The tank was terrifying for enemy crews, but did suffer from horrible logistics issues as it required lots of maintenance and guzzled fuel. But its 88mm gun could open most Allied tanks like a can opener. Its thick armor could shrug off 75mm rounds from most guns at 50 yards. (German federal archives)Īh, the legendary Tiger, the tank so powerful that it immediately became the focus of any battle in which it fought. It was a logistical nightmare to keep the things fueled and running, but if you were caught in an armored battle in the war, this is the one you wanted to be in (but, preferably, without being a Nazi). The German Tiger Tank was a legend of World War II. But larger tanks were able to shred it, hence Germany's growing reliance on the late-arriving Panther as those made it to the front. This allowed it to tackle the Allies most numerous tanks-such as the Sherman and the T-34-with relative ease. It even had armored skirts to protect against infantry anti-armored weapons. The base Panzer IV was adequate in the early months of the war, but required upgrades to armor and its main gun as Allied armor got stronger.īy 1945, this resulted in a Panzer IV with a longer 75mm gun, widened tracks, and thicker armor than most medium tanks. IV served for all of World War II, starting as a heavy hitter fighting next to Panzer IIIs and eventually giving way to the more powerful and better armed Panther. IV was a heavy hitter early in the war and got upgrades throughout, keeping it pertinent and threatening against Shermans and T-34s, but Germany still needed the Panthers and Tigers to tackle heavy tanks.
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