The Sherman at El Alamein - a revolution or a nightmare?

[Alam Halfa]

Hi, logistics was obviously on the side of monty during his preparation at El Alamein, but how influential was it? The sherman tank was certainly a much needed boost to the depleted 8th Army but facing the Panzer in its first real test was certainly interesting. But was it numbers opposed to quality that led to victory?

Dave.

[Shörner]

the shermans were so slopilly made that they were able to shrug off the sand when it got in the tanks....

The germans spent so much time fine tuning the turrets that the Panzers would freeze up in the sand.

[von Poop]

The Regimental History for the RTR in ww2 summarises that the armour battle at 2nd Alamein was one of attrition.
8th Army had over 1000 usable tanks initially with 270 Shermans among them.
Rommell had approximately 500 tanks, though half of these were largely ineffective Italian designs.

The History states that the advantages the Sherman brought were the ability to fire HE (the M3 could, though not with the same versatility), along with armour that could withstand the majority of Enemy guns, outranging them & making it somewhat easier to break the AT screens that were becoming the norm for armoured engagements.

The German armour aquitted itself exceptionally well at Alamein but once the screens and other defences began to be bypassed the logistics and maths were against them. The German resources could only dwindle, under a skilled attack, due to the damaged and overstretched supply lines they depended on. Conversely the Allies had the logistics so right that they were able to bring up a further 200 M3s & M4s as the battle progressed.

Basic account... but it's a start
Cheers,
Adam.

[kfz]

Originally Posted by Von Poop

The Regimental History for the RTR in ww2 summarises that the armour battle at 2nd Alamein was one of attrition.
.

To which the Sherman was very well suited with its relability, ease of maintainance and huge numbers.

Kev