kondi754 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 06, 2019 5:56 pm
I'm trying to explain that the German tanks were better than the Allies only on paper. And this is not all the truth because, as the war has shown, German concept of using tanks was wrong.
Tigers and Panthers were the best stationary anti-tank bunkers, but not tanks, because their chassis was useless, because their size and weight effectively limited their usefulness on the battlefield only to such defensive situations.
I can agree with the statement that a larger number of Allied tanks (mainly US) won the war, but I can't agree that better German tanks win battles and lose the war because there were fewer of them than opponents' tanks.
They won the battles because from autumn 1943 until the end of the war, the Germans were in defensive, so Tigers and Panthers didn't have to move around the battlefield, just like during the attack. Being in constant defense, they could better use their armor and cannon, and the drive system wasn't so important.
However, when the Germans attacked as in the Ardennes, it turned out that 30-40% functioning tanks remained very fast.
The composition of Schwere-Panzer Abteilung (an independent battalion of heavy tanks) has been specially designed for 45 vehicles, so that at least 10-15 of them could run all the time, when the rest were in repair
The thing is, if the situation reversed and the Allied armies went to defense, the German army wouldn't win the war anyway, because German tanks wouldn't be able to ride 100km on tracks
Actually, I did not want to reply to this “off-topic” anymore. However, while I agree with some of your statements, I still don’t (and most likely won’t) agree to some others but I will leave it to this:
1. after 1942, the Germans were outnumbered 4:1 (or more) on (almost) anything you can think of… (as zakblood mentioned above)
2. the above tank/war discussion (for various reasons and most likely without bad intentions) simplifies too many things that weren’t as straightforward in reality… but IMHO there is also no real point diving into these topics via a forum as many topics are just too complex to resolve/clarify them in a few sentences…
However, more importantly, from a PzC (I or II) perspective, it would be very interesting if the developers could study/analyze deducter’s unit revision mod (file re-attached with this post) maybe not the latest version, not sure:
http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtop ... 47&t=40391
Deducter’s intention was
to make the units more balanced, historically accurate, and interesting, so that all units can serve a useful role in the player’s core.
His mod also has a very interesting pdf manual explaining the rationale behind his adjustments (i.e. to make them more historically correct), as an example I am quoting a few tank sections below. Also, McGuba and Uhu made some revisions for the Battlefield Europe mod and others, so for improving the behavior of units in PzC (I or II) it might be worth looking at their work, maybe even worth contacting them (i.e. Deducter, McGuba, Uhu) as well.
From deducter’s pdf:
8. M4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman is the primary American tank and the mainstay of Allied armored forces. There are many variants of this tank. The M4 (Sherman I) is equipped with a 75 mm gun that is highly effective against soft targets. It is also slightly more effective against enemy tanks than the M3 Lee. Its armor is good for 1942, but by 1943 it does not provide sufficient protection against the standard German 7.5 cm L/43 and L/48 guns. Its firepower is remedied in part with the introduction of better armor-piercing (AP) rounds as the war progressed.
The M4A1 has a cast hull, and while this makes it cheaper to produce, its defenses are slightly worse than the welded hulls of the M4, M4A2, and M4A3.
The M4A3 has a superior engine than the M4A1 and a welded hull.
8. Sherman Firefly
The Sherman Firefly is a M4 tank converted by the British to house the powerful QF 17-pounder. It has enough firepower to take on any contemporary German tank, including the Tiger and Panther. While the 17-pounder is potent against hard targets, it is less effective against soft targets. Also, the Firefly’s defenses are no better than that of the average Sherman.
8. Tiger I
The Tiger I is an extremely tough tank equipped with a powerful 88 mm gun. It can engage any Soviet or Allied AFV with good results.
However, it has serious mechanic troubles, especially in the snow or mud. A long drive often proved more fatal to a Tiger than combat. Mechanical reliability increases in 1944. It is also extremely expensive to produce.
The Tiger I is amazing on defense. It can reliably hold onto most positions and only has to worry about the most powerful Allied and Soviet AFVs, such as the IS-2 and Sherman Firefly.
4. T-34
The T-34 is one of the most famous tanks of all times. Counting all of its variants, it is the most produced tank of the Second World War. At the start of Barbarossa, this tank has much better armor and firepower than anything the Germans fielded. In 1941, they are very resistant to attacks by most German tank and anti-tank guns, while their 76.2 mm gun is sufficient to penetrate the armor of all German AFVs. It outclasses all German tanks until Panzer IVs with long-barreled 7.5 cm guns are introduced in 1942. Furthermore, the Soviets field this tank in ever-increasing quantities.
The T-34/40 has serious mechanical troubles, which is represented by its low fuel and ammo. Historically, many of the early model T-34s broke down while being driven to the battlefield. On the other hand, the T-34/41 has superior fuel/ammo compared with most German tanks. It also has a more powerful 76 mm gun than the earlier T-34/40.
In 1941, the T-34 has an IN penalty (-2). This represents deficiencies such as the lack of radios, poor turret layout, and the horrendous tactical doctrine of the Red Army’s tanks in this year.