Quote:
Originally Posted by Starmyth
What German tank is best match for beating the Sherman? My understanding is that the Panthers and Tigers were overkill and greatly outmatched the Sherman. The PZ IVs (F2 and later)??
|
Any Panzer 4 with the 75/L43 gun and later models are equivalent to Shermans with 76mm (which only appear in 44), so over match the 75mm models.
Any Stug with the 75L43 and better ditto, and they have better front armour than the early P4s (the 5 armour glacis is a weakness). Basically immune at ~1000 yards plus so long as they are facing the 75mm sherman.
Any panzer 3 with the 50mm L60 is about evens with the 75mm Sherman, at ranges 1000m or less while stocks of sabot ammo remain.
However when Sherman/75 first appears the Panzer 3s with the L42 50mm, and the panzer 4s with the short 75mm infantry support howitzer are rather over-matched by the Sherman, which can easily wipe the floor with these. From Alamein to the appearance of the Tiger in Tunisia, the Sherman is a good tank. Once Jerry has the long 75s as standard rather than as rarities, just an average tank, until fireflies and 76mm upgrades become available. A useful infantry support item, and deadly to all German armour (includes panthers) if it can flank it - bar the tigers.
When fireflies with 17pdr APDS appear then Jerry has to take account of these as they are rather deadly. Eliminate any fireflies ASAP!.
And