German industry was unable to supply the equipment for the panzer forces. Even in 1940, 20% of total strength consisted of the obsolete Pzr I’s. Two of the panzer divisions were fitted out with captured Czech tanks. The motorized infantry didn’t receive their armored carriers unti 1942. In 1941 there were 20 panzer divisions for Barbarosa, but this could only be achieved by halving the tank regiment strengths!! In 1941 there were still Pzr 1s, Pzr IIs and the Czech light tanks in these divisions. To complicate matters, the army pressed for more sturmgeshutzen, which were to be under the umbrella of the artillery, and by 1942 the SS and the Luftwaffe drained tank production for their elite formations. For some odd reason it wasn’t until 1942 that Germany found a way to make mobile their most powerful chess piece-the 88mm gun. Even when the did this, with the Tiger,it was not cost effective. The killing power and range of the 88mm should have been the “armor” on the vehicles mounting them. A page should have been taken from the Allies (Shermans and T-34s) by adapting the solid Pzr IV for all tank, tank-killer and SP gun roles, and constructing a Tankograd-like complex in western Ukraine-out of USAAF and RAF bombing range

By paul penrod on Jun 4, 2009 at 11:37 am