Joey Shabadoo
My pronouns are "He", "Him" and "buggerlugs"
Anybody interested in tanks should check this guy out - https://www.youtube.com/user/TheChieftainWoT
Tank dilemma
- Thread starter Yellow Fang
- Start date
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NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
If you're going to force me to choose a WW2 era tank, I'll have a King Tiger.
Sorry.
Sorry.
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
Even Heinz Guderian was a fan of the T34. They were built in their tens of thousands and because Stalin had moved the factories east out of the range of German bombers they could be produced unhindered.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Later Sherman's had wet ammo stowage, and a much lower chance of going up if the hull were penetrated.
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
We offered the Firefly to the American's but they preferred to go their own way despite their own soldiers wanting them. The result of this was a limited number that could be deployed, I think it was a ratio of 1 Firefly in a troop of 4 tanks.
The 17 pounded in the Firefly had plenty of power but produced quite a flash and filled the turret with smoke but it did mean that we had a tank which made the Panzer's a bit more wary. The length of the gun barrel was an obvious clue as to which Sherman was a Firefly and some were painted with camouflage in order to disguise its length.
I am still trying to decide on which tank to choose. The Cromwell was fast and manouverable having a Rolls Royce Meteor engine. The Sherman tank was taller and was prone to burst into flames when hit by a shell, which they think was due to where the amunition was stored high up in the sponsons.
If it was a choice between an ordinary Sherman against a Cromwell I think I would choose a Cromwell, but for firepower it would have to be a Firefly.
One other point, one reason why the Cromwell was disliked was due to it's silhouette being similar to some Panzers and could easily be mistaken for one.
OP
OP
Yellow Fang
Legendary Member
- Location
- Reading
I went for the Cromwell. There was an incident in which three Cromwells jumped a 20 foot wide canal when they stumbled upon a field full of Germans and anti-aircraft guns. You couldn't do that in a Sherman.
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twentysix by twentyfive
Clinging on tightly
- Location
- Over the Hill
They are both mean looking b*gg*rs but one is better armoured
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
Jeez, i didn't know that so many actually found things like tanks interesting bordering on fascinating. This reminds me of the radio phone in last night where the presenter was trying to outsmart callers who wanted to argue about hydrogen and oxygen combusting,or summat like that. Callers kept phoning up and trying to sound like boring know it all physics teachers,with the presenter trying to put them down and show that he was right. This went on for the best part of an hour. No wonder i fell asleep.
These are the only tanks i find interesting.
These are the only tanks i find interesting.
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classic33
Leg End Member
No gun on that!Jeez, i didn't know that so many actually found things like tanks interesting bordering on fascinating. This reminds me of the radio phone in last night where the presenter was trying to outsmart callers who wanted to argue about hydrogen and oxygen combusting,or summat like that. Callers kept phoning up and trying to sound like boring know it all physics teachers,with the presenter trying to put them down and show that he was right. This went on for the best part of an hour. No wonder i fell asleep.
These are the only tanks i find interesting.
View attachment 366029
classic33
Leg End Member
The main gun was developed in the UK, according to information in the link.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
It was pretty much a complete redesign of the 17 pounder by a British engineer, who modified the gun and recoil system to fit. He that had to move the turret hatches about so troops could squeeze in past the larger breech, and the radio to a 'bustle' outside the turret at the rear.
It nearly didn't happen due to internal opposition to the project, but eventually went ahead as a stop gap while better British tanks were developed. Just as well, as the hoped for British steel was longer in coming to service than anticipated
It nearly didn't happen due to internal opposition to the project, but eventually went ahead as a stop gap while better British tanks were developed. Just as well, as the hoped for British steel was longer in coming to service than anticipated
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
There was a good series on the TV a few years ago devoted to restoring WW2 tanks. IIRC 2 of the programmes featured a tank museum from the Isle of Wight, one was on the Comet tank and another was of the Sherman tank restoration in which they cut 2 Sherman's in half and welded the good sections together again.
I think Tom Wheatcroft the owner of Donnington race circuit collects military vehicles.
I think Tom Wheatcroft the owner of Donnington race circuit collects military vehicles.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Didn't the Comet have a radial aircraft engine?
Edit, it used the Meteor. An un-supercharged cousin of the Merlin.
Edit, it used the Meteor. An un-supercharged cousin of the Merlin.
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Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
The Comet had the same engine as the Cromwell and Centurion which was a Meteor which I think was a Merlin without the supercharger.
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
I think the Stuart and some Sherman's had an air cooled radial. Later Sherman's had a liquid cooled vee engine.
