TIGER Tank versus T34(85), IS 2, JS 2, Churchill(Mk VIII), Cromwell, Firefly

WW2 - German TIGER Tank

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• IS 2

[robcat2075]

I can't imagine naming a tank "firefly"

[Dreachon]

@LaughingGravy31

The soviets made a lot of claims back then and many of them are proven now to have been nothing more than propaganda based lies.

[LaughingGravy31]

@Dreachon

For many years until well into the 1990s western historians accepted Soviet claims that the 60,000 German army troops trapped inside the Cherkassy-Korsun pocket were all lost.

It wasn't until German archives and records were translated and published in the west in the 1990s that if was found over 35,000 of them reached the safety of their own lines.

The Soviets claimed it was a 'second Stalingrad'...but it wasn't. Over half were rescued and the Soviets themselves had huge loses.

[Dreachon]

@LaughingGravy31

That is indeed a hefty tome, just the way I like my books best.

[DaKattila]

1 german tank is equal to 10 russian tanks.. just like one finnish soldier is equal to 10 russian ones :)

[LaughingGravy31]

@Dreachon

The entire Cherkassy-Korsun campaign is really fascinating. Id say it's the most fascinating battle of WW2. So much cat and mouse play and diversary tactics and attacks employed by both sides to keep the other side guessing as to where the main attacks were going to come.

If you get a chance, please try to buy the Doug Nash book 'Hell's Gate'. It's over 400 pages and A4 size. A huge book and well worth the money.

[LaughingGravy31]

@Dreachon

Continued...

Also, the Soviet forces had seen the German relief forces inching ever closer to the Cherkassy pocket and eating up mile after mile. 1st Panzer Division and Schw Pz Rgt Bake were the leading elements of this relief force. At any time it looked like this relief force might actually make it to the pocket.

Now, the Panthers just east of Lysyanka were in good defensive positions so a full on attack was suicidal for the Soviets so a 2km barrage seems like a sound option.

[LaughingGravy31]

@Dreachon

Keep in mind that the barrage on Lysyanka was a containment effort to try and keep some German forces pinned down/occupied there.

The powerful German force of Panthers and Tigers were trying to move NORTHeast towards the Cherkassy pocket. The IS tanks in Budishche to the SOUTHeast were simply trying to keep some elements in Lysyanka occupied so that the full German force didn't break towards the pocket.

In that respect it seems logical why they were firing from 2km away.

[glfan896]

That comparison have no sense. You can compare main tanks- pantzerkampfagen III with matilda II and t 34, Pz IV and Sherman, late t 34, t 34/85. Panther with late Sherman (better-Achilles, Panther is in fact the tank destroyer), t 34/85. Tiger can be compare only with Churchill, KW and IS.

[Dreachon]

@LaughingGravy31

At that range I even have my doubts about the IS-2, crews would not fire at enemy armour at distances of over 1200m as the only thing achieved would be giving away their own firing poisition.

But your right, if they were fired upon at that distance then it really rules out the 85mm guns.