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AFV Development During World War II

© Ralph Zuljan

Armored fighting vehicles, or tanks, came of age during the Second World War. In 1939 the average tank had a 37-47mm main armament, with about 20-40mm of frontal armor and a maximum speed of 30-40 km/h. A 20-ton tank was considered heavy in 1939. Combat experience generated military requirements for heavier weapons and thicker armor. So, by 1945, main armaments ranged between 75mm and 90mm. Frontal armor thicknesses of 60-80mm became the norm and it was generally sloped to improve its effectiveness even more. Maximum road speeds of 40-50 km/h were common. And 30-40 ton tanks were common.

The general layout of tanks tended to converge during the war. While in 1939 most tanks had one- or two-man turrets, by 1945 three-man turrets were the rule. The additional crewman was generally a loader for the main gun. Command and control of armored units improved because, with a specific crewman for loading the gun, the commanders no longer had to double as the loader and was able to concentrate fully on his leadership functions. This was the primary contribution of German military thought to the technical development of the tank. The simple fact that German tanks were the only ones to have three-man turrets in the early period of World War II represents a significant factor in explaining the military successes achieved during the Blitzkrieg years of 1939-42.

Probably the most influential design to arise during the period was the Soviet T-34. Several innovations were evident in this design: the armor was sloped to increase its effectiveness, the main armament extended beyond the front of the hull and the tracks were wide, making it a comparatively nimble vehicle off-road. The only serious weakness in the design was its two-man turret which hampered its effectiveness on the battlefield. Even so, the T-34 significantly affected German tank development, ultimately leading to the Panther and Tiger II designs. The impact of these vehicles on the western Allies was substantial and therefore the T-34 really deserves to be credited as the forefather of the modern main battle tank.

Of all the tank designs produced prior to the Second World War, very few actually survived in front line service for more than a few years. The German Panzer IV was, in fact , the only prewar model to remain in front line service as a tank in 1945. Longevity was not a common feature of tank designs during this period. Yet, the advantages of maintaining production of an existing vehicle over developing a new one were self evident.