giving thanks - the Sherman tank

[VitaMan]

This year giving thanks to the Sherman tank of WWII. Without which we would all be speaking German.


10,000 hard working Americans built 48,000 of these tanks in just a few years

[dilbert firestorm]

Originally Posted by VitaMan

This year giving thanks to the Sherman tank of WWII. Without which we would all be speaking German.

10,000 hard working Americans built 48,000 of these tanks in just a few years

yeah... that tank had some kinks that needed fixing early on. late in the war, the later versions were a much better tank.


israelis used the shermans until they retired them during the 1990s.

[NoOneUKnow]

They were pretty inferior in design, armor and firepower. Plus they had the nickname Ronson because they tended to catch fire and burn when hit. The German tanks were vastly superior in terms of armor and firepower but were mechanically POS requiring constant repairs. The Russian tank was on a par with the German tanks and were more dependable and easier to build.

The only thing the Sherman had going for it was shear numbers and fearless crews. The Israeli Shermans were upgraded in every conceivable way and bore little resemblance to the Shermans produced during WWII. The reason the Israelis had Shermans was because there were no other tanks available to them.

[VitaMan]

Without the Sherman tank, D Day would have been a disaster.
Russia built a huge number of T 34 tanks, completely destroying the Germans by their sheer numbers at Stalingrad. I think they built 90,000 of those.


Whoever made the decision for the American forces to eventually drive south in France, then turn and encircle the German army, while the other Allied force in France stayed more to the north, was the person who won WWII. I think it was Eisenhower that made that decision. The whole German army had to move east toward Germany, and got slaughtered along the way.


Here is a Sherman tank you can go see. It was bought and used by the Israelis.
Any guess where you can go see it ?

[dilbert firestorm]

Originally Posted by NoOneUKnow

They were pretty inferior in design, armor and firepower. Plus they had the nickname Ronson because they tended to catch fire and burn when hit. The German tanks were vastly superior in terms of armor and firepower but were mechanically POS requiring constant repairs. The Russian tank was on a par with the German tanks and were more dependable and easier to build.

The only thing the Sherman had going for it was shear numbers and fearless crews. The Israeli Shermans were upgraded in every conceivable way and bore little resemblance to the Shermans produced during WWII. The reason the Israelis had Shermans was because there were no other tanks available to them.

the early versions yes. that's not the case with the later versions which were much better. they even had one with an 88, I think it was a super sherman. they built only one. it did well against best german tanks late in the war.

[dilbert firestorm]

Originally Posted by VitaMan

Without the Sherman tank, D Day would have been a disaster.
Russia built a huge number of T 34 tanks, completely destroying the Germans by their sheer numbers at Stalingrad. I think they built 90,000 of those.


Whoever made the decision for the American forces to eventually drive south in France, then turn and encircle the German army, while the other Allied force in France stayed more to the north, was the person who won WWII. I think it was Eisenhower that made that decision. The whole German army had to move east toward Germany, and got slaughtered along the way.


Here is a Sherman tank you can go see. It was bought and used by the Israelis.
Any guess where you can go see it ?

https://tankfinder.wordpress.com/cat...-states-tanks/

[TailHooked]

Well the Sherman was always outclassed by a Tiger or Panther. The only way take one one was by sheer numbers or luck. One German Michael Wittman, took out 14 tanks, 15 personnel carriers and 2 anti-tank guns in about 15 min, when he ambushed a British column in his Tiger. The 88mm was no match for the 75 and 76mm guns on a Sherman at a long distance. Only the Sherman Firefly could take on the Germans at range. It had an English 17 pounder main gun. The Shermans were made cheaper and faster. We could replace them faster than they could be knocked out. The German tanks were too prone to breaking down. Without the ability to repair them, many were left where they stalled in late 44-45.

[VitaMan]

The US had anti tank modified Shermans to call in when they encountered the heavy German tanks.
That was the strategy. The Shermans were made almost as calvary horses.....if I remember they could go 25 mph.


For that story about Michael Wittman, supposedly he saw a colum of tanks on a road. He took out the lead tank and the last tank.....the other vehicles were stuck in between, as he picked them off one by one.


Maybe it's time to buy a model Sherman tank to assemble over the Christmas holiday.