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Musashi -> (12/18/2000 6:24:00 AM)
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quote:
Originally posted by MECH ENGINEER:
I agree it's all about combined arms, manufacturing might, logistics, naval power, communications and air power. Alright Ammo Sgt, now I(2Lt Butterbar) want you to go mount up on that tank(a sherman) and be prepared to move out against the germans. How would like to be a US tanker? I sure as Hell wouldn't. Unless the sky is black from fighter bombers overhead. Not only was there the big cats(tigers and panthers) but also, panzerfausts, panzerschrecks and ATG's.
Would you be happier in a PZKWIV? A Cromwell? Against the above mentioned threats, a TIGER? Basically the US Army was thrown into an offensive campaign against an army that had learned the art of anti-tank warfare the hard way! We started with two basic problems that could have been fixed. The first was doctrine. The separation of Tank and Tank Distroyer was a dismal failure. Basically, stock (2 year old?) M4s had to fight tanks they were not properly armed to fight and M10s were forced to muck about with German infantry in open top vehicals! This doctrine was so important to those at the higher levels of the army that most rational attempts to improve the tank park were scuttled. For all it's faults the Sherman is a good tank, it just was not allowed to show it's stuff. You have enough info in the WAW OB. Look at the M4a3e8 objectively. Tigers DO fear this tank! The Soviets who got some from lend lease loved them! They served in gaurds formations by the way. This should have been the standard battle tank by Normandy! It wasn't, I think there was something like six available. EVERYBODY was telling Ordanance Command that the Sherman needed upgrading and little was done. The British built Fireflies, very bad news. The US built M36 Jacksons (Sherman hull). At ordinance an experimental M4 was fitted with a Pershing Turret! Worked fine. So well in fact they brought the modification to the attention of higher ups who weren't interested!!? There's room in the US OB, make this model, M4a3 with the Pershings main gun and Turret armor. Then run these competantly against German opposition. When the Isreali's ran Shermans against T-34/85s the result was what? ALL Isreali Sherman were brought up to what was basically, at least, the M4a3e8 standard. Then they whent up from there. The M50 "SuperSherman" is a M4 with a copy of they Panthers 75L70! The M51 "ISherman" has a French medium velocity 105mm. The M4's inherant strenths were reliability (they ran, the point in the previous post is well made) and a very well designed turret. The Shermans turret is fast rotating and has probably the best gun laying equipment used during the war (Good turrets bad guns opposite the Russian problem of good guns poor turrets). As to teh US Army in SPWAW, use the WHOLE US OB. Unlike the REAL US Army tankers you don't have an idiotic doctrine to stay within! Mix and match. Use recon to find what's out there. Don't blunder into infantry with M18s or Panzers with your M4/105s. Buy Artillary, US guns are cheaper, faster, more accurate and available than anyone elses! If you run blindly along in M4s you'll get hurt. Play the "Good Start" Campaign in North Africa/Sicily. You'll find your Shermans and M10s Quite effective. Again you're not straight-jacketed into dumb doctrine or formations (Armored infantry platoons with only two rifle squads?). I'll go out on a limb, the US Army may have the best OVERALL OB in SPWAW. A US infantry squad(with Bazooka) has the best weapon set of all infantry in the game. Artillary far and away the best, Off board and ON! That Misc. button is a gold mine, Best half-tracks (those with an "A", M3A1). Check out the best dime per pound weapon in the game, the M15 SPAA (if you haven't figured SPAAs out give'm a try)! Ouch! Even the Armor button has some gems. Jumbo M4a3s, M18 (my personal favorite US tank), M36, M4/105, M5, M4 dozer/flail and M26 are all excellent choices. Which is better a PZIIanything or an M5. Compare the M4/105 to the StuH 42 or the SU-122, doesn't look so bad does it! Is the SU-85 better than the M18 or the SU-100 better than the M36, in all honesty NO. How about a Marder? Or Hetzer? Nashorns ARE special. Finally compare the M26 to the Panther, the edge goes to the crew. So, if you can't win with the US Army do what the GI did, be creative! That 88 bothering you? Back off and pound him with 155s for a while, that'll take off some of his vinigar!
Panther on the hill? Try an M18 end run, sneaky bazooka team, pound him with Jumbos at long range then pop up an M10 at close range after he buttons, Knock him off with a couple M36 Jacksons on Your Hill or finally give up and call the P-47s in. OR punch a hole through his side with an M5. Use what your offered and RECON RECON RECON!
Musashi
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