Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Photography and portraiture - American Sherman tanks were completely crushed by German tanks in World War II: Why didn't the United States build heavy tanks?

American Sherman tanks were completely crushed by German tanks in World War II: Why didn't the United States build heavy tanks?

In fact, the US military also has heavy tanks. The United States has successively produced T20, T22, T25, T29, T30 and other heavy tank models. Even equipped with 105mm tanks. Finally, 155mm tank is more powerful than German heavy tanks. However, the US Army clashed with these heavy tanks. The US Army thinks that M4 Sherman tank is enough, and the United States needs to attack, pay attention to off-road performance, mileage and simplify logistics.

First of all, the US Army thinks these weapons are too heavy, such as M6 tank, main gun105mm, with extra armor, weighing 77 tons. The US military originally planned to build 5,000 M6 tanks, but later it was reduced to more than 100, and finally it was reduced to only 40. At last Eisenhower voted against it, not at all.

The main reason is that the US military went to Europe to fight, not the Germans and Soviets. The American army needs a ship to reach the battlefield. To cross the Atlantic, heavy tanks need special reinforced deck carriers and super cranes. German and Soviet heavy tanks entered the battlefield without so much trouble. In fact, Germany and the Soviet Union were unable to deploy heavy tanks on the ocean.

They also have no corresponding ships and cranes. In the end, the compromise of the US military was a 40-ton 90 mm gun M-26 heavy box. This kind of tank can fight against German Tiger tanks, but it is too late to enter the battlefield. Finally, in order to land in Japan, the United States also developed an upgraded version of the M/26 heavy box, and the main weapon became a 240 mm caliber super howitzer. The aim was to strengthen the position of a powerful Japan, but the production plan was cancelled because of Japan's surrender.