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Alpha77 -> RE: The "myth" of superior German equipment? (4/6/2011 12:12:08 PM)
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Well maybe we could find a general "rule":
a) Ground
Germany was mostly better on the Ground with the good handweapons, tanks (even if some of em where to hastily developed, suffered breakdown, too high fuel consumption or where generally unfit for combat - like early KT and Sturmtigers). We can savely say however that the Panther was the best tank of the war, 2nd would be T34 imo. Means as soon their initial faults were wiped out. Models MKIII+IV were also good and more reliable but nothing special (still old hull shape). Tiger1 was good in a sense that it could wreak havoc when employed correctly and not piecemeal and in wrong terrain like in the first battles this one was employed tactical mistakes caused by Hitler. Also their arty was good, but more the FLAK and PAK weapons, not so much the 105+150mm howitzers. Most cost effective arty were probably Stugs.
Allies were close however, remarkable stuff is thinly spread in the tank department, only later the better ones come: M4/76w, T34/85, Josef Stalin, Comet, Pershing, M36 TD, SU100. The handweapons were good with Brens, Bazookas, M1 Garand, Lee Enfield. Arty: In the AA department, both sides are close with the Allies had the Bofors, the Germans 20mmm Vierling, but the Allied had no 88mm Flak gun. AT both sides close, but here again, no 88mm. But the 6pdr, 17pdr and US 76mm were good enough for the job. The howitzer and mortar battle goes to the Allies: 120mm Russian mortar, 4.2 in US Mortar, 25pdr, 105+155 howitzers with good firecontrol and fast reaction.
3 points Ger, 2 points Allies
b) Air
Even if Germany was better at the beginning with Bf109, Ju87 (this one was only usable however if no serious fighter opposition existed). In the middle phase another good fighter: FW190, but the Bf109 frame suffered over time cause further develpoment was not easy with the old model to keep up with the newer designs. As written above the only remarkable mass produced bomber was Ju88 + successors. You could add the close air support plaane Hs129, but not enough in numbers. The Germans mostly used FW190s as a fighter bomber. The Allies had much more better bombers and later also good longrange fighters (only Spitfire can be named as an early model). They had much more models that excelled in the fighter bomber rule (P47,P38,Typhoon). Transports are a draw. Recon also. Special ground attack planes were IL2 and Boston/Havoc. I don´t addd M262 + Arado bombers cause they were too late and few in numbers.
3 points Allies, 1 point Germany
c) Sea:
Well Ger was no seapower, their only hope were U-boats. All the battleships were in the end useless or caused not enough trouble to sink them finally. Germany wasted much of their DD force in the Norway campaign and it is not known to me how good these ships were, probably as good as early Allied design, but later Allies were much better. The U-boats were technically good, but the losses suffered in this campaign were far too high especially in trained CREWS. The Allied CVs,BBs and CAs count more towards Japan, so they are neclected here.
2 Allies - 1 Germany
5 Ger, 7 Allies overall - not taking into account political matters only equipment.....
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