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Osprey Duel #13
Panther vs Sherman: Battle of the Bulge 1944
In this book Steven J Zaloga offers a fascinating comparison of the combat performance of the two most important tanks involved in the crucial fighting of 1944, the Sherman and the Panther. Examining the design and development of both tanks, Zaloga notes the obvious superiority that the Panther had over the Sherman and how the highly engineered German tank was eventually beaten back, not necessarily by the improvements made to the Sherman, but rather by the superior numbers of tanks that the Allies were able to put into the field.
Putting the reader into the heart of this battle between quality and quantity Zaloga examines the tactical intricacies of the battles between these two rivals. Using a compelling account of the ferocious fighting in the Ardennes region to explain the successes and failures of each tank he also highlights the fact that a tank can only be as good as its crew, weighing up the impact of low morale, high cost and mediocre crew training on the Panthers superiority. Packed with full-colour battlescenes, technical drawings, photographs, digital gunsight views, extracts from crew training manuals and real combat reports, this book brings to life the titanic battles between the Sherman and the Panther.
Putting the reader into the heart of this battle between quality and quantity Zaloga examines the tactical intricacies of the battles between these two rivals. Using a compelling account of the ferocious fighting in the Ardennes region to explain the successes and failures of each tank he also highlights the fact that a tank can only be as good as its crew, weighing up the impact of low morale, high cost and mediocre crew training on the Panthers superiority. Packed with full-colour battlescenes, technical drawings, photographs, digital gunsight views, extracts from crew training manuals and real combat reports, this book brings to life the titanic battles between the Sherman and the Panther.
80 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2008
About the author
Steven J. Zaloga
381 books77 followersSteven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology. He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank. His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower. He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.
Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.
Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 11, 2015
I really appreciated the insights into the rationale behind the designs of the Panther and the Sherman tanks, and the tradeoffs that those design changes represented. I wish there was a larger section on what the actual combat was like between the two - what were the tactics; how did the crews adjust to take advantage of their tanks strengths and weaknesses.
January 1, 2017
In many of my previous reviews of Duel volumes I've expressed a feeling that content of the booklet failed to correspond with the intended 'spirit' of the series. Luckily, this is not the case with this installment - Zaloga stays with the topic throughout the book and actually provides a meaningful and informative comparison between Panther and Sherman. Author's analysis of the two weapon systems is broad in scope, with combat effectivness being only one of the factors that are being compared.
His conclusions are hardly earth-shattering, although I do suspect that Zaloga's conclusions will deal a blow against the preconceived (and often faulty) prejudices of some readers, especially fanboys of German 'big cats'. I on the other hand disagree with author's take on Sherman. While I absolutely agree with him that higher production output of this 'simpler' tank as well as its technical reliability made it into a superiour weapon system in strategic sense of the term, I can't accept Zaloga's position where he indirectly excuses Sherman's shortcomings in actual combat.
Perhaps the most interesting point that the author is making in this volume is his observation that technological advantages are more often than not nullified by the actual tactical situation of a particular engagement. Thereby, he's confirming my personal opinion that comparisons of individual weapon systems, which after all is the goal of 'Duel' series, is in the end something of an excercise in futility. Still, it's a fun excercise and this particular booklet is one of the best in the series, so I can't help but recommend it to anyone interested in the topic.
His conclusions are hardly earth-shattering, although I do suspect that Zaloga's conclusions will deal a blow against the preconceived (and often faulty) prejudices of some readers, especially fanboys of German 'big cats'. I on the other hand disagree with author's take on Sherman. While I absolutely agree with him that higher production output of this 'simpler' tank as well as its technical reliability made it into a superiour weapon system in strategic sense of the term, I can't accept Zaloga's position where he indirectly excuses Sherman's shortcomings in actual combat.
Perhaps the most interesting point that the author is making in this volume is his observation that technological advantages are more often than not nullified by the actual tactical situation of a particular engagement. Thereby, he's confirming my personal opinion that comparisons of individual weapon systems, which after all is the goal of 'Duel' series, is in the end something of an excercise in futility. Still, it's a fun excercise and this particular booklet is one of the best in the series, so I can't help but recommend it to anyone interested in the topic.
December 13, 2021
Zaloga scores another hit ; by spotting & striking first on the Panther's side armour made out of a poorly forged alloy. The ace commander & cannot see sounds retreat from the village crossroads, as the engine drinks greedily from its low-grade fuel to keep that long snout up & prays his inexperienced driver will not wreck the overly complicated transmission, because chances of recovery are as slim as spare parts.
