider's

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The T-34 was upgraded to the T-34 /85 with an 85mm gun that could take out Tiger's and Panthers at long range. The Soviet Army liked the Sherman because it had great cross country
capability and could get behind German lines which extended for 1,500 miles to long to adequately defend. As long as the Sherman didn't encounter heavy takes such hast Panzer Mk4 ,Tiger and Panther it was fine.
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rittmeister

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The "Firefly" could kill Tigers and one Firefly near Normandy took out three Tigers including the top German Tank Ace Michael Wittenberg with no British losses.
oh my,
  1. the world's top tank ace was kurt knispel
  2. the world's top tank killer was hans-ulrich rudel
  3. who exactly killed michael wittmann (i guess that's the one you meant) is still open to debate as there is a rather strong claim he fell victim to a hawker typhoon
 

Kirk's Raider's

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oh my,
  1. the world's top tank ace was kurt knispel
  2. the world's top tank killer was hans-ulrich rudel
  3. who exactly killed michael wittmann (i guess that's the one you meant) is still open to debate as there is a rather strong claim he fell victim to a hawker typhoon
The mainstream historical view is Wittmann was killed by a Firefly. I will try to find the video.
Hans Ruddell may of exaterated.
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rittmeister

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The mainstream historical view is Wittmann was kicked by a Firefly. I will try to find the video.
Hans Ruddell may of exaterated.
Kirk's Raiders
  1. rudel will still be in the lead if you kick out 3/4 of his tank claims
  2. is the mainstream always correct? there were times when the mainstream thought bltzkrieg was a new german strategy.
  3. i did not say a typhoon got him, i said it's debated
 

Kirk's Raider's

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See " the death of Michael Wittmann Germanies Tank Ace " Mark Felton Productions YouTube.
Good account of one Firefly taking out three Tigers plus two MkIV Panzars
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rittmeister

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See " the death of Michael Wittmann Germanies Tank Ace " Mark Felton Productions YouTube.
Good account of one Firefly taking out three Tigers plus two MkIV Panzars
Kirk's Raiders
and why would that felton dude (whoever he is) have the final say?
 
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