soc.history.war.world-war-ii

kenney@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:

> The only improvements in the Panther over the G model was the turret.
> This had a reduced frontal area, with the rangefinder fitted across the
> turret with bulges in the turret side. A new style mantlet and increased
> frontal armour removed the shot trap in the original design. No mention
> of gyro stabilisation though. It was intended for the Panther Ausf F and
> the Panther II. However only prototypes of the Ausf F were built and
> design of the Panther II was never finished as it was dropped in favour
> of the E series.

In fact the Panther II was dropped in favour of the Panther. The Panther
II was more of a parallel development than a successor to the original
Panther. By the time the Panther F prototypes were being made it was
already clear that the Panther II would not have any significant
advantage over the Panther.

>> And then there is the T-34 and its similar weight replacement
>> the T-44 which saw some service in 1945.
>
> The T-44 was a failure, rushed into service with basic design problems.
> Replaced by IIRC the T-50.

T-54 as Rich already pointed out. The T-50 was a 1941 light tank
intended to replace the T-26. Small numbers were produced in Leningrad
and used in the Leningrad front. In design essentially a mini T-34. As
such it was much more capable combat vehicle than the T-60 and T-70, but
it could not be produced in the same factories, since it was a
considerably more complex design.

As for the T-44 being a failure: no more than the M26 Pershing, which
also had significant teething problems. The T-54 was heavily based on
the T-44, but with a new turret and a bigger gun. Post-war rebuild
problems also fixed the problems with the T-44 and after them it was as
reliable as the T-54. It remained in Soviet service at least until the
early 1970s. From a tactical point of view its major shortcoming was
that in 1945 the 85 mm gun was already becoming obsolescent.

> Late, the US could have put the M6 heavy into service in 1942-43.

The M6 heavy tank would have been an impressive vehicle in 1941, but by
1943 it was average at best.


Tero P. Mustalahti