WI: No Lend-Lease to the Soviets

[Slamet]

Originally Posted by CanadianGoose

It is possible that Studebakers were not numerical majority, but they were damn important. They were relied upon to sustain most critical components in logistic tasks. Mobile platform for Katyusha rockets, crack infantry troops to support tank assaults, AT artillery regiments to break German tank attacks. May be not crucial, but definitely important.

Western tanks were really a mixed bag. Grants were completely and utterly despised by their crews and phased out immediately as soon as replacements were avaliable. However, British Matildas were liked in early period of war for their ruggedness and thick armour. They were severely undergunned, but it was lesser sin pre-1944. Shermans were called "the best tank to have in peacetime", appreciated for creature comfort but disliked for relatively poor defensive and offensive capabilities for such a large vehicle. However, Red Army did use them until war's end.

Not only that. High-octane gas (usually mixed with lower-grade Soviet fuel) was appreciated by Air Force very much, phone cable was very important, as well as many types of planes (Hurricanes weren't liked, but Aircobras and Bostons were).

1) I was under the image that the Katyushas were only mounted on GAZ and other Soviet trucks. Then I met the BM-13S and the BM-8-48. But they made up little percentage of the Soviet Katyusha corps and could be substituted

2) They weren't really an inseperable pile, the Western armor and the Soviets'. The Western armor, though it did fill entire battalions and even divisions, were mainly useless on the Soviets' initial breakthroughs. The M4's tracks were not suitable to Russian soil and in winters they often bogged down. The Churchills, in winter they didn't have rubber-plated tracks and became giant uncontrollable winter skates. Anyway, the Churchills became prey before they even reached the Russian mainland. U-Boats.

3) Aircobras were much valued for their ground attack. You're dead right for the high octane fuel though!