[MoMo]

So is the often quoted German POW who said " One German tank is as good as ten American tanks. But, you always have eleven." Such things become law after being told a hundred times over.

Thanks for the interesting ref. Shawn. I haven't heard that one before ( perhaps I'm the only one???? )

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

Probably not, but if it helps to debunk some myths than all is not lost.

The only problem is that you won't be "debunking a myth" because no matter what is said, everyone thinks they are right.. This is another timeless debate hashed out on countless forums across the web and will continue to be in the future..

I always understood the kill ratio to be 4-6 Shermans for every one German tank destroyed.. The big problem the Germans had and we didn't, is that they couldn't recover their vehicles and re-use them like we could.. Many times over, destroyed Shermans were recovered, refitted and sent back into battle within a short period of time..

[jim]

Hi Bernie, good first post full of interesting info.
The Coldstream Guards only had one 17pounder per troop according to Robert Boscawen tank commander in his book.

Interesting to note the praise the author gives to the US 82nd airborne under General Gavin. The Coldstream guards were sent up to help hold the line near Nijimegen Although very thinly spread out the 82nd had repulsed several major counter attacks earlier and held firm.

Yet another interesting point he raises is that his Shermans covered almost 2,000 miles without an engine change. Under war conditions I think thats amazing.

[MoMo]

I always understood the kill ratio to be 4-6 Shermans for every one German tank destroyed.. The big problem the Germans had and we didn't, is that they couldn't recover their vehicles and re-use them like we could.. Many times over, destroyed Shermans were recovered, refitted and sent back into battle within a short period of time..

Yes, you've pointed to a grey area here, Hworth 18. From 1939 to the mid-war period, the German Army had an enviable reputation in tank-recovery. They even developed specialist vehicles which could facilitate this.

If you read accounts of the tank battles in the desert, many allied commentators noted the skill and efficiency demonstrated by German engineers in recovering tanks from battle areas. They did this overnight, and their forward repair facilities were adept at repairing tanks and other vehicles, provided they had the parts and spares.

I guess that later in the war the recovery rate fell as less specialist vehicles were available. Also, it was much harder to pull a tank from a bogged-down situation in the dark than it was in the desert.

[Shawn 507]

"H-Minus"!! 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment were the ones who cleared Nijmegen proper. I oughta know, thats my old Regiment. One picture is of LTC Benjamin Vandervort, the Bn Cmdr. Played by John Wayne in The Longest Day. The other of course is of Gen. Gavin.

[Captain Eddie]

Welcome to our little asylum, bernie and mkenny. Talk about jumping in head first! Way to go, guys!

[jim]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

"H-Minus"!! 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment were the ones who cleared Nijmegen proper. I oughta know, thats my old Regiment.

Hi Shawn, I should have made my post clearer sorry. I should have said that the 82nd held the ridge between Nijimegen and Grave.

[mkenny]

Originally Posted by hworth18

The only problem is that you won't be "debunking a myth" because no matter what is said, everyone thinks they are right.. This is another timeless debate hashed out on countless forums across the web and will continue to be in the future.

The tank loss statistics can not be 'argued over'. They are fixed. The problem arises because two differing criteria are always used when compiling these uber-panzer myths. Allied totals of DAMAGED and destroyed tanks are compared to German WRITTEN OFF losses..i.e. German damaged tanks are excluded.
Using that method we find crazyclaims of 500 British tanks lost during Goodwood.

[Shawn 507]

[quote=hworth18;81031]The only problem is that you won't be "debunking a myth" because no matter what is said, everyone thinks they are right.. quote]
I said some, not all. Small victories.

[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by jim

Hi Shawn, I should have made my post clearer sorry. I should have said that the 82nd held the ridge between Nijimegen and Grave.

You're right. I was just bragging on my gang in Nijmegen.