Which Sherman tank version is better, Jumbo or Firefly? Firefly has a better gun and the Jumbo better armour.
which is better M4 Sherman or T-34-85?
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both of these tank’s are the most well-known in the world (arguably), cheap to make, easy to make, easy to drive, easy to maintain and easy to make variants out of. but which is better?
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@king_of_tanks undoubtedly, the T34.
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On paper, it’s very even. The T-34/85 wasn’t as reliable as many people think, but it had at least an equal gun and armour to the best Sherman (jumbo).
In practise, the Sherman was superior. Poor Soviet training and tactics compared to the US repeatedly led to higher loss ratios to German armour even in 1944 while the Shermans usually lost less tanks than Germany.
Granted, these are combat losses to all causes, but Germany’s mechanical reliability should have been equal on both fronts. Note that anti-tank guns made up a majority of the losses of both sides. But we can assume that the number of tanks destroyed by Germany to anti-tank guns to be relatively equal.
However, the Western Allies had a bigger degree of air superiority than the Soviets.
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@witt If I was wanting to win a race in distance I’m picking the Sherman. The tank is mechanical sound.
If I was fighting a tank on tank engagement off-road I’m picking the T-34/85.
My father works in the heavy machine industry building roads. In the 1970s a coworker of his commanded a Sherman and had three shot out underneath him.
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If I was going into Tank on Tank combat I’m taking the M4 Sherman. Better sights, better visibility, an actual turret basket, better ergonomics, better mechanical reliability, and with the 76mm variant a very capable anti armor gun. As well as far more reliable armor due to high production quality standards. The M4 armor is reliable face hardened. The T34 could be correctly hardened, too hard so that it’s brittle or too soft.
If I was trying to drive a tank to get into a fight, the M4 is the obvious choice due to the much better reliability.
If I had to pick a tank to work on. M4 again due to its easy to repair design.
If I wanted to drive a comfortable tank well that’s no contest it’s the M4. Also it’s an easier to drive tank due to the vastly superior production quality.
So the M4 is a vastly superior weapons platform the only reason they seem comparable is on paper armor thickness and gun. Off of paper they aren’t close. Like pretty much all Russian military equipment they seem intimidating but ultimately are trash. Like how the T 72 got smashed by the M2 bradely and infantry fighting vehicle not even a tank.
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