Iosif Stalin Tank – Also known as the IS tank, this WWII heavy
tank was named after Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union. Designed with
thick armor in order to successfully counter the 88 mm guns on the German tanks,
the main gun carried by the Iosif Stalin tank was successful in defeating both
the WWII German Tiger and Panther Tank. The IS Tank was the driving force of
the Red Army in the final stages of the war.
Jagdpanther – German translation: Hunting
Panther – This tank was manufactured by Germany during WWII. Though it did
enter until later in the war, the Jagdpanther saw action on both the Eastern and
Western front. The heavy fire power of this tank, (8.8 cm Kwk 43 cannon),
combined with the Panther chassis, is why some historians consider this tank to
be one of the top tank destroyers of WWII.
M4 Sherman – This World War II medium tank
was used primarily by the U.S. with thousands more being used by the Allies.
The main gun mounted on the M4 Sherman – a 75 mm M3 L/40 – allowed the crew
to fire with a fair amount of accuracy even if the tank was moving. The
advantages of this tank lead to its high demand. As a result, more than 50,000
M4 Sherman tanks were produced during WWII.
Panther – The Panther was a medium German
tank that went into service the middle of 1943. The tank remained in service
until the end of WWII in 1945. Initially, the Panther was intended to be used
as a counter to the T-34. The Germans planned to use the Panther in place of
the Panzer III and Panzer IV. Instead, the Panther worked alongside these
tanks. The Panther was known for its firepower and also for its mobility.
Because of the protection offered by this WWII tank, its design was used as a
standard by other nations later in the war as well as post-war. The Panther,
many believe, was one of the top tank designs of WWII.
Panzerkampfwagen IV – This particular tank
was often referred to as the Panzer IV. It was a medium tank Nazi Germany
developed during the late 1930s. The Panzer IV was widely used throughout the
war. The Panzer IV tank was initially designed to be an infantry-support tank.
Eventually the Panzer IV assumed the role of the Panzer III and began engaging
in battle. The Panzer IV was the most widely produced German tank during
WWII.
Sherman Firefly – This WWII British tank
was a variant of the US Sherman tank. The Britain’s armed the tank with their
powerful anti-tank gun – the British 17 pounder. The Firefly was originally to
be used in the interim until newer designed British tanks were ready for
service.
After a few of its original flaws were corrected, the tank went into
production and its value was soon recognized as it was the only British tank
with the capacity to defeat both the Panther and the Tiger tanks when engaged
within standard combat ranges. As a result, the German’s instructed their tanks
and their anti-tank gun crews to attack the Sherman Fireflies first.
T-34 – This medium Soviet tank was in
production from 1940 thru 1958. Though later tanks produced during this time
period proved to have better armor and armament, the T-34 is often recognized as
the most effective, highly influential and efficient tank design of WWII. After
World War II, the T-34 was widely exported. This tank ended out being the
highest produced tank of WWII and ranks as second highest produced tank of all
times. As recent as 1996, variants of this WWII tank were still in operational
service throughout as many as 27 countries.
T-44 – This WWII tank did not go into
production late in the war. This medium Soviet Union tank was the successor to
the T-34, and while a smaller number (about 2,000) were built, their design was
used as a basis for an upcoming series of main battle tanks (T-54/55) which
turned out to be the most-produced tank series in history.
Tiger I – The German’s commonly used Tiger I to refer to any one of a number of their
heavy tanks used during WWII. First developed in 1942, the final designation by
the German’s for this tank was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E – often referred
to as just “Tiger”. The Tiger I was mounted with an 88 mm gun, which was
previously shown effective against both air targets and ground targets. The
Tiger I participated in conflicts on all German battlefronts.
Tiger II – A heavy German tank of WWII,
the Tiger II tank made its mark on World War II
history with its heavy armor and powerful gun. The tank proved to be superior
to every other Allied or Soviet tank when engaged in head-to-head battle.
However, the underpowered engine of the Tiger II, combined with its enormous use
of fuel, greatly limited the Tiger II.
World War II saw massive industrialization on all military aircraft and
vehicles. Variations within each design were produced using upgrades and
modification changes due to the performance (or lack) of the variant’s
predecessor. Both the Allies and the Axis were forced to continually improve
upon their own designs in order to maintain dominance in their efforts to win
the war. As a result, a countless number of military aircraft and vehicles, the
tank being no exception, were produced.
