How come we can't make a damned tank barrel???

[Belial]

Bullets from our Shermans bounced off of the Tigers and Panzers, not to mention the KIng Tigers.

So we design the "ultimate" tank, the A1 Abrams at 4.5 mill/per. Guess what? The loads were not impressive. Se we wound up buying the friggin barrels from.........Germany.

Whats up with this? Why do we make weak guns?

wtf?

Rheinmetall designed the tube of metal itself. Big fookin deal. The targeting, ammunition, and every other goddamn part of the weapons system is US made. We made the specs for the 120mm smoothbore, which was simply produced by a German company. Why? Rheinmetall is high quality, and gave us the cheapest price, in part because German was ALSO creating a next generation tank (The Leopard 2) which would use the new barrel, and would then share some of OUR technology to create the targeting, ammo, etc.

 

[Testosterone boy]

Ever heard the quote "Amatuers talk tactics while professionals talk logistics" (or something like that at least) ? The Tiger was mechanically unreliable and used a shitload of fuel, among other things. When you want to use Tigers and KingTigers to attack (like in the Battle of the Bulge), you need mechanics, fuel trucks, drivers to drive all the fuel etc. This is what caused the attack to fail after the big, bad Tigers were done doing their damage. They ran out of fuel and just had to wait for the supply line to catch up to them.

Tens of thousands of Shermans were produced during the war, while only about 1,200 Tigers were produced. I called the Sherman a "deathtrap" because it was known to have a tendecy to burn for a while and catch on fire pretty easily. The truth is, the American doctrine of tank warfare regarding the Sherman did not include giving it the capability of destroying german armor. It was meant to support the infantry and break holes in enemy infantry lines. It's a shame that the crews of the Shermans were told that their tank could destroy any tank they came up against.

Thanks...good info on the Sherman tank rationale.

The entire country of Germany ran out of gas. Hitlers mad rush into Russia was stimulated by a dire need to access the Russian oil fields. The US is simply lucky in war. We were really slugging it out in a stalemate at the Battle of the Bulge when the Nazis conveniently...ran out of gas.

I just don't like the idea of making tanks that won't stop the enemies tanks. A bigger, longer barrel was all that was needed. I'm an expert on rifle ballistics. Prolly why I get mad about inadequate bullet size and speed. It cost very little more to make bigger, longer barrels and larger cartridges.

Imagine the chagrin of the poor chap who risks his life to get in a good broadside on a Tiger or Panzer. The bullet harmlessly bounces off at point blank range. The German turret swings and blasts a hole in one side and out the other of the hapless Sherman. I think our boys deserved etter than that.

 

[Testosterone boy]

Re: Re: How come we can't make a damned tank barrel???

wtf?

Rheinmetall designed the tube of metal itself. Big fookin deal. The targeting, ammunition, and every other goddamn part of the weapons system is US made. We made the specs for the 120mm smoothbore, which was simply produced by a German company. Why? Rheinmetall is high quality, and gave us the cheapest price, in part because German was ALSO creating a next generation tank (The Leopard 2) which would use the new barrel, and would then share some of OUR technology to create the targeting, ammo, etc.

Finally...the answer I was looking for. I feel better now.

 

[Belial]

 

[Kalashnikov]

Thanks...good info on the Sherman tank rationale.

The entire country of Germany ran out of gas. Hitlers mad rush into Russia was stimulated by a dire need to access the Russian oil fields. The US is simply lucky in war. We were really slugging it out in a stalemate at the Battle of the Bulge when the Nazis conveniently...ran out of gas.

I just don't like the idea of making tanks that won't stop the enemies tanks. A bigger, longer barrel was all that was needed. I'm an expert on rifle ballistics. Prolly why I get mad about inadequate bullet size and speed. It cost very little more to make bigger, longer barrels and larger cartridges.

I'm not sure that the Germans were stopped in the Ardennes simply because of fuel running out. Their high command intended to capture oil depots that would be overrun in the confusion of the surprise attack. Tenacious resistance from American (and some Brits) made this attack fizzle out. For example: Bastogne. The 101st airborne was completely surrounded by 5 german divisions who desperately wanted the city. They could not take the objective, even after several thrusting attacks.