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Discussion » Questions » Military » During WW2, how did our little Shermans fight the King Tiger tanks when our shots just bounced off of them?
Benedict Arnold

During WW2, how did our little Shermans fight the King Tiger tanks when our shots just bounced off of them?

Posted - February 27, 2017
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  • I don't know the answer to your question, and couldn't find it, but here's an account of one crazy Irishman who ramed a Tiger II with his Sherman. Makes good reading. 

    Sherman vs Tiger II: an Irishman's solution.
      February 27, 2017 3:32 PM MST
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  • Good story! Bloody brave Irishman or just crazy! LOL
      February 27, 2017 5:25 PM MST
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  • "Disabled the tank tracks."
      February 27, 2017 4:05 PM MST
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  • That was just a maybe with the King Tiger. Very armored tracks and wheels. Hit em in the ass! This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at February 28, 2017 6:00 AM MST
      February 27, 2017 5:23 PM MST
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  • Courageously?
      February 27, 2017 4:10 PM MST
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  • I would suppose if you knew how many Shermans those Tigers wiped out.
      February 27, 2017 5:22 PM MST
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  • I've seen a few docos on track battles of ww2 .. not a pretty sight for the Allies... my understanding is the T55 used to put the wind up the Germans?
      February 27, 2017 6:52 PM MST
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  • It was the T-34/85 and the IS-2 that could beat up the Tigers.
      February 28, 2017 6:11 AM MST
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  • Oops .. thanks
      February 28, 2017 10:14 AM MST
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  • No problem. WW2 history is just my thing. Still looking for that Italian plane and only found a  two winged one but it was too old.
      February 28, 2017 11:20 AM MST
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  • Thanks...that's the problem with knowing a little bit lol... they were definitely a mono plane but win boomed ... i think the cockpit may have been off center also but... they're was something strange about the arrangement i think i remember ...
      February 28, 2017 11:29 AM MST
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  • I have a massive compilation of vintage planes from the 30's to 50's from every nation and I'll find it! 
      February 28, 2017 11:30 AM MST
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  • I believe you will..
     from memory that took off... flew... abs Landed in NY harbor in formation... which apparently was quite a first at the Time
      February 28, 2017 11:34 AM MST
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  • 2658

    The Tiger tank's armor on the side is much weaker than the front armor.  I heard that the US tank drivers learned to sit in an ambush position and wait for the Tiger to roll past and fire at the Tiger's weak spot.  Panther and Tiger tanks could easily fall prey to Sherman tanks striking from the side or rear.

     There also were many more Sherman than German Tanks.
      February 27, 2017 5:02 PM MST
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  • Especially the rear. 50/50 on the sides. Good job, Thank you. This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at February 28, 2017 6:00 AM MST
      February 27, 2017 5:21 PM MST
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  • I was just duking it out with 4 Tigers! I had 12 Shermans. I got the Tigers but just two Shermans survived.
      February 27, 2017 5:42 PM MST
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  • 2658
    That's where the quantity comes into play. It makes you think who really won:)
      February 27, 2017 5:49 PM MST
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  • Stalin... quantity has a quality all of its own
      February 27, 2017 6:53 PM MST
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  • 2658
    This post was edited by Beans/SilentGeneration at February 27, 2017 11:10 PM MST
      February 27, 2017 5:44 PM MST
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  • 11151
    Numbers and efficient production lines  played a part - they could produce 20 or 30 Sherman tanks in the same time it took to build one tiger tank. Cheers!
      February 27, 2017 5:44 PM MST
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  • Tis true!
      February 27, 2017 5:45 PM MST
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  • My answer was "shoot them in the ass" but I see that it has already been said. At least I was right! It reminds me of the movie "Fury." Good movie.
      February 27, 2017 6:41 PM MST
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  • 372
    The Shermans never confronted the Tigers one on one. No contest - the Tiger with its slanted front and big 88 gun would always make short work of the smaller Sherman.

    Howver, the Shermans were quicker and they learned to take on the Tigers with larger numbers - a fair fight was about ten Shermans to one Tiger enabling some of the American tanks to maneuver and shoot from the side or from behind.

      February 27, 2017 8:40 PM MST
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  • Dear Rooster,
    I always learn a lot from your questions...and it does sound like US military strategists bungled here.

    1. But the US could mass produce the Shermans, which were easy to ship because they were so light, and throw large numbers of the Sherman tanks at the Tigers/Panzers, to be destroyed (along with loss of their crews).

    2. The Sherman tank was mechanically reliable and more maneuverable, and US crews learned to get behind the Tigers for the weaker spots...although the Sherman was nicknamed "Ronson" because it burned easily when it got hit.

    3. "...military studies in the later years of the war found that the single most important factor in tank duels was which side spotted the other first, engaged first and landed the first hits. Such scenarios tended to favor defenders..."

    4. Slave laborers in German factories would sabotage the Tigers, plus Allied bombing of the factories, meant fewer of the superior German tanks got into the field.

    http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/lovesick-cyborg/2014/10/16/good-enough-us-tanks-won-wwii/#.WLUQqCgQifQ
     This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at February 28, 2017 6:09 AM MST
      February 27, 2017 11:22 PM MST
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