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Jacc -> (7/22/2002 4:14:46 PM)
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This issue has been discussed thousands of times in every forum even vaguely attached to warfare and WWII. Usually those who handle the subject history-based tend to favour their own favourite tanks - which usually were the most important. Most voted are therefore Sherman, T-34, Tiger and variants and sometimes Panther.
Since this is not pure history, but a game, I tend to vote for Panther (D or G). This tank combines excellent mobility, accurate and effective cannon and adequate armour protection. Yes, I know the problems with maintenance and side armour, as well as weak top armour, but I still prefer 75mmL70KwK over most guns. 88mmL71KwK (Königstiger, Jagdpanther) is perhaps better, and the old 88mmL56 (Tiger I) more effective against infantry, but that 75L70 is accurate and effective.
Of course, the T-34 was one of the best from 1940 onwards - until the appearance of Tiger and even more so Panther. The 75mmL43 and 75L48 had caused severe trouble for the the Soviets by summer 1942. T-34 regained above average firepower and increased protection only at 1944, the T-34/85 entered service.
Basic Sherman was a good tank, or at least better than Italian... Short-barreled model was quite fast, accurate and manouverable, but had appaling armour protection and firepower. Long-barreled 76mm was better, though Sherman's armour protection remained somewhat inferior till the end of the war. Facing Tigers, Panthers, Jagdpanzers like Hetzer and JPz-IV(A) and old PzKpfW-IV's the Sherman was more than handicapped.
Some people like to add something new on the list, which is traditionally held by the those tanks mentioned above. Matilda II, Valentine, Grant, KV-1, T-70 and even pre-war Christie had great influence on the battlefields. Germans also had these less-favoured models: StuG-III/IV, Elefant, Brummbär and Jagdpanther. All had somewhat significant effect on tactical scale.
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