Tank dilemma

[Yellow Fang]

Imagine you are one of a tank crew during the allied invasion of Normandy and Operation Overlord in 1944. Which would you rather be in, a Cromwell or a Sherman Firefly? Cromwells were fast, manoeuvrable, reliable, had low profiles. However, they was not very thickly armoured; their guns had limited armour penetrating ability, and they were no match for a Tiger. Shermans were crummy tanks really, not nearly as fast, manoeuvrable, or reliable as the Cromwell. They had a high profile, and their armour was not thick enough. However, the Firefly version was equipped with a British 17 pounder gun that could knock out a Tiger. One issue was the Germans worked this out pretty quick and targetted them first.

 

[Drago]

Sherman Tank, because it's name eventually entered into the pantheon of cockney rhyming slang. That's good enough for me.

 

[tyred]

I don't know as I don't have full data to hand. What are the respective MPG and CO2 figures?

 

[S-Express]

I'd wait until later in 1944 and go for the Comet...

 

[Crackle]

What is it about the 2nd world war. Is it just the British that relive it generation after generation?

 

[Yellow Fang]

Sherman Tank, because it's name eventually entered into the pantheon of cockney rhyming slang. That's good enough for me.

I thought that was a Barclays.

 

[classic33]

I don't know as I don't have full data to hand. What are the respective MPG and CO2 figures?

MPG
Sherman Firefly
Road: 1.175, Cross Country: 0.498
Cromwell
Road: 1.76, Cross Country: 0.76

CO2 emmission wouldn't have been high on the priority list.

 

[classic33]

Firefly was entering battle for the first time. The Cromwell had already been there.

Typical of the yanks, late again!

 

[Yellow Fang]

MPG
Sherman Firefly
Road: 1.175, Cross Country: 0.498
Cromwell
Road: 1.76, Cross Country: 0.76

CO2 emmission wouldn't have been high on the priority list.

Well, you could work it out. From wikipedia:
2 C8H18 + 25 O2 → 16 CO2 + 18 H2O

Density of petrol is 7.29 lb/imp gal
Molecular weight of petrol is (8*12)+(18*1) = 114
Molecular weight of carbon dioxide is 12+(16*2) = 44
8 molecules of CO2 produced for every 1 molecule of C8H18
Multiplier is 7.29 lb/imp gal * (8 * 44) / 114 = 22.53 lb CO2/imp gal

Sherman Firefly
Road: 19.17 lb CO2/mile, Cross country: 45.24 lb CO2/mile
Cromwell
Road: 12.80 lb/CO2/ mile, Cross country: 29.64 lb CO2/mile

I haven't got time to check my figures, but the Cromwell is clearly the greener machine.
Road:

 

[classic33]

Well, you could work it out. From wikipedia:
2 C8H18 + 25 O2 → 16 CO2 + 18 H2O

Density of petrol is 7.29 lb/imp gal
Molecular weight of petrol is (8*12)+(18*1) = 114
Molecular weight of carbon dioxide is 12+(16*2) = 44
8 molecules of CO2 produced for every 1 molecule of C8H18
Multiplier is 7.29 lb/imp gal * (8 * 44) / 114 = 22.53 lb CO2/imp gal

Sherman Firefly
Road: 19.17 lb CO2/mile, Cross country: 45.24 lb CO2/mile
Cromwell
Road: 12.80 lb/CO2/ mile, Cross country: 29.64 lb CO2/mile

I haven't got time to check my figures, but the Cromwell is clearly the greener machine.
Road:

You taking into account the fuel differences, then & now?

 

[classic33]

[QUOTE 4905630, member: 43827"]Bloody motorists, contaminating the countryside.

I'd choose a bike.

View attachment 365922 [/QUOTE]
Bit hard place an 18 pounder on one though. Think of the recoil!!

 

[FishFright]

I'd wait until later in 1944 and go for the Comet...

I'd be looking at 1946 at the earliest

 

[S-Express]

I'd be looking at 1946 at the earliest

Centurion? Post war, I'd probably go for the T54....

 

[classic33]

I'd be looking at 1946 at the earliest

September 1944

 

[midlife]

Kelly's Heroes looked better on a Sherman