CMBB v CMAK

[Nikita]

Could you please quote German order to start up works for new 30 ton tank, that finally evolved to Panther? The quote you made is logically correct: timewise this was made indeed after Germans inspected all captured Russian tanks in Kummersdorff, including T-34. But although the point of view you are defending (Panther as specialised vehicle to answer T-34 threat) is quite popular in literature, I would like you to quote original German documents, not secondary sources or post-war memoirs, or seconary sources influenced by them. I am defending the view, that it was natural evolution, aimed at complete replacing PzIIIs and PzIVs, which, in German opinion, were close or have reached their development limits and would not be able to contest future Allied tanks. Have you read about initial specifications and requirements for Panther? What they are to do with T-34s, even of the latest models? I refered to Tiger, Paks and other things as examples of natural progress of German armament and tank building doctrine irrespectively of "findings" in Russia, which Panther development quite naturally shared. I also stated, that by 1942, when specifications for panther were issued, T-34 as such, was not a problem (in terms of achieving parity in armor-killing power) for Germans: PzIIIs and PzIVs with thicker armor plates and long-barreled guns arrived, German AP rounds (including those for ATGs) have been improved to defeat even the slopped armor. Quantities of Russian tanks, including T-34s among them, was the real problem.

I do hear for the first time, that British Matilda was positioned as a tank destroyer. Maybe I am wrong, but I would like you to present original sources, confirming that. This is really interesting. As far as I knew by now, Matilda was projected, built and postitioned as an "infantry tank". Or close support tank. Despite the fact, that it was undergunned.

Please, do not refer to modern experience. In modern armies, AT role of the tanks is considered to be primary, because there are no AT guns anymore: they are greatly inferior to modern tanks in, so to say, fire guiding systems. This is completely different and should not be mixed with WWII doctrines. The latest trends, however, already contest that and ideas to reject tanks are becoming more and more popular.

Again, I've read reports on general shortages of AP ammo of 76.2 caliber for 1942, but I never heard about any big scale tragedies, related to that, in June 1941 tank battles, worthy to be specifically depicted in the game engine (not separate scenarios). The only source, referring to that, which comes up to my mind, is Zhukov's book, but it was describing local situation and way to tackle the issue with rounds of types, which are simply not present in CMBB. Sorry, if I missed other sources in your posts, could you please state it one more time. I am really interested to read them.

BTW I heard previously about other problem with Russian AP rounds, but those are of 45mm caliber and that is properly (even too much) reflected in the game. All production of 1938 came up with the same defect: the rounds were overhardened and were breaking to fragments on German armor, instead of penetrating it. But there is nothing to do with T-34s and KVs.

As for the game engine: I would provide Russian T-34s, especially of the earlier models, with much much lower spotting capacity, because this was one of the major flaws, reported by both Russian technicians and tankers.