Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
I always considered the T34 to be what I would call a "pack-tank", in the meaning of that it is the tank pack of many tanks that spell disaster for the enemy, with the fame and ability of the tank as an individual vehicle being overestimated. Jim probably has it right when comparing it'S role to that of the Sherman. Above all, both tanks symbolize what really decided the war, more than any other singular factor, probably: industrial power and the ability to produce high numbers in short time.
Without the industrial overkill capacity of the US, the war in Europe maybe, probably, likely would have ended slightly different. And the war in Russia maybe as well - who knows. The Russians acted like they acted because by quantities of material they could afford it, and in the early and medium phase of the war, they desperately needed lend-and-lease material and planes from Britain. Without these two, the war maybe would have come to a decision against them before their industrial capacity could start to play a role. And a huge group of soldiers without material tools to fight, is not so much a group of soldiers, but rather cannon fodder.
Nice to finally read an assessment on the T34 that agrees with me. Usually I got kicked when on some rare occasions questioned its value. It is a holy icon for many, it seems. In Berlin, it still has its own monument. If you stand close to it, you realize how small these things are, and how ugly they look.
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Indeed the T-34 is not much of a threat in ones and twos but in large numbers you wont be able to destroy them fast enough.
I would honestly say that another factor hindered German tank design; over complexity their designs where very complex and required a lot of intensive work that other tanks like the T-34 and M4 did not have war machines usually only last several months in combat conditions if they are not destroyed the lack of intensive maintenance will bring them down.In war like WWII logistics is the true key to victory as you said.If you cant construct enough tanks,planes,bullets and bombs you are in all likely hood going to loose.
Tanks like the Tiger and Panther where very impressive but a large enough number of them where never produced to make a difference.On top of this by 1944 the quality of German tanks was very low on average and most captured German tank crewman during interrogation had low confidence in their tank quality sure they knew the potential and they understood the fear factor.Another little know fact is due to war shortages alloys normally added to steel to make the armor strong but not brittle where not available in large quantities in Germany in the last year of the war they had to come up with alternate methods of producing the steel armor it was not successful though and it was not uncommon for armor to shatter due to its brittleness.
I often wonder if the Germans had designed somewhat less complex tanks they could have been able to produce larger numbers of them and this most certainly would have had some effect.Of course it would have helpful if the Germans had the ability to seriously damage its enemies industrial capacity.The Germans needed a very rapid war they got in over their heads and the rest is history.