T-34 myths

[Keunert]

i knew about some of these points, like optics and the tank commander having too many tasks. but i was not aware how bad the overall performance was, nor was i aware that most T-34 kills were made by 50mm guns, i actually believed that the 88 and the Stukas were important in fighting off the T-34. but numbers show that those were only marginally involved in fighting this tank. very interesting read:

http://operationbarbarossa.net/Myth-Busters/MythBusters2.html

There is also another article about the Pak 36, called the Panzer Anklopf Kanone (Door Knocker) by crews. in contrast to my beliefs these PAK's were quite effective at fighting russian armor.


Disclaimer: I am fully aware that Starfury mentioned all this on Wargamer, 17th of april 1996, again on 05th of may 1997 and so forth.

[GDS_Starfury]

actually its down in the tank thread.   8)

[bob48]

Am I right in saying that the first 3-man turret version was the T34/85?

[Staggerwing]

^LUXURY!

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Not if your turret mates have just enjoyed a large helping of cabbage kapusta.

[GDS_Starfury]

IMHO the T-34 is a POS.  the hull and engine layout were great but the turret/comms/ammo storage sucked.  FWIW I think pretty much all operational Allied tanks were POS as well.  having said that all of those tanks followed their countires operational doctirne at the time so it was form follows funtion issue.  the functional idea was flawed.

[Longdan]

I guess you are a Japanese and Italian tank fanboy? Or another Panzer lover?
I dunno but a lot of people have had a lot praise for the T-34.
I never thought much past that.
I used to tell my kids: When buying a used car buy a model that you see a lot of on the road.

[endfire79]

Early T-34's models and soviet tanks in general throughout the war suffered from poor layout that was very rough on the crewman.  Radio sets did not exist in early models IIRC, that kills communication (note French tanks had this same problem).

Didn't Ivans used to give M3 Lees/Grant's = coffin for 6 brothers distinction?  (reminds me of Longdan's comment about the song 'who left the lid off the nuclear reactor again') There appeared to be equal animosity towards each others early tanks at the time :) 

I'm curious to see what the Soviet observations on captured StugIII tanks turned out to be.   

[GDS_Starfury]

I guess you are a Japanese and Italian tank fanboy? Or another Panzer lover?
I dunno but a lot of people have had a lot praise for the T-34.
I never thought much past that.
I used to tell my kids: When buying a used car buy a model that you see a lot of on the road.

you might be interested to know that all modern non-Russian MBTs have followed the German pattern and not the Soviet.  crew layout, engine/trans layout, comms, optics etc.  I have not read one historical biography from a Soviet tanker that praised the T-34 so who are you talking about?  thats a direct question that I would like to hear the answer to.  neither stalins 'quantity has a quality of its own' remark nor a Soviet generals praise qualifies.

[Longdan]

^^Who pist in your cornflakes?  You do not get to demand answers.
I said I did not know but have been aware of many people saying the T34 was a good tank.
The controversy over which may have been the best tank of WW2 and after has been batted around for a long time all over.
I know who won the war and I don't care if you love panzers.  It is certainly your prerogative to do so if you want.
Like the much reviled Shermy people used them for a long time after the war.
The French used some Panthers after WW2 but when they wore out that was the end of that line.

[LongBlade]

The French used some Panthers after WW2 but when they wore out that was the end of that line.

Might there be reasons other than merit to explain that?

[Longdan]

Probably they were French and wanted them for loot since they had some thousands of Shermies
sitting around.  They had to be different I guess.  I do not know how many of the tanks the US army
left in Europe after the shooting stopped but I do know the Canadians handed all of their tanks
over to the Dutch and Belgians and the British left almost all of theirs on the continent in 1945/46.