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Frank Hipper wrote:Japanese and Italian armor in the war was tragically comic. Or is that comedically tragic. Either way, PEEE-YOO! And Germany built some stinkers early on.

Italy produced some good assault guns in early 1942.

Japan actually built a few hundred tanks with long 75mm guns that might have be able to combat Sherman's, at least on the defensive. Too bad the only ones that got out of Japan went to central China.

Sea Skimmer wrote:

Frank Hipper wrote:Japanese and Italian armor in the war was tragically comic. Or is that comedically tragic. Either way, PEEE-YOO! And Germany built some stinkers early on.

Italy produced some good assault guns in early 1942.

Japan actually built a few hundred tanks with long 75mm guns that might have be able to combat Sherman's, at least on the defensive. Too bad the only ones that got out of Japan went to central China.

Actually, it`s kinda GOOD they went to China, but I`ve never heard of them before. Any ideas where I could find some photos? Sounds cool.

Frank Hipper wrote:

Sea Skimmer wrote:

Frank Hipper wrote:Japanese and Italian armor in the war was tragically comic. Or is that comedically tragic. Either way, PEEE-YOO! And Germany built some stinkers early on.

Italy produced some good assault guns in early 1942.

Japan actually built a few hundred tanks with long 75mm guns that might have be able to combat Sherman's, at least on the defensive. Too bad the only ones that got out of Japan went to central China.

Actually, it`s kinda GOOD they went to China, but I`ve never heard of them before. Any ideas where I could find some photos? Sounds cool.

Look up the Type 4 and Type 5. Both had the type 88 75mm AA gun and two machine guns. The type four weight 30 tons and had 75mm of armor. Top speed was 28 mph with a 400 HP diesel engine. The Type 5 added a 37mm cannon in the front hull, and weighted 37 tons. The engine was a German BMW petrol aircraft engine of 550 HP, which also gave a speed of 28mph. This engine was adapted to get the type five into production quickly.

I have however noted that I confused my production numbers, only a handful, something like 50 Type 4's and Fives got built. It was several hundred Type 3's, which got built. This tank also had a 75mm gun but it was fairly low velocity adoption of a field gun.

I'm not aware of any picutres of the type 4 or 5, but I've seen a few faloting around for the type 3. You might just try a web search.


Central China was not a very good place to send what little modern armor Japan had. The Chinese nationalists had next to no armor of their own, and where hard pressed to deal with totally obsolete tanks which could be destroyed with ease by American troops. The Philippines would be the best place to deploy them, followed by Japan it self. At the least they should have gone to Northern China. Nothing was going to stop the T-34 hoard, but the terrain might have allowed for some use.

Really the plains around Tokyo where the only place in the Empire Japan could mass a sufficient man, vehicle and artillery power to combat American divisional forces openly. Though only then in poor weather.

I'm very tired, so if part of this doesn't make sense let me know, I'm not up to proof reading it right now..

Italy's L.3/35 tanklet didn't see much service in WW2. However in Ethiopia in 1935 scores where destroyed by Ethiopian troops, in some cases unarmed men overwhelmed them, jammed the tracks with wood branches then yank them off before pulled open the hatches and beating the crews to death.

Sucks to be those crews.


I was surprised to find out that the T-34 was designed by an American.

You`re making sense, but I`m utterly exhausted myself. The gist of it being good to send them to China was that it was good for the Allies.

TrailerParkJawa wrote:

I was surprised to find out that the T-34 was designed by an American.

The T-34 was Russian designed (initial work was done by M. I. Koshkin but the design was finished by A. A. Morozov), you are probably thinking about the suspension which was Christie suspension or the engine which was IIRC based on an American truck engine with two driving the tank.

Later M4s with the 76mm gun were very good tanks and had good armour as well as the excellent gun, although outmatched by the much heavier Panther it was better than the Pz.IV.

My personal favourite is the T-34, it was crudely built but it was a good overall design and simple to build. It was the perfect tank for the Russians.

Soulman wrote:

TrailerParkJawa wrote:

I was surprised to find out that the T-34 was designed by an American.

The T-34 was Russian designed (initial work was done by M. I. Koshkin but the design was finished by A. A. Morozov), you are probably thinking about the suspension which was Christie suspension or the engine which was IIRC based on an American truck engine with two driving the tank.

Later M4s with the 76mm gun were very good tanks and had good armour as well as the excellent gun, although outmatched by the much heavier Panther it was better than the Pz.IV.

My personal favourite is the T-34, it was crudely built but it was a good overall design and simple to build. It was the perfect tank for the Russians.

Of course while the Panther was better, it also cost far more in all respects to build. You could have several Shermans for the same cost and while that would use up more manpower, the effectiveness in combat would be greater. It also balances out since far fewer infantrymen get killedb ecuase theres so much armor on hand to support them. Thats what the SHerman was built for really, the Army tank destroyer force was suppost to kill the tanks. However the 75mm gun was not to bad for anti armor, and the 76 and 77mm 17 pounder guns later fitted where highly effective. Heck a shortened 17 pounder remain in service on the A34 for decades after the war. Finland still had some in service in the late 70's.

The King Tiger doesn't really deserve a mention. Too heavy, underpowered, overarmored and overgunned. A total waste of resources- it didn't justify it's incredible cost/complexity in the slightest.

The Germans should've standardized- they had far too many types in service.

T-34/85 gets my vote.

T-34/85, both very easily built and still having decent fighting quality, this later variant also have a fairly large and powerful gun.