Figure 1.--Here Sicilian children climb anord an American Sherman tank operated by the British 3rd County of London Yeimanry at end of the Sicilain campaign (August 1943). The British used large numbers of Shermans privided under lend Lease begining with the Alemeain offensive (October 1942). The boys are obviously happy with the arrival of the British. This is not what you usually see with an invading army.

As a result of the Munich Conference, the Germans werea able toseize the Czech Skoda industrial complex (March 1939). This increased their ability to build tanks. This was followed by the German military succeses ending with the fall of France (June 1940). Germany had a substantially larger industrial base than Britain. Without France, the British Army could not begin to match the German Heer in men or equipment. Nor did the British want to try, remembering the blood-letting on the Workd War I Western font. The British decided to focus on the air war. There were at first trepedation about bombing because private property could be damaged. The British began the War dropping leaflets while the Germans were leveling Polish cities. After The Germa Blitz on London, all bets were off. The British decided to focus their industry and war effort on the air war. This meant that the British did not have the spare industrial capacity to begin to match the Germans in tank developoment and construction. And the industrial effort that was devoted to tanks was not well organized. The British went down a lot of dead ends. None of the British tanks matched the constantly imporoving German tanks. The situation was made worse by the failure to fully understand and implement German Blitzkrieg tactics. After the withdrawk from the Continent, the British land camapign was waged in the Western Desert, first against the Italians and then less successdully against the Germams. This was only possible because Hitler's focus was on Barbarossa and the resulting Ostheer. And thus only a small unit was committed to the Western Desert--the Afrika Korps. As a result, the British turned to the Americans for tanks. The Americans were also behind the Germans in tank technology, but were even before Pearl harbor were beginning to manufcture tanks in quantity. The America provided first M-3 Stuarts folloes by M-3 Grants and than M-4 Shermans. The M-4 Shermand began to become availble in quanity by the end of 1942. The Shermans were advanced tanks--in 1942 and they played a ley role at Alamein. Unfortunately by 1944 and D-Day, German tank technology had significantly advanced. Thus the American, British, and Canadian forces had to rely on main battle tank that was inferior to the Germans. It was only possible because the Americans produced the Shermans in huge quantities and the Allies by the time of D-Day had air superiority over the battlefield. But in the process a lot of tanks were lost. The loss of tank crews is often overstated, but was a problem.

German Superiortity

As a result of the Munich Conference, the Germans werea able toseize the Czech Skoda industrial complex (March 1939). This increased their ability to build tanks. This was followed by the German military succeses ending with the fall of France (June 1940). Germany had a substantially larger industrialbase than Britain. Without France, the British Army could not begin to match the German Heer in men or equipment.

Priority on the Air War

Nor did the British want to fight another bruising land war with the Germans as they has done in Workd War I. The Brutish remembered the blood-letting on the World War I Western font. The British decided to focus on the air war. There were at first trepedation about bombing becase private property could be damaged. The British began the War dropping leaflets while the Germans were leveling Polish cities. After The Germa Blitz on London, all bets were off. The British decided to focus their industry and war effort on the air war. A huge portion of British industry was devoted to the air war. And in contrast to the trpefation in the firsrt year of the War, after the Blitz (1940), all restrictions were off, although it was not until the Lancaster arrived that the British had a plane capable of wageing the Air War over Germamy (1942). This was possible because of the Americans which could supply other needed equipment like tanks. A major weakness of he German war erconomy was that hey did not have this option. They had to produce land, air, and sea weaponry to fight a war in both the East and West and after bringing the Soviets and Anericans into the War were unable go achieve a material suprrority in any theater.

Tank Production

This meant that the British did not have the spare industrial capacity to begin to match the Germans in tank developoment and construction. And the industrial effort that was devoted to tanks was not well morgabized. The British went down a lot of dead ends. None of the British tanks matched the constantly imporoving German tanks.

Tank Tactics

The situation was made worse by the British failure to fully understand and implement German Blitzkrieg tactics. In particular there was a failure to appreciate the importance of anti-tanl guns like the German 88. This was not fully internzaklized until he Alemein fighting (1942).

Western Desert (1940-43)

After the withdrawk from the Continent, the British land camapign was waged in the Western Desert, first against the Italians amd than the Germams, This was only possible because Hitler's focus was on Barbarossa. And only a small unit was committed to the Western Desert.

The American Tanks

As a result of the focus on the Air War, the British turned to the Americans for tanks. The Americans were also berhind the Germanbs in tanks technology, but were even before Pearl harbor were beginning to manufacture tanks in quantity. The America provided provided first M-3 Stuarts folloes by M-3 Grants and than M-4 Shermans. The M-3 Shermand began to become availanle in quanity by the end of 1942. The Shermans were advanced tanks--in 1942 and they played a ley role at Alemaine. Unfortunarkt by 1944 and D-Day, German tank technology had significantly advanced. Thus the American, British, and Canadian forces had to rely on main battle tank that was inferior to the Germans. It was only possible because the Americab produced the Shermans inn huge quantities and the Allies by the time od D-Day had air superiority over the battle field. But in the process a lot of tanks were lost. The loss of tank crews is often overstated, but was a problem.

M-3 Stuart

The British were impressed with the mecanical reliability of the M-3 Stusrt, calling it the 'Honey'. It weak main gun, however, limited its usefulness.

M-3 Grant

The M-3 Grant was a stop-gap creation. America even before Pearl Hsrbor began to give greater sttention to tsanks. The fall of France was an eye-opener (June 1940). Design began (July 1940), and the first M-3s were operational (late-1941). The M-3 Grant first saw action with the Brityish in the Western Desery (May 1942). The M-3 Grant with its 75-mm main gun had more fire power than any British tank. This had been a factor in Rommel's success in the Western Desert. The M-3 Sherman had been devloped, American companies werehaving trouble developing production techniques to mass pricuce it. The ptoblem was the turret. The ungaingy Grants proved important in battles wih the Africa Korps before the M-3 Shermn was availble. A British arament expert reported, "The Grants and the Lees (Lee was the Brutish name) have proven to be the mainstay of the fighting forces in the Middle East; their great reliability, powerful armament and sound armor have endeared them to the troops." [Stout, pp. 137-38.] As soon as the M-4 Shermns reached the Btitish, they replaced the Grants, as it was such a much better tank.

M-4 Sherman

The M-4 Sherman was the main battle tank of Allied armies. It was deigned (1940). A protype was ready (September 1941). Production was delzayed as result of difficulty of mass producing the turret. Production began (February 1942). The first Shermans were planned to go into action with the U.S. Army for the Torch invasion. This changed with the fall of Torbruk to the Africa Korps (June 1942). Prime-Minister Churchill was in Washington at the time. President Roosevelt asked "How can we help?" Churchill replied "Send us tanks." As a result, Field Marshall Montgomery got 300 Shermans which played an important role in the Alamein battle (October 1942). The Americans landed in Morocco with Suarts and Grants. One of many examples of how effectively the Anglo-American alliance worked. The Commonwealth, Free French, and Polish units fighting with the British also got Shermans. The Sherman was a top-of-the line tank in 1942, but was soon outclassed by new German tanks which were better armored and had more powerful guns. The Panthers and Tigers were more powerful tanks. (The German tanks had some disadvantages, especially that they were gas guzzelers at a time that fuel was a major Germmn problem.) Fortunately armored warfare is not notably conducted with individul tank duels. The Shermans ware fast, reliable, easy to maintain and were constantly being upgraded. And most importantly available in huge numbers. Nearly 50,000 Shermans were produced -- more than all German tanks combined during the entire War. And the Sherman was constantly being upgraded with Jumbo-Shermans finally reaching Allied tankers in France. The British cane up with several Sherman variants. The most important being the Firefly with a long brreled 76 mm (3-inch (76.2 mm) calibre 17-pounder anti-tank gun (1943). This was before Anericanntankers got a more powerful gun.

Sources

Stout, Wesley W. Tanks are Mighty Fine Things (Chrysler Corporation: 1946).

Created: 1:37 AM 4/3/2020
Last updated: 9:36 AM 12/27/2021