T-34: Best tank in WW2 or not?

[The Grinch]

Interesting blog suggests the T-34's reputation was exaggerated: http://chris-intel-corner.blogspot.com/2012/07/wwii-myths-t-34-best-tank-of-war.html

[pnpfanatic]

Interesting blog suggests the T-34's reputation was exaggerated: http://chris-intel-corner.blogspot.com/2012/07/wwii-myths-t-34-best-tank-of-war.html

He's barking up the wrong tree. The T-34 was a nightmare. The Germans built state of the art armor. The problem was quantity. 1500 vs, what, 60,000 (That's best German tanks made vs the T-34).

It's the same way with the AK-47. It's a stamped out metal piece of crap with a very short effective range. But everything that is bad about it is what makes it the most produced weapon of it's kind in history. They are virtually indestructible, need almost no maintenance and when put through field tests when other guns jam it just keeps on firing (that chromium lined barrel is the secret).

Have you ever fired an AK-47? It feels like it's coming apart in your hands...I mean it rattles...and that's why it doesn't jam and all the pieces are interchangeable.

MIG-21 same story...most produced fighter jet in history and my favorite to study. Crude, slow by comparison, but able to do things other planes can't do. They are still flown today and I have my eye on one if that lottery moment ever happens

[LuckyDiceRolls]

many people can find fault in a machine which literally saved our collective backsides during world war 2

no other tank in history has had as much of an impact on such a colossal scale as the old t34

it was faster than anything the germans could offer and of course, they built so many that the germans had no chance once they were mass produced

I love to climb all over a t34.  such history, such simplicity and class!

[pnpfanatic]

many people can find fault in a machine which literally saved our collective backsides during world war 2

no other tank in history has had as much of an impact on such a colossal scale as the old t34

it was faster than anything the germans could offer and of course, they built so many that the germans had no chance once they were mass produced

I love to climb all over a t34.  such history, such simplicity and class!

That's my point...or were you referring to the blog? The T-34 was hot and cramped and uncomfortable as all hell...and they just kept coming...the story of them coming off the assembly lines and the crew who just put it together, without stopping, jumped on it and rode straight to the frontlines. Amazing machine and it was more or less a 'stamped out of metal' as well.

[LuckyDiceRolls]

I am definitly agreeing with you and never even looked at the blog

I like simple russian equipment in general and favor playing as russians in my own wargaming

t34 was the best tank in history.  not now.  but in history

right now Id have to say the best tank in the world is the improved merkava

[Calandale]

The only really telling point (everyone knows the T-34 wasn't a top notch weapon system) is the attack on
the notion that it was cheaper than the other tanks. That's where I would focus on the argument's strength.

[pnpfanatic]

I am definitly agreeing with you and never even looked at the blog

I like simple russian equipment in general and favor playing as russians in my own wargaming

t34 was the best tank in history.  not now.  but in history

right now Id have to say the best tank in the world is the improved merkava

It's amazing. They can't build a car worth a crap but the rep for the T-34, AK-47, IL-2 (the Warthog of its day) and the Mig-21 there's just no arguing with. Awesome hardware.

[pnpfanatic]

[pnpfanatic]

I've seen these going for a lot less but this one looks very clean:



http://www.raptoraviation.com/aircraft%20spec%20pages/MiG%2021%20PF%202014.html