Within the tank category, any one of a number of combinations could be put
together – based on class, armament, production, etc – and rightfully claim
their spot as the top ten tanks of WWII
tank was named after Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union. Designed with
thick armor in order to successfully counter the 88 mm guns on the German tanks,
the main gun carried by the Iosif Stalin tank was successful in defeating both
the WWII German Tiger and Panther Tank. The IS Tank was the driving force of
the Red Army in the final stages of the war.
Jagdpanther – German translation: Hunting
Panther – This tank was manufactured by Germany during WWII. Though it did
enter until later in the war, the Jagdpanther saw action on both the Eastern and
Western front. The heavy fire power of this tank, (8.8 cm Kwk 43 cannon),
combined with the Panther chassis, is why some historians consider this tank to
be one of the top tank destroyers of WWII.
M4 Sherman – This World War II medium tank
was used primarily by the U.S. with thousands more being used by the Allies.
The main gun mounted on the M4 Sherman – a 75 mm M3 L/40 – allowed the crew
to fire with a fair amount of accuracy even if the tank was moving. The
advantages of this tank lead to its high demand. As a result, more than 50,000
M4 Sherman tanks were produced during WWII.
Panther – The Panther was a medium German
tank that went into service the middle of 1943. The tank remained in service
until the end of WWII in 1945. Initially, the Panther was intended to be used
as a counter to the T-34. The Germans planned to use the Panther in place of
the Panzer III and Panzer IV. Instead, the Panther worked alongside these
tanks. The Panther was known for its firepower and also for its mobility.
Because of the protection offered by this WWII tank, its design was used as a
standard by other nations later in the war as well as post-war. The Panther,
many believe, was one of the top tank designs of WWII.
Panzerkampfwagen IV – This particular tank
was often referred to as the Panzer IV. It was a medium tank Nazi Germany
developed during the late 1930s. The Panzer IV was widely used throughout the
war. The Panzer IV tank was initially designed to be an infantry-support tank.
Eventually the Panzer IV assumed the role of the Panzer III and began engaging
in battle. The Panzer IV was the most widely produced German tank during
WWII.
Sherman Firefly – This WWII British tank
was a variant of the US Sherman tank. The Britain’s armed the tank with their
powerful anti-tank gun – the British 17 pounder. The Firefly was originally to
be used in the interim until newer designed British tanks were ready for
service.
After a few of its original flaws were corrected, the tank went into
production and its value was soon recognized as it was the only British tank
with the capacity to defeat both the Panther and the Tiger tanks when engaged
within standard combat ranges. As a result, the German’s instructed their tanks
and their anti-tank gun crews to attack the Sherman Fireflies first.
T-34 – This medium Soviet tank was in
production from 1940 thru 1958. Though later tanks produced during this time
period proved to have better armor and armament, the T-34 is often recognized as
the most effective, highly influential and efficient tank design of WWII. After
World War II, the T-34 was widely exported. This tank ended out being the
highest produced tank of WWII and ranks as second highest produced tank of all
times. As recent as 1996, variants of this WWII tank were still in operational
service throughout as many as 27 countries.
T-44 – This WWII tank did not go into
production late in the war. This medium Soviet Union tank was the successor to
the T-34, and while a smaller number (about 2,000) were built, their design was
used as a basis for an upcoming series of main battle tanks (T-54/55) which
turned out to be the most-produced tank series in history.
Tiger I – The German’s commonly used Tiger I to refer to any one of a number of their
heavy tanks used during WWII. First developed in 1942, the final designation by
the German’s for this tank was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E – often referred
to as just “Tiger”. The Tiger I was mounted with an 88 mm gun, which was
previously shown effective against both air targets and ground targets. The
Tiger I participated in conflicts on all German battlefronts.
Tiger II – A heavy German tank of WWII,
the Tiger II tank made its mark on World War II
history with its heavy armor and powerful gun. The tank proved to be superior
to every other Allied or Soviet tank when engaged in head-to-head battle.
However, the underpowered engine of the Tiger II, combined with its enormous use
of fuel, greatly limited the Tiger II.
World War II saw massive industrialization on all military aircraft and
vehicles. Variations within each design were produced using upgrades and
modification changes due to the performance (or lack) of the variant’s
predecessor. Both the Allies and the Axis were forced to continually improve
upon their own designs in order to maintain dominance in their efforts to win
the war. As a result, a countless number of military aircraft and vehicles, the
tank being no exception, were produced.
Within the tank category, any one of a number of combinations could be put
together – based on class, armament, production, etc – and rightfully claim
their spot as the top ten tanks of WWII