M4 Sherman vs Tiger

Weasel · 02-07-2007, 04:56 AM,

I have always understood that the M4 was faster then the Tiger tank which enabled it to run around the flanks and destroy the Tiger. I even watched a program on the History Channel that did a scenario of this exact theory showing five Sherman's going up against a Tiger. Only one survives, but "with it's superior speed it is able to move to a flank and kill the Tiger".

Well then I was surprised to read that both the Sherman and the Tiger have the exact same road speed, 38km/hr. Even in SP they have the same movement, 12 hexes. So why this notion that the Sherman was faster then the Tiger? Have people mistaken the turret traverse speed for vehicle speed and come up with this theory?

General SP · (This post was last modified: 02-07-2007, 06:31 AM by General SP.)

shortreengage · 02-07-2007, 07:59 AM,

It may have had a quicker acceleration. But then again it was'nt the job of M4s to go after Tigers. I'd be more concerned how fast it was in reverse!

Grumbler · 02-07-2007, 08:04 AM,

I think that 38 KPH is road speed, NOT x-country speed. When you consider that the Tiger would breakdown every 20Km's or so, it's easy to see why the Sherman was faster in the real world. BTW, which model of Sherman were you using as an example?

Weasel · 02-07-2007, 08:57 AM,

Wikpedia just states M4 series. I was thinking about X-country speed too after Gary wrote "50 tons vs 30 tons". I think on hard packed roads they may be equal, but once you get into softer ground the Tiger will bog down. Unfortunetly SP doesn't take that into consideration, it is all road speed hexes.

shortreengage · 02-07-2007, 09:55 AM,

In the tigers defence, It does have much wider tracks. I wonder what the ground pressue is for both of them?

Fubar · (This post was last modified: 02-07-2007, 10:20 AM by Fubar.)

Ground pressure of the Tiger with combat tracks was 1.04kg sq cm and the Sherman was 1.1kg sq cm. Eek

Guess those wide tracks did the job then.

cheers

Grumbler · 02-07-2007, 10:21 AM,

http://www.onwar.com/tanks/

13.7 for the Sherman A3 and 13.9 for the Tiger I
They also give a road speed of 42 Kph for the M4A3, which IS better then the Tiger, I think. There are several version of the Sherman, differentiated mostly by engine, IIRC. So it would make sense that the speed varies by model.
Working with a rusty ol' shot to shit memory, I think most of the M4's went to the limeys, the A1's were pretty much split up between all the allies, with the Canadians and the Brits preferring the cast hull. The A2 had the Diesel and most went to the Marines and minor allies, while the A3 was issued to US Tank Battalions.
Tactically, you should NEVER fight German Armor with Shermans. Hide your Shermans and call in the Jabo's. If you don't have some P-47's orbiting the battlefield, don't play that game. If the Jabo's were grounded the ground pounders took the day off. Patton went nowhere without the 9th air force. watching over him.

shortreengage · 02-07-2007, 01:41 PM,

AMEN, brother! I prefer P38s or Typhoons but the Jug 'll get er done!

cheers

Grumbler · 02-07-2007, 03:10 PM,

The 38 must have been nasty. All the guns in the same spot, pointing the same direction so you need't worry about convergance and finding the right range. Plus 8 5"HVAR's. A grunts best friend is Marine Air.