Wow I didn't actually know that! I have an A Level in Advanced History and even I didn't know that lol part of the main study was done around Russia!!! The things you learn!
The Bolshevik revolution in Russia was heralded by the firing of the Guns on board the Battle Cruiser Aurora which was (and still is) anchored in the River Neva not far from the Winter Palace in what was then Petrograd and is now St; Petersburg.
The Soviet T34 tank , arguably the most successful tank of WW2 . Well armed ,good armour ,fast ,.wide tracks for snow and poor conditions . Lasted in production well into the 1950s and certainly used in the 70s by smaller African and Arab nations . This is the 1943 model
The T-34 was perfectly motorized for the harsh Russian winter albeit it had several quality issues. But it was manufactured in quantities so large to be inconceivable for the times. I think the most accomplished tank coming in large numbers in time to see extensive action was the german Panther (panzer V). The better though were the JS-1 and -2 (where the JS stands for Joseph Stalin) , monsters with a 120 mm high velocity main gun that could put to shame even the latest Tiger (königtiger). But only appeared when war in the east was practically won. When the Allies saw those beemoths parading in Berlin after the victory, they got a bit concerned.
The WW2 eastern front was an asymmetric war. The Russians main tactic was overwhelming numbers. This is clearest from the 'league' of fighter aces. The sky over Russia must have been full of inexperienced pilots. Literally cannon fodder. The highest 'score' was Erich Alfred Hartmann (19 April 1922 – 20 September 1993) who flew 1,404 combat missions and participated in aerial combat on 825 separate occasions. He was credited with shooting down a total of 352 Allied aircraft. That seems staggering. He was in his early 20s. Germany and her allies occupied all the top slots in the 'ace league'. List of World War II flying aces - Wikipedia
It is all opinion . The Americans had the Pershing and the British had the Centurion which appeared in the closing stages of WW2 . The Soviets had the JS3 with the revolutionary frying pan style turret which paved the way for the successful post war T 54/T55 types .The problem with the King Tiger/Tiger 2/Royal Tiger and even the colossus Jadgd Tiger was the engine size. The electrics were to a high standard armament was excellent and armour excellent but the engine size far too small. These monsters were also too big for the many small bridges . I have to agree with the Panther as that is my favourite tank of WW2 . Lack of numbers as a typical German Tank Division still was equipped with the old stager the Panzer 4 albeit later Ausf ( mark) H and J types . But for all around numbers built and performance the T34 along side the American Sherman have to be up there with the success stories of WW2 tank design and output. American Pershing M26 British Centurion Soviet JS3 or IS3 German King Tiger
History of Princeton, NJ. Next town over from mine. I visit there in the summer time. History :: History of Princeton
Have you been to Gettysburg Pa. ? We planned on stopping for just a couple of days, we stayed for 5 days, fantastic place.
Highly recommended, so much history to see, guided tours, self tours, the shops, people walking around in period correct clothing, outstanding!
Spandau Prison - Wikipedia I did some research on Spandau along with some of the people that were housed there .
During WWII the U.S. was having trouble supplying engines for its M3A4 Lee and M4A4 Sherman tanks. To speed production Chrysler came up with a 30 cylinder, 1,253 cu in, 370 to 445 HP engine. This was done by welding 5 existing 250.6 cu in inline six cylinder car engines together. The result was the A57 Multibank. The engine would still allow the tank to run even if 12 cylinders were knocked out of service. Approximately 7,600 tanks were fitted with this engine. This engine produced the fastest, quickest, quietest, and cleanest smoking engine of all Shermans and it ran on regular gasoline. Here is the only existing operating Sherman with that engine.
