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Panther vs T-34: Ukraine 1943 (Duel)

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Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
Brand: Osprey Publishing Limited
List Price: $17.95
Our Price: $6.66
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Robert A. Forczyk provides a riveting and intense description of the design and development of these two deadly opponents, the Panther and the T-34, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses and describing their tactics, weaponry and training. Moreover he gives an insight into the lives of the tank crews themselves, who were caught up in the largest land conflict of World War II, in some of the most important engagements in the history of warfare.

Innovative digital artwork and first-person perspectives place the reader in the midst of a duel between the titans of the Soviet and German armed forces in a ruthless and relentless death match that would determine the war on the Eastern Front and, indeed, the fate of Nazi Germany.


DESCRIPTION:

Binding: Paperback
Brand: Osprey Publishing Limited
Dewey Decimal Number: 940
EAN: 9781846031496
ISBN: 1846031494
Label: Osprey Publishing
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 80
Publication Date: 2007-10-23
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Release Date: 2007-10-23
Studio: Osprey Publishing


SIMILAR ITEMS:

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CUSTOMER REVIEWS:

Customer Rating:
Summary: Arguable Comparison
Comment: I don't think it is fair to compare German 45 tons Pz.V Panther with Russian 31 tons T-34/76 Model 43. By Soviet standards Pz.V was heavy and Pz.VI Tiger was super heavy armored vehicles. It would be more accurate to compare Panther with Russian IS-2(JS-2) and/or T-34 with German Pz.IV. The latter comparison would be more interesting since there are several different modifications of the each tank had been built during conflict from the begging and to the very end.

It is arguable that Germans focus on Pz.IV mass production and further improvements rather than rushing newer Panthers into the battle. From the middle of 1942 Pz.IVF2 was at least a match for the T-34 and with a better tank crew training it definitely gives Germans an advantage over the Soviets on the battlefield at the equal numerical opposition. On the other hand newer heavies and super heavies placed an immense strain on logistics. Moreover, once a Panther or Tiger had been committed for the counter strike far ahead of the support and repair echelons, the chances of recovery if it broke down or was damaged were less than reasonable. On another side from the middle 1943 Russians assured of a constant general advance which could guarantee the recovery of their tanks within normal operational circumstances.

One-on-one somewhere in the open step of South Ukraine Panther would be a deadly opponent for T-34 considering its tremendous firepower, excellent crew training and front armor protection. However, operating among wooden area and small villages Panther could be easily ambushed or outmaneuvered by experienced T-34 crew with a good chance of success. I truly believed that accurate comparison of one battle tank with another should be made considering multiple parameters: fire power, armor protection, mobility, reliability, suitability for the mass production and quick repair of the damaged machines within the primitive conditions. By looking on the subject under such perspective T-34 would be easily considered the best tank of WWII overall. Yes, Panther had much better firepower, King Tiger had much better armor protection, Sherman was much more technological, but combination of them is what makes real difference!

On a page 63 it could be proposed slightly different continuation of T-34 engagement sequence against a Panther: ...Commander sees a brief spark as his second round strikes the Panther's gun mantlet and ricochets into the roof of the hull penetrating the thin armor, killing the driver and causing a fire. The fire was quickly localized, however the crew has to abandon the damaged armor vehicle and retreat respecting Russian massive tank attack. The Panther needs to be destroyed by the crew using special internal explosive charge. Such "ricochets" German crews discovered unfortunately for themselves only during the initial battle engagements. This serious problem in the design was addressed with introduction of the "beard" in the latter more reliable and probably the best version of the Pz.V, Panther G.

On the front cover of the book there is an art work of Russian T-34/76 (Model 43) medium tank without a commander's cupola that was very common in the 1943 model and with auxiliary detachable fuel tanks on sides of the hull for the extensive range. By the summer of 1943 when the T-34 and Panther finally met on the battlefield almost all T-34s were finally granted a command hatch (as described in the book) and it was very risky to go into the battle with spare fuel tanks aside unless Russians were caught by surprise. Again, on a page 34 there is a drawing of T-34/76 Model 41 instead of Model 43 lacking a modified hexagonal turret with commander's cupola.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Panter vs T-34
Comment: Robert Forczyk did a very good job with Panther vs T-34. Easy reading, with just enough technical information to make this book worth reading.
I have enjoyed all the Osprey books on Tank vs Tank series. Other's in the series are Panther vs Sherman, and Sherman Firefly vs Tiger.


Customer Rating:
Summary: Second time: Good Book, Incorrect Outcome
Comment: My father was the radio-operator in a Panther tank during 1943 untill the end of the war. He has engaged many T-34's in battle and he stated that ONLY through sheer numbers they lost it from the T-34. The turret of the T-34 had to be turned by hand instead of mechanical power with the Panther. The Panther had, as already stated, much more firepower to destroy the T-34 on greater range than the other way round. T-34 lacked radio communication in the beginning of their apperance (later they had radio) and the crew had not sufficient training in combat, therefore loosing many T-34.s and crew. Look at the numbers of T-34's the Russions lost in comparison with the amount of Panthers. My father was engaged at the battle of Maciecow in Polland and there they shot 125 T-34's with their division, without losing ONE single Panther. Read the book he participated in: Standartenführer Johan Mühlenkampf and you can hear his own account. The T-34 lost the battle with the Panther if they were 1 on 1 anytime. Yeah, they should have used diesel engines, but mobility itself doesn't make a tank the better one of the two. I agree with; Good book, incorrect outcome

Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but not outstanding...
Comment: I found the author's premise thought provoking and interesting, but in the end, a bit hollow. He contends that the Panther was a failed design when compared to the basic T-34, and therefore a waste of resources that the Third Reich could ill afford.

So the Panther was not "the best tank of WWII". Fair enough. But to make the book more interesting for WWII wonks, Mr. Forczyk could have discussed potential alternatives available to the German military in lieu of the Panther. Just a few more pages on this issue would have been fun.

He also seems to give short shrift to the fact that the German armored forces' qualitative advantages in training, radios, guns, and gun sights througout 1943 led to significant losses in the ranks of the Red Army which could have been avoided had the Soviets upgraded to the T-35/85 six months earlier. Given the number of tanks the Soviet Union built in 1944, it's difficult to believe that an earlier upgrade would have appreciably slowed overall production.





Customer Rating:
Summary: Good Book, Incorrect outcome
Comment: Very good book. However, the Panther's achilles heal was actually the thickness of her side armor(50mm). Her mechanical problems were remedied soon after the battle of Kursk. But whatever she may have given up in armor,her powerful KwK/42 (L/70) 7.5cm main gun more than made up for it. This gun actually had more penetrating power than the main gun on the Tiger I . The Panther could engage and destroy frontal plate armor on all T-34 versions at 2,000 meters while the Soviet counterpart had to get to 500 meters to do the same to the Panther. It was the combined tactics of the Soviets to outnumber the Panzers five and six to one and then "get in close" regardless of losses that ultimately doomed the Panther and all the great german tanks . This is an advantage in numerical superiority and not mechanical superiority. One on One, the Panther was the most deadly tank of WWII. I would respectfully disagree with the outcome of the Author.

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