sven -> (5/21/2001 3:25:00 AM)
|
quote:
Originally posted by Mikimoto:
Hello.
1. IMHO the germans had some good ideas about how to use tanks. Assault guns and self propelled tank destroyers were stop-gap measures. They tested and failed like other countries. The Light Divisions were a big failure. The early panzer division performed well, but had a poor complement of infantry and too much tanks. The early motorized divisions evolutioned to panzergrenadier, etc... and their tanks were not invincible. Actually, until the Tiger and panther appears, the russians and allied are better (if only some models). It wonders me how the panzer III last so longer been the mainstay of the armored divisions. And the panzer IV has only two virtues: high mechanical reliability and fine gun (75, long 43/48). Well, Tigers and Panthers were great. Perhaps not so great like I feel...
2. The US had, initially, bad tank doctrine. With experience they were able to upgrade the performance of the armoured divisions. The organization of combat commands are one of the great successes of WWII. US tanks were outgunned by the germans, all along the war. I think in may 45 there were only 25/30% of 76mm shermans. But the sherman (75) fighted very well against pzIV's and Stugs. Light tanks were useful in cavalry and pursuit missions. And tactics, support and flanking gained the day against those few panthers and tigers they defeated.
3. Sometimes I feel that we gamers forget the great success of the Soviet armoured formations. Well, the initial doctrine was masses of tanks supporting infantry. When tanks fighted alone in the first two years, were isolated and masacred. They returned to earlier doctrines in 42/43. They retained the infantry support tanks in the form of the independent tank brigades. But new tank and mechanized corps (actually divisions) began their long journey to success. The soviet mechanized corpos was perhaps the best armour unit of worl war II.
Mikimoto I am not forgetting Ivan, but it is just about universally accepted that he got Armor Tactics 101 completed by about mid '43.
Burning tanks are cool! :cool: :cool: :cool:
|
|
|
|