The Panther was technologically advanced by design, but hampered by degrading quality materials & mostly poorly trained crews, thrust against wisdom into the Ardennes where first off-road mud & next Thunderbolt-friendly skies made him a wobbling duck unless accompanied by Grenadiers.
The Panther was technologically advanced by design, but hampered by degrading quality materials & mostly poorly trained crews, thrust against wisdom into the Ardennes where first off-road mud & next Thunderbolt-friendly skies made him a wobbling duck unless accompanied by Grenadiers.
February 21, 2025
Panther is the better tank, however considering cost, material, and war condition, then it is a terrible tank, too costly. Besides, it broke down way too much. On the other hand, the Sherman was cheap, mass produced, and reliable. Even though it has way thinner armor and a gun that often struggles against the Panther, it became less relevant because of American air superiority, Sherman's role as an attacking tank which made its lightness and mass production an advantage, US Army's much better trained and experienced troops and so on. All in all, we can again blame Hitler for micromanaging his war machines.
September 16, 2020
Osprey has great "Duel" books and Panther vs Sherman does not dissappoint. It shows why the biggest gun and the toughtest armor aren't victory makers in themselves and how tactics and training can make a weaker opponent come on top.
June 8, 2010
Something that’s been “common” knowledge in the wargamer/studiers of history arena is the superiority of the Panther while the Sherman was kind of a mediocre vehicle. When I saw this book awhile back I was intrigued because I wanted to see how Mr. Zaloga analyzed these two combatants.
The analysis was presented in a simple and direct fashion; development of the Sherman and Panther, their crews (their training and experience levels in 1944), and engagements between them during the Battle of the Bulge (there is some mention of other battles). Each section is done very nicely with good analysis and presentation. The analysis is direct and to the point, presenting the pluses and minuses of the vehicle for the item its being assessed against. For analysis of combat performance, Mr. Zagola looks at one engagement where Shermans (76mm) and Panthers fought directly against each other. Other engagements (including the use of Panthers at Krinkelt-Rocherath, as Mr. Zagola calls it, the Panther Graveyard) are included. Most sections are direct and to the point in typical Osprey fashion. Their tables in the Statistics and Analysis section are a little weak. The pictures, as usual for most of Osprey’s books are very good.
I’m calling this one a weak 4 star book. Mr. Zagola does a good job presenting here with the Osprey format but there’s not enough depth or story to call this one strong due to the constraints of Osprey’s format (in and out in 80 pages or so, a different format would have enabled more opportunity for Mr. Zagola to assess things). This is an interesting story for wargamers and studiers of history, especially since Mr. Zagola assessment is of something most wargamers and studiers of history would consider this a forgone conclusion.
The analysis was presented in a simple and direct fashion; development of the Sherman and Panther, their crews (their training and experience levels in 1944), and engagements between them during the Battle of the Bulge (there is some mention of other battles). Each section is done very nicely with good analysis and presentation. The analysis is direct and to the point, presenting the pluses and minuses of the vehicle for the item its being assessed against. For analysis of combat performance, Mr. Zagola looks at one engagement where Shermans (76mm) and Panthers fought directly against each other. Other engagements (including the use of Panthers at Krinkelt-Rocherath, as Mr. Zagola calls it, the Panther Graveyard) are included. Most sections are direct and to the point in typical Osprey fashion. Their tables in the Statistics and Analysis section are a little weak. The pictures, as usual for most of Osprey’s books are very good.
I’m calling this one a weak 4 star book. Mr. Zagola does a good job presenting here with the Osprey format but there’s not enough depth or story to call this one strong due to the constraints of Osprey’s format (in and out in 80 pages or so, a different format would have enabled more opportunity for Mr. Zagola to assess things). This is an interesting story for wargamers and studiers of history, especially since Mr. Zagola assessment is of something most wargamers and studiers of history would consider this a forgone conclusion.
February 5, 2010
This is one of those Osprey books, this time in the "Duel" series. The duel here? Sherman tanks versus Panthers in the Battle of the Bulge.
On paper, the Panther was a superior tank, so the so-called duel would seem to have been one-sided. However, as the book argues, there were simply more Shermans than Panthers and American tank crews were better than the depleted German tankers. As a result, the Sherman tanks ended up, as a group, doing well. The author notes that (Page 4): "On the face of it, the contest between Sherman and Panther seems preordained in the Panther's favor." But, obviously, the Panther did not carry the day for the German forces as they launched their surprise attack in the Ardennes, precipitating the Battle of the Bulge.
