As I started organizing my aircraft collection to be displayed as advesaries displayed side by side (such as a A6M2 Zero with an F4F-4 Wildcat) I was thinking I'd like to do one for WWII tanks as well. But I'm not as familiar with tanks engagements as I am with aircraft. I wanted the collection to reflect a good representation of each combatant with it's most frequent adversary.

I'd like to put an M4 Sherman alongside a typical opponent for it. Everyone loves Tigers but I was thinking that 'run-ins' were more common with Panzer IVs.

For the English, I was thinking of a Matilda also with a Panzer IV (Early short barrel version?). Also, wasn't the Matilda more numerous than the Cromwell and wasn't the Cromwell mainly used on D-day and those battles after?

For Russian, a T-34 with a Tiger.

How common were Panther's compared to Tigers in the German armored divisions? I know the panzer IV was numerically more important but I would like to show a Panther up against something.

I also want to make sure I have the appropriate marks matched up with each other. I don't want a later version panzer IV put up against an early Sherman that would not have been in service at the same time. What would you recommend as a good reference source that would show whem various marks were in service form all combatants? I would appreciate any help on this. Thanks.

PS - sorry for the typos

Mike

The Panther wa far more prevelaent than the Tiger, for the "G" Series alone there were over 3,000 built. Compare that with a total build for Tigers of 1,300 and you can see that the Panther was a far more common vehicle.

The Tiger Units were usually Corps assets and were arranged into Battalions. The Panther Units were an integral part ofthe Panzer Divison. The normal procedure was to have one Regiment of Panthers with one of PZ IV's. Due to shortages this wasn't always possible and you would have a mixed regiment.

As for your other match ups? I would suggest a PZ III againts teh Matilda, but either works.

Regards from the Swamp

Hawkeye

Hello-

Here are some dates for German vehicles. I am not a good person to ask about allied vehicles, as I haven't really built any - so I'm not clear at all on when they were produced.

Panzer I: First saw action in 1936 (Spain) and served at least until 1942 for sure.

Panzer II: Was on production lines until 1943. Used in greatest numbers during the campaigns in the West during 1940. Perhaps a Panzer II vs. a French Souma?

Panzer III: Produced until 1943 for sure. Over 13,500 in total, including all versions.
Versions A-D were not used in very much combat and were withdrawn from service by 1940. 15 B's were built, 15 C's built, 30 D's
Version E/F: 96 E's were built during 1938/39, while 435 F's were built during 1939/40
Version G: 600 of these were made during 1940/41. They saw extensive combat in Africa as well as Russia.
Version H: 408 built in late 1940 and 41.
Version J: Built from early 1941 until mid 1942. About 1,500 produced.
Version L: Produced until mid 42. 653 made. Served in all theatres, Africa included
Version M/N: 250 M's were produced late 42 into early 43. 700 N's were manufactured, about 215 were made from converted J's

Panzer IV: Almost 14,000 total produced - served on all fronts.
Version A: Produced until 1938 - About 35 vehicles served in combat (Norway, Poland, France)
Version B: 45 produced.... phased out of service early in the war.. however some served until 1943 on the eastern front.
Version C: 134 Vehicles made, served on all fronts until 1943
Version D: Total production of 229 vehicles made until production ended in May of 1941. Served in combat until 1944, on all fronts.
Version E: 224 made until April of 1941, and remained in service until early 1944. All fronts
Version F/F1/F2: 662 produced, and served on all fronts. 200 of these being the long barreled variant
Version G: 1,687 made between May of 42 and June of 43. This tank served with every company within the Panzer divisions
Version H: 3,774 made before production ended in 1944. This was the mainstay of the German Panzer division.
Version J: Total production of 1,758 vehicles.... These were produced up to the end of the war.

Panther D: 850 produced from March 43 to September 43
Panther A: 2,200 made between September 43 to March 44.
Panther G: 1,300 were produced from March 44 until the end of the war.
It would be safe to pair off a Pather with any allied tank that was common after the summer of 1943.

Tiger: As was stated earlier - only 1,354 were made - these were delivered from July of 42 until August of 44. (On a side note - the Americans produced 1,350 T26E3 Pershing tanks in about 6 months) These Tiger I's were superceeded by the Tiger II when I entered production during the fall of 1944.
Tiger II: Less than 500 of these vehicles were every ready for combat

I hope this helps, at least on the German side... Now maybe an "allied guy" could fill in the holes on that side.

Later-
Jeff

Thank you for your help, gentlemen.

Mike,
Just a couple of comments to add. I would put the Panther with the T-34, since the T-34 was the tank that inspired the Panther design. I would then put the Tiger I with a Cromwell, not an even match I know, but then no allied tank was a match for the Tiger. I was thinking in terms of one of the most famous Tiger engagements, Villers-Bocage, where Tiger ace Michael Wittman KO'ed some 20 odd vehicles, among them several Cromwells.

Just my 2 cents,
Mike

Thanks, CK..

I take it for the T-34 vs Panther, it would be a T-34/85? Was the T-34/76 the version that inspired the Panther? If so, I would have thought that by the time the Panthers came about the 34/85s would be in service.

Yes, the T-34/76 was the version that inspired the Panther. I'm not a Russian armor expert by any means but I think the "76" was still in use when the Panther was introduced. (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) What I would do is put an early Panther (D or early A) with a T-34/76, and a later production Panther (late A or G) with the T-34/85, depending on which kits you wanted.

Mike

After re-reading Jeff's post, it looks like you're correct about the Panther/T-34 pairing. I think I'll go with a 'D' or early 'A' with a T-34/76.

Thanks again, Jeff, for the detailed Panzer post. I'm finding getting the right Panzer IV with an appropriate sherman model the hardest to match (for me, a wing and prop guy )

I'll take a swing at this too. Certainly, a Sherman Firefly should go next to any typical victim: Tiger or Panther. Same goes for any of our TD's; especially the M36. You mentioned Matilda; a long-barreled Panzer III would be great.

As for other Shermans, that depends on variant and theater. In North Africa, for a really early Sherman, a short-barrel Pz.IV or an F.2 version works. In Italy, pair a Sherman with a StuG. They were real common.

And for late in the war, spring of '45, you can go really weird: Any late Sherman, Cromwell, Comet, or Pershing could square off against an emplaced 88 in a bunker or a Panzerturm (tank turret on a concrete base) for the Rhineland campaign. HTH,

Greg