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Originally Posted by Kazuaki Shimazaki II
A very interesting analysis with many good points, but a bit incomplete b/c it seems to without explanation ignore one factor - the simple fact the Germans were mostly on the defensive in the last phase of the war. Even with excellent observation devices, a well camouflaged gun or tank in the defense still has a huge visibility advantage over a moving tank, and that alone would easily account for a couple of tanks being plucked before a battle even starts.
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Yes, for some reason this point often gets ignored when comparisons are made with German and allied tanks. Studies done after the Korean war indicate that the main factor in tank vs tank battles is whomever spots the other first can increase their effectiveness in combat by as much as 6 times.
I'm not so familiar with the T-34 but the 76mm version with the 2 man turret was a ridiculous design that really hampered the commander/gunners ability to engage first. I read a book awhile ago by Dmitriy Loza that goes into great detail about his days commanding Sherman's provided by the lend lease program. Seeing as he also fought in the T-34, it's great to read about the pros & cons of the M4A2 & M4A2E8. He even has this interview that's quite interesting. He certainly seems to have a higher opinion of the Sherman then what's the norm lately:
http://english.battlefield.ru/dmitriy-loza.html