|
Post by volkssturm on Jun 20, 2012 23:43:28 GMT -5
I think Eisenhower listed the 2 1/2 ton truck as one of the weapons that one the war. In fairness, it was the GMC 2 1/2 plus the Chevy 1 1/2 ton (used widely by the Navy and Marines, as well as exported to the Commonwealth) and the Studebaker truck, exported in numbers to Russia. Less well known to Americans is the Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) trucks made by Ford of Canada and Chevrolet of Canada, and used widely by British and Commonwealth forces. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Military_Pattern_truckSame basic idea as the 2 1/2. Standardized designs produced in massive numbers. The Germans, on the other hand, spent the war scrambling to buy anything with wheels. Trying to maintain a fleet of trucks all over Europe, with no standardization, must have driven German supply sergeants to drink. Interesting subject.
|
|
gadge
Corporal
Posts: 1,199
|
Post by gadge on Jun 21, 2012 3:51:43 GMT -5
A friends owns a CMP truck we use for our group.
German logistics were crazy. People who dont know much about armed conflit tend to rave on about how amazing tigers and panthers were becuase they just look at guns and armour stats.
They dont realise they broke down all the time and couldnt cross most bridges, were ridiculously fuel uneconomic and had no standardisation of parts.
The germans used so much captured stuff that they had *no fewer* than 67 *different* type of AFV in service at any one time after 43.
Imagine trying to supply spare parts and ammunition for them.
Realists know that *logisitics* win wars, not elite soliders and super tanks. They are jut meat and metal if you cant supply them with food, fuel and ammo.
Bean, bombs and bullets....
|
|
|
Post by volkssturm on Jun 21, 2012 10:41:16 GMT -5
I don't recall where it was I read it, but not that long ago I was reading something that criticized Rommel for his lack of concern about logistics, which was supposed to be typical of German officers. Dealing with such mundane things was beneath their dignity, I suppose. Ironically, Rommel undoubtedly employed more than a few CMP and other captured Commonwealth trucks in the desert.
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Jul 2, 2012 19:24:03 GMT -5
There is no doubt that the most critical battle of the war was fought and won in Detroit. more Tigers and Panthers were lost to mechanical breakdown than to enemy fire and due to their production complexity far too few ever made it to the front lines even though those front lines didnt have to cross oceans.
In actual head to head conflict of course they had significant advantages in fire power and protection but in practice it still pretty much came down to who saw who first and who got off the first shot. At least in the case of the Panther. Allied crews knew better than to engage them head on and the primary advantage most German tanks actually had on the battlefield was that they were primarily used in defensive postures which gave them both concealment and surprise most of the time.
|
|