[mkenny]

Originally Posted by klussdog

Guys, I remember reading about Barkmann's exploit in Normandy. The book was Armor Battles Of The Waffen SS by Fey (Stackpole Military Books), very good read

Yes thats a good source of unbiased information. Will Fey who single handed knocked out 80 tanks in Normandy and 15 Shermans in one day-but no such losses in the Unit he claimed they were from. Great source!.

Yes, I would agree that he's often in the shadows of Wittmann's fame but I do not think that any Tank Ace comes close to Wittmann's achievements. Read Tiger Ace - The Life Story Of Panzer Commander Michael Wittmann by Simpson

This book is the worst book ever on Wittmann. It is full of invention and fabrication and has to be the biggest pile of junk in print today. Read the mazon reviews.

Someone was stating that German Armor achievements can't be substantiated, that's just hog wash!

When you believe the myths of 5:1 kill rates then you lose all credibility

By the way your Wittmann 'facts' are wrong on just about every point. Too many mistakes for me to even start correcting it.

[Aircrafty]

There were certainly Panzer Aces with higher scores than Wittman, most being gained in the larger tank battles on the Eastern Front. However Wittman's performance at Villers-Bocage has ensured his name stands out: http://www.panzerace.net/english/pz_vil.asp

Gee, there goes another myth, those Limeys had some Bocage fighting as well as the Americans

[mkenny]

Originally Posted by Aircrafty

There were certainly Panzer Aces with higher scores than Wittman, most being gained in the larger tank battles on the Eastern Front. However Wittman's performance at Villers-Bocage has ensured his name stands out: http://www.panzerace.net/english/pz_vil.asp

Not 100% error free and a leaning heavily on Daniel Taylor's book. But then I would be suspicious of any site claiming that carriers marked up as belonging to an Infantry Division are part of an Armoured Division!

Gee, there goes another myth, those Limeys had some Bocage fighting as well as the Americans

No 'bocage' at Villers. Stories about narrow roads blocked by burning vehicles at both ends overlook one awkward fact. If the road was that narrow how did Wittmann drive down it BESIDE all the other vehicles.
The RN175 road was the motorway of its day and the main road to Caen. Vey wide and able to take 3 tanks abreast.
Can anyone explaimn why Wittmann was crefdited with 20+ tank kills when he did not even see more than 10 or 11 of them?

[Aircrafty]

The link seems rather pro German but makes interesting reading. Btw, I was joking with the bocage quip, only by name not landform

[CRIPES_A_MIGHTY]

Forgive my ignorance...but I always beleived tanks are able to go cross country..no real need for roads?
I don't think Wittmann was driving "down the road"..but driving in fields adjacent to the road.
Taking out the vehicles at the head of the column and then..others towards the rear, he affectively cut off escape for the rest.
Then, systematically travelled along the line of the road picking off vehicles as he went. Due to the armour of the Tiger,
and being able to stay out of effective range of his enemy's guns..he could pick of targets at will.
I don't doubt Wittmanns & his crew's abilities...yes some facts associated with the German military,
Air Force, etc seem unbelieveable, and I'm sure some are incorrect, BUT there's no doubting that some facts,created during WAR's
no matter how unbelieveable, are for real, FACT is FACT!. Incredible things happen.