Fabio Prado
Posts: 503
Joined: 5/23/2000 Status: offline
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I will mention the heavies only; Heavies: 1. Tiger I 2. Tiger II 3. Pershing 4. IS-2 Comments: I consider the Tiger I the best heavy tank because it was extremely effective from September/October 1942 right to the end of the war. The Tiger II was overkill, by any contemporary standards. But these two tanks were never produced in enough numbers to really make a difference, although the Tiger I showed an impressive kill ratio (up to over 10:1 in 1943 - 44*), especially in the East Front, even if we consider that no more than 1,349 units were produced. German economy just couldn't produce them in sufficient numbers. The Russians produced 23,937 T-34/76 (not including the T-34/85!) from 1942 to 1945. Tigers were almost always seriously outnumbered and fighting in difficult to terrible conditions, and this tank truly deserves its reputation. When one talks "tank", the Tiger will always be mentioned. There was nothing like the Tiger I. The Tiger I is not just a tank. It is a weapon that made history. ;) *"During their first period in action between 20 September 1943 and 10 January 1944, s.PzAbt.506 reported 213 tanks and 194 anti-tank guns destroyed, while losing 19 Tigers". JENTZ, Tom, et. al. , Tiger I Heavy Tank 1942-1945, New Vanguard Series - Osprey Books, 1998, page 40. Fab
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