Determining the Most Effective Tanks in World War 2 – Discussion of Factors

Discussions about the most effective tanks in World War 2 often revolve around the armor, gun and usually completely off kill:death ratios. I want to create a framework that allows to determine the overall effectiveness of a tank. Furthermore, the results can be used and compared to the overall strategy, challenges and doctrines of the various factions. Thus, allowing to determine if a tank design was suited for limits and capabilities of that faction.

The areas and factors:

*Logistical
**Reliability
**Supply & Fuel Consumption / Efficiency
**Maintainability
**Strategic Mobility

*Technical
**Armor/Protection
**Tactical Mobility
**Lethality / Armament / Firepower / Offensive value
**Usability

*Industrial
**Production Time /Production Cost
**Complexity & Suitability for Mass Production
**Resource “Drain”

Please let me know, what you think of this framework, use the comment section or the associated threads where this video was posted. If you post this video somewhere, please send me a link so that I can follow the discussion there.

*Sources, Inspiration & References*

#Tanks #Panzer #Effective

[Rubashow]

The best tank by far was the Großtraktor, because it was very groß and intimidating and could easily be converted into capable plowing equipment.

[foo-foocuddlypoops]

Whole video is dedicated to determining which *tanks* were *most effective* in World War 2, so naturally the comments descend into a bloodbath over which *single tank* was the *absolute best*

[jethro]

....the very best tank was the italian caro armato M15/42 ....there is no record of one being destroyed in combat....(the crews ran away first)

[pacfic]

This is easy! The IL-2 Sturmovik was the best tank of WW2, and it could fly!

[Duke_of_Lorraine]

The only way a tank can be good, if he is supported by a healer, while a DPS makes all of the damage !

[horusfalcon]

There are lots of different ways we could slice and dice up the various parameters under consideration, but this is a clear, concise, and easily expanded framework. Nicely done.

[StGene]

Nice Jingles reference! TOG does not care for the opinions of lesser tanks.

[theswedishchopsnake]

Communication is missing. The early t-34 were missing radio equipment hampering a superior tank on a tactical level.

[PYREDD]

Survivability of the crew after penetration, capability in terms of strategic deployment, cost of a single unit, stabilized gun, easiness of field maintenance and many many variants that did not hindered the production speed. M4A3 Sherman.

[winkerdude]

I used to work for a man who was an ex Stuka pilot. During Barbarosa he said he flew over hundreds of miles of burning tanks. He decided he hated war. Which is the natural reaction of most veterans.

[JimFortune]

After reading through the comments it seems most viewers want to put forth their own favorites, rather than establish an objective method of measuring quality. I hope that doesn't discourage you. I'd really like to see what you come up with.

[CaptainKapitan]

Disappointed. You didn't even include the Semple Tank.

But it's understandable since it'll steamroll the competition.

[Mars_junior]

Your english is better than most Americans I know. I'm very glad I came across this channel. Awesome info packed videos. I'm curious, have you ever played Red Orchestra 1 or 2? I think you'd enjoy them.

[DC]

Excellent video, I would ask for one more “moral”, the impact on the crew. The significant emotional event to quote the Chieftain. An example, the Sherman 75mm came in for criticism, because of the big Cats, ignoring it could held everything else, which made up 70% of the German divisions. To address this we have the British make do and mend Sherman 5C firefly. Ergonomically, the turret is not the best, but crews loved them. Why from a moral point view, tackling a Tiger had gone from trepidation to optimism. Similarly, lack of training on the big Cats for new crews resulting in the no combat losses, which were high. Finally have you applied these parameters to any tanks to produce a score.

[oliversimahd]

"New Zealand's Big Bob was by far the best tank". - no one ever

[ayeemoto]

I like how people in the comments are saying "this tank is the best tank" even tho the video is about how effective it was during the war

[thenoobinator]

Dear military history visualized.
I think you would have to separate this into two categories:
Better for the general
Better for the crew
The design philosophy for Germany and Russia was completely different
The Russians wanted thousands of disposable tanks
The Germans wanted their crews alive

[ROCK]

The Sherman is consistently underrated in these conversations (gyroscopic stabilization is seldom mentioned for example), but like the T-34 it was a war winner. My grandfather served in the 2nd Armored Division during WWII and a captured Tiger commander told him a platoon of Shermans under competent command was a quick death sentence even to the infamous impregnable Tiger. Three Shermans working a fast flanking maneuver destroyed his Tiger with one shot to the rear.

[alexcheremisin]

USA - The latest Sherman modifications (like the firefly)
Germany - PzIV or PzV Panther
USSR - T34-85
UK - guess the Cromwell would be my bet
I AM NOT AN EXPERT NOR A HISTORIAN PLEASE DON"T KILL ME

[paulwalliker]

Finally! Someone who lays out a way to look at armored fighting vehicles holistically.