CMBB v CMAK

[Nikita]

I understood I need to repeat myself again. Panther had to be a bit lighter, armed differrently, with different . However, findings at the front proved, that presented concept of universal tank was too light, because Russians already had similar designs towards weight and armament. So it was naturally decided to outperform them, as well as reconsider other technical decisions, related to mobility in poor Russian conditions, so the panther was delayed and came out as it was. But it was superior to Shermans, and all T-34 models, including T-34/85.
Idea of newer tank came out way ahead of noticing T-34. The project was upgraded due to Russian conditions and presence of both T-34 and KV, as signs, that Russians have well-armored tanks, which were met in increasing numbers.

For your knowledge commissions were visiting the front quite often, to keep up with the latest news of the enemy.

T-34 was not recognised as the best tank neither by Russians of 1941, nor Americans or Germans of the same period.

Basic principle is, that any tank should have capcaity to defend it own against the other tanks, but that does not mean it should be built or act primarily as a tank destroyer. Tanks are not its primary target on operational level. And I can not recall any major battle of WWII where tank duels as such were of scales, capable of influencing the outcome of the entire operation (even in North Africa the main result of tank duels was mutual attrition of tank forces). If they appear from both sides on the tactical field, they do become its primary targets for each other, because they are more dangerous, than ATGs, due to avalability to combine fire and maneuvre.