The book features many photographs, specifications of the competing tanks, and maps. The book considers a number of factors, from the technical specifications of the two tanks, to the tank crews who fought one another, to the strategic situation, to the nitty gritty of combat. The Conclusion notes why the Panthers did not perform better. The legacy of these tanks? The book concludes by noting that (Page 75): "It can certainly be argued that the Panther was the forebear of the modern main battle tank concept."
On paper, the Panther was a superior tank, so the so-called duel would seem to have been one-sided. However, as the book argues, there were simply more Shermans than Panthers and American tank crews were better than the depleted German tankers. As a result, the Sherman tanks ended up, as a group, doing well. The author notes that (Page 4): "On the face of it, the contest between Sherman and Panther seems preordained in the Panther's favor." But, obviously, the Panther did not carry the day for the German forces as they launched their surprise attack in the Ardennes, precipitating the Battle of the Bulge.
The book features many photographs, specifications of the competing tanks, and maps. The book considers a number of factors, from the technical specifications of the two tanks, to the tank crews who fought one another, to the strategic situation, to the nitty gritty of combat. The Conclusion notes why the Panthers did not perform better. The legacy of these tanks? The book concludes by noting that (Page 75): "It can certainly be argued that the Panther was the forebear of the modern main battle tank concept."
June 21, 2019
Of the 15 or so books I've read in Osprey's Duel series, this is certainly the best. Steven Zaloga includes details I've seen nowhere else (such as which gear tended to strip on German tanks, the molybdenum content of the steel used for Panther armor at various times and the ergonomics of the Sherman and Panther), but only as tidbits, not enough to bury the reader in minutia. He also keeps his eye on the big picture so in the end his analysis is clear-sighted and clearly expressed. If you are interested in tanks, you should try to get a hold of this book.
November 4, 2014
After seeing Fury, I had to get a better idea of the capabilities of the Sherman tank versus it's main German counter parts. Another excellent book by the author who does a great job of researching historical data to proved the best possible tomes on WWIi... A little dry if you do not wish to delve into the subject, but one that provides some excellent insight into issues and events concerning armored combat
June 23, 2015
Pretty good book comparing the American Sherman and German Panther tanks. The conclusion was pretty much what I thought it would be, but there was always a few new things about the subject that I learned about.
November 5, 2015
Good, liked the T-72 vs Abrams better, but still interesting, good, can't beat it for $1.99.
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December 24, 2015Nice quick read
A nice overview of two famous tanks of World War II. A quick read with good information. Nice for $1.99.
A nice overview of two famous tanks of World War II. A quick read with good information. Nice for $1.99.
January 4, 2016
4 stars !
Good read ... A good refresher book and summary of technical books and manuals ive read over the yrs ...
Good read ... A good refresher book and summary of technical books and manuals ive read over the yrs ...
May 31, 2016
Good for having an interesting overview of the two weapons and then having good bibliographical hints to get more
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April 15, 2017In this book Steven J Zaloga compares two tanks involved in the campaign of 1944, the American Sherman and the German Panther. Zaloga shows his interest and passion on the technology and the actual fighting that occurred during this Battle. The full specifications of each tank is offered and indicates that no U S Tanker was happy facing a Panther in combat; no US Commander would have been happy to substitute his many Sherman tanks for a smaller number of Panther tanks. Technical advantage does not always translate to victory on the battlefield, and tactical considerations were often paramount. A success depends on the tank as well as the morale of the crew, and crew training among other considerations.
The Sherman offered a better mass and quality than did the Panther. The Panther, he says is more complicated and more expensive.
On almost every page of this little book (80 pages paperback), there are full colour scenes in battle and photographs of the various parts of the tank and the location of the crew. The Charts and specs were far beyond my understanding yet I didn't mind reading through it remarking that there is a whole world out there that could spark the interest of many.
This book drove my curiosity to THOUGHTCo.com on the WORLDWAR II German Panther Tank; achtungpanzer.com ; and of course all that happens at OSPREY Publishing, including their blogs and forums and directions for the modeller's delight.
Example: Modelling the US Army M4 (76mm) Sherman Medium Tank
The Sherman offered a better mass and quality than did the Panther. The Panther, he says is more complicated and more expensive.
On almost every page of this little book (80 pages paperback), there are full colour scenes in battle and photographs of the various parts of the tank and the location of the crew. The Charts and specs were far beyond my understanding yet I didn't mind reading through it remarking that there is a whole world out there that could spark the interest of many.
This book drove my curiosity to THOUGHTCo.com on the WORLDWAR II German Panther Tank; achtungpanzer.com ; and of course all that happens at OSPREY Publishing, including their blogs and forums and directions for the modeller's delight.
Example: Modelling the US Army M4 (76mm) Sherman Medium Tank
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews