I am back at home, thus I have access to most of my data base and books.
Unlike what m kenny here claims I haven't been lying, that is something he is guilty of himself, and not just on this forum. The pictures I presented I found on my harddrive and uploaded them. I have them in a folder for themselves.
Then, if you had the photos already. Why did you claim they only shown side penetrations? Why did you claim I say there were no photos of IS-2 with frontal penetration when I was clearly referring to IS-2 mod 1944.
Alejandro also claimed that the Tiger Panther featured the same transmission steering mechanism, which is completely untrue, so again a lie?
My mistake, nor the first nor the last. This debate touches on a large number of subjects and I was typing fast, I already corrected the point.
And again, directly from Jentz, the Panther ended up having most of its issues ironed out and became a reliable tank.
This comes from Jentz:
Technical details - The Pz.Kpfw.IV, V and VI have proven themselves to be good. However, the Panther burns astonishingly quickly.
The lifespan of the Panther´s engine (1400 to 1500kms) is considerably higher than that of the Panther´s final drives. A solution is urgently needed!
This is a report from Guderian to Hitler on 28th July 1944 i.e more than a year after Panther was introduced in service. The book is "Panzer Truppen: The Complete Guide to the Creation Combat Employment of Germany's Task Force-Formations, Organizations, Tactics, Combat Reports, Unit Strengths", by Thomas L. Jentz, pag 176 (1996).
The data I posted regarding Panther performance in November 1944 was not that better neither... so, when did those problems were ironed out and what is the source to state that
"Germans in the end got a very reliable tank out of the Panther."
He was lying and to try and cover up this deliberate deception he is forced into posting random Tiger images. It is impossible to say with any certainty where the wrecks he posts are located. Some are located (by Schneider) at Lisow but he is not the best source on locations. Soren also posted 2 views of the same tank.
This ending was expected. I have done quite a bit of research on that battle, and opened a thread in tank-net, which I guess is probably where Soren got the photos from (with the mistakes as Juha pointed out). I put some information from Bergstrom and Max Hastings but details are hard to find.
For further confirmation according to the Soviets themselves the Tigers were knocked out from the sides, and thats again what the Germans say.
Where do the Soviets say that Tigers were knocked out from the side? have you confirmed that IS-2 were not around?
AFAIK no Tiger tanks were assembled by slave labour, they had highly skilled labourers for that.
This is what Jentz mentions:
Now, we can discuss about the meaning and interpretation of "semidiluted" or "foreign" armour, but the quality of late was Panzers was not exactly increasing (See note below).
As I did not get any answer on the effect of rpm reduction in changing gear mechanism I also uploaded the data from Jentz:
As expected, a reduction in rpm gives the engine (and therefore tank) less flexibility when using gears.
Also, HL 230 engines at the end of the war did have some serious quality issues:
By the way, that report makes reference to both Panther and Tiger. Jagdtigers were also quite in a bit of trouble:
"The extremely difficult road marches caused a large number of breakdowns for the Jagdtiger. Engines and final drives proved to have defects and were too weak in construction. Sabotage by foreign workers in the factories was also suspected, since metal shavings were found in many engine oil filters."
Combat history of SJgPz 653, page 274 (not sand by the way).