What was the weakness of the Sherman tank?

Colonel Haynes Dugan. Because of their insufficient armor, the insides of Sherman tanks were prone to catching fire during combat. This problem was compounded when fires ignited shells and other munitions inside a tank.

How did Sherman tanks defeat Tiger tanks?

As the film makes clear, a Sherman tank was a lightweight in comparison to a Tiger. The Sherman weighed 33 tonnes and had a 75mm gun, compared to the Tiger's 54 tonnes and a 88mm gun. A Tiger also had 3.9 inch thick armour, so shells from a Sherman literally bounced off it.

Was the Sherman tank better than the Panzer?

By Kevin Hymel. The German Panzer-kampf-wagen V (Panther) tank was superior to the American M4 Sherman in almost every respect, but it could not guarantee victory at every encounter. The Germans knew that their Panther, with its balanced design of firepower, mobility, and crew protection, was their best armored vehicle ...

Was the Sherman a good tank?

Sherman tanks were well-designed for mass production and engineered with a rugged reliability that allowed them to keep rolling and fighting far longer than their German counterparts without breaking down.

What was the best tank in WWII?

Though later tanks produced during this time period proved to have better armor and armament, the T-34 is often recognized as the most effective, highly influential and efficient tank design of WWII.

Was The Sherman A Good Tank?

Could a Sherman Firefly destroy a tiger?

Despite this, the Firefly's increased firepower was much valued, and during many engagements, the Firefly proved its worth, knocking out Tigers and Panthers at long range, as well as less formidable tanks such as Panzer IVs and StuG tank destroyers.

Which tank was better king Tiger or Panther?

The Panther was a compromise. While having essentially the same Maybach V12 petrol (690 hp) engine as the Tiger I, it had better gun penetration, was lighter and faster, and could traverse rough terrain better than the Tiger I. The trade-off was weaker side armour, which made it vulnerable to flanking fire.

Who had better tanks in ww2?

The German Tiger tank (above) had a more powerful main gun, heavier armor, and wider tracks than the American Sherman tank (below). The German 88 is more powerful than any American tank gun used during the course of most of the war.

How many tanks did Sherman's destroy?

“During the European Campaign, the Division had some 648 Sherman tanks completely destroyed in combat and had another 700 knocked out, repaired and put back into operation. This was a loss rate of 580 percent.” Yet, the Sherman's strength was in its numbers.

Could a Sherman tank destroy a Tiger tank?

To counter the new threat, the Sherman was equipped with thicker frontal armor and a new gun. In 1944, the U.S. fielded the 76mm M1 high-velocity long-barrel gun which could actually penetrate a Tiger's armor from the front.

What tank could beat a Tiger tank?

Out-Gun and Out-Perform

Later came the SU-85, which could effectively knock out Tigers from a greater distance. The 17-pounder gun, mounted on the Sherman Firefly and some M10 tank destroyers, was the British answer to the Tiger problem and could effectively penetrate their armor.

What was the best German tank in ww2?

The Panther is often believed to be the best German tank of the Second World War. When the Germans invaded Russia in June 1941, they were surprised by the quantity and quality of Soviet armour. Hitler ordered that the T-34 be copied and the result was the Panther, which saw action for the first time at Kursk in 1943.

What was the best allied tank in ww2?

The T-34, produced in 1940, was arguably the best tank of the war. From the very start, the T-34 achieved that crucial balance between armour, firepower and mobility that eluded British tank designers for so long.

What is the best tank in the world?

What is the most feared tank in history?

What is the deadliest tank in the world?

The new Russian T-14 Armata main battle tank (MBT), dubbed the “world's deadliest tank,” has been making headlines ever since its first public appearance during this year's May 9 Victory parade in Moscow.

What tank has the most kills?

- The Loop. Kurt Knispel (20 September 1921 – 28 April 1945) was a Sudeten German Heer panzer loader, gunner and later commander, and was the highest scoring tank ace of World War II with a total of 168 confirmed tank kills; the actual number, although unconfirmed, may be as high as 195.

Why was the Panther tank so good?

The Panther was blessed with excellent cross-country mobility and was perhaps the best riding tank of the war. It's well sloped armor and long high velocity 75mm gun are plainly visible here. On paper, the Panther holds an advantage in almost every category.

What did the Germans think of Sherman tanks?

Re: German view of the Sherman tank

Even the German enemy became so disgusted with how easily the Sherman tank caught fire when it was hit that the running word among their troops was, "the bastards who designed those things should have been the first ones to ride them into battle"...

How many Sherman tanks were destroyed ww2?

On the Western Front in 1944–1945, 4,477 British Commonwealth tanks were destroyed, including 2,712 M4 Sherman tanks, 656 Churchill tanks, 609 Cromwell tanks, 433 M3 Stuart light tanks, 39 Cruiser Mk VIII Challenger tanks, 26 Comet tanks, 2 M24 Chaffee light tanks. ~10,000 tanks/SPGs/tank destroyers lost.

How big is a 17 pounder gun?

The Ordnance Quick-Firing 17-pounder (or just 17-pdr) was a 76.2 mm (3 inch) gun developed by the United Kingdom during World War II. It was used as an anti-tank gun on its own carriage, as well as equipping a number of British tanks.

How fast could a Sherman tank go?

The tank had a maximum speed of 38 to 46 km (24 to 29 miles) per hour and a range of 160 to 240 km (100 to 150 miles), depending on the series (M4 to M4A3E2). The M4 carried a crew of five—commander, gunner, loader, driver, and codriver/hull gunner. The vehicle weighed about 33 tons, depending on the series.

Did the US have a heavy tank in WWII?

Near the end of the war, the M26 Pershing tank was deployed as the first operational heavy tank of the US Army. It was designated a heavy tank when it was designed in WWII due to its 90 mm gun, which was at the time the largest caliber gun found on a US tank.