the T-34 is probably the best of the tanks in the poll because it had speed, sloped armor, and a good main Armament. IMHO.
Oh please. All tanks in the poll have the exact same features, the T34 is not the only tank during WW2 with sloped armor, a good main armamament and speed. The most notable disadvantage is that the most built T34 variant (T34-76) dididn't even have a radio until 1944. Thus, T34 crews couldn't communicate and were unable to make any successful tactics on the battlefield. They had to use signal flags for silly tactic purpose called "i drive first you follow me". Furthermore, early T34's had very bad sights and no cupola on the turret for the tank commander. Thus, they had a very bad around view over the battlefield, for that reason they often drove into german PAK ambushes. The early T34s even suffered from major transmission problems. Also another disadvantage, T34 had no mechanized turret, thus the crews had to use handwheels to turn the turret and the gun.
Compare this to german tanks. ALL german tanks did have a radio, cupola for 360° view over the battlefield and mechanized turrets. This is called QUALITY!
Only in 1944, the T34-85 was the first improved variant and first soviet tank ever with a radio and cupola. Plus the Russians stole the German idea of "spaced armor" (better known as side skirts on the panezr IV). In 1945 many soviet tanks which fought in Berlin were additionally protected by spaced armor (additional armor plates) which has been seen before on the german Panzer 4 in 1943 before the Russians used it for their own tanks.
I had to go with the T34. It had a good mix of the qualities needed for a tank. Speed, firepower, armor and most of all numbers.
This is exat the kind of over-patriotic junk I'm getting sick of. Some people actually believe that the T34 was some sort of supertank with the best armor and best gun. But that's not even close true. T34's DID NOT have good armor and a good gun as seen from the whole war. Only during a short time period bewteen 1941-1942 when it was new on the battlefield it dominated over all german tanks. ( It never amazes me because at this time most german tanks didn't even have anti tank guns, only auto cannons which were designed for infantry support purpose and so could not penetrate any armor. Most german tanks during this time were designed for infantry support only). But after 1942, thel T34 did have thin PAPER armor for german guns which could be pierced by 90% of all german tank guns! T34s had only the best armor in 1942, before Germans released their new tanks to counter the T34. ALL German medium-heavy tanks (except for Panzer III) had better armor and a better gun. The T34 was only superior from 1941-1942. This is only a short time period of 1 year, but as we all know that the whole WW2 lasted 5 years at least.
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German tank guns performance vs T34 armor
Early T34 variants (T34-76, which were armed with the 76,2mm gun) had only 20mm thin armor sloped at 60° which results in 40mm vertical (every armor plate angled at 60° is double).
Compare this to the Panzer IV which had 80mm thick vertical armor on the front. Even though it was only vertical and NOT sloped it was thicker anyway!
(
as you can see, sloped armor is not always the best if it is not thick enough) hehe
Only the new T34-85 variant (armed with the 85mm gun) had increased front armor on the turret (mantled) of 80mm thickness. The hull armor was increased up to
45mm front armor at 45° angled which equals 80mm in vertical.
Almost all german tank guns after 1942 could destroy the T34 at ranges of 2,000 - 3,000 meters:
Panzer III
ausf. L, M, N (all of these versions were upgunned with either 5cm L/60 or 7,5cm L/24 guns, using APC it could penetarte the front armor of T34 at 500m distance)
Panzer IV
Ausf. F2, G, H, J (All of these versions were upgunned with the 7,5cm gun that could penetarte the T34's armor at 2,000 meters distance)
Tiger I Ausf. E (the 8,8cm kwk 36 could kill the T34 at ~3,000 meters)
Tiger II Ausf. B (King Tigers 8,8cm kwk 43 could kill the T34 at ~4,500 - 5,000 meters maximum range)
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T34's gun performance vs German armor:
the 76,2mm gun of the early T34 variant was ineffective against the front armor of Tiger I, King Tiger and Panther at any range. Even at point blank (very close distance) the gun would not penetrate the front armor.
However, because the Panther had very thin side and rear armor (only 30mm thick) the early T34 could destroy it at over 1,000 meters distance by shooting the thin side or rear armor.
the Tiger I still had 80mm thick side and rear armor, thus, the T34-76 could only penetrate it's side armor at very close ranges of 100-200 meters.
King Tiger had 80mm on the side/rear as well, but therefore it was sloped and not vertical like from the Tiger I. trials proved that the early T34-76 could NOT penetrate the side or rear armor of the King Tiger at any range. the 76,2mm gun was ineffective against King Tiger's armor.
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Mechanical reliability
Now to the rumors about unreliability of Tiger and King Tiger tank. It is true that many King Tigers on the Western Theatre (mostly in the Bulge/Ardennes) had alot of mechanical breakdowns and ran out of fuel and were abandoned and/or destroyed by their own crews. But the majority of all King Tigers on the Eastern front worked very well with littlle reports of mechanical problem. According to reports of heavy tank battalions made in 1944, average overall operational status for the Tiger and King Tiger was between 65 and 70%. That's not too bad. NO tank type of ANY nation had an operational average of 100%. Not even the Soviet T34.
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Battle reports of the tanks:
Tiger I: In 1943, when the Tiger saw first action, it was the best protected and most powerful licensed tank in the world. It was soo good protected that only a very rare number of anti tank guns could barely penetrate it. On the Eastern front during Battle of Kursk and Battle of Prokharovka Tigers were outstanding and always dominated the battlefield. ONLY the ZIS-3 field gun was able to penetrate it's front armor ( and the SU-76 wich had the same gun as the ZIS-3). All other russian tank guns were ineffective beyond 200 meters. the first 100 Tiger tanks that saw action against the Russians performed very successful and scored very high kills (because they could surive many battles and destroy many tanks). In the first few weeks a small group of Tigers destroyed many soviet tank divisions. the 503rd, 502nd and 501st German heavy tank battalions successfully destroyed over 3,600 soviet AFVs in the first few months for very low own losses.