Centurion vs. Panther: 1967

MacCaulay

Banned
Just an odd fact I stumbled across: in the '67 war, Syrian forces used old Panzer IVs in a static pillbox defense. Not many, and they didn't work to well since they weren't moving. But it gave me a brainstorm:

Suppose the floodgates of Nazi armaments had been openned into the Middle East in '56 and '67, and the poorer Syrian military decided to bulk up some of it's tank units with Panther and Panzer IVs. Perhaps a regiment or two, as a way to flesh out their already strong tank numbers.

So...it's '67, and on the Golan you have Centurion vs. Panther. Ding! Ding! Ding!
 

Hashasheen

Banned
Mac, I must say this: It just might be because you're a pseudo-Canadian, but you come-up with some of the most Badass things.

Side-note: what did happen to all the Nazi armamnet after the war?
 

HJ Tulp

Donor
Mac, I must say this: It just might be because you're a pseudo-Canadian, but you come-up with some of the most Badass things.

Side-note: what did happen to all the Nazi armamnet after the war?

czech_avia_c210_messerschmidt_israeli_air_force_1948.jpg


This messerschmidt found a curious new home :D
 

Commissar

Banned
Mac, I must say this: It just might be because you're a pseudo-Canadian, but you come-up with some of the most Badass things.

Side-note: what did happen to all the Nazi armamnet after the war?

With regard to the Panthers, I believe Spain got about 40 of them, the USSR took a couple of hundred as war trophies, the other allies took whatever they wanted.

Many ended up on firing ranges.
 
Plus, an Israeli Spitfire - probably the only country to ever operate both!

The postwar Czechoslovakian air force operated both types as well. The Avia S-199, the Czech-built version of the Bf109, had no export customers but Israel, and the Israelis took them only because no one else would sell to them and they were desperate. The S-199 had a different engine than the original German plane, which was poorly suited to the airframe; as I understand, it had too much torque. This made the plane a real handful for the average pilot to fly.
The Israelis actually scored a few aerial victories in this piece of shit, which demonstrates how good they were (many were WW2 veterans.) However, needless to say, they retired it as soon as they were able to get their hands on some Spitfires and Mustangs.

With regard to the Panthers, I believe Spain got about 40 of them, the USSR took a couple of hundred as war trophies, the other allies took whatever they wanted.

France operated captured Panthers after the war, for a few years, although I don't believe any of them saw combat. I've heard an interesting story that the North Vietnamese had a Panther, taken from the French in 1954, which was in turn captured by the South Vietnamese - take it with a grain of salt! However, the Syrians received some German PzKpfw IV tanks and StuG III/IV assault guns from the Soviets, which did see service against Israel, until the spares ran out.
 
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Just an odd fact I stumbled across: in the '67 war, Syrian forces used old Panzer IVs in a static pillbox defense. Not many, and they didn't work to well since they weren't moving. But it gave me a brainstorm:

Suppose the floodgates of Nazi armaments had been openned into the Middle East in '56 and '67, and the poorer Syrian military decided to bulk up some of it's tank units with Panther and Panzer IVs. Perhaps a regiment or two, as a way to flesh out their already strong tank numbers.

So...it's '67, and on the Golan you have Centurion vs. Panther. Ding! Ding! Ding!

Are these Centurions with 105mm L7 guns which were blowing holes in T-72's twenty years later?
 
Minchandre, that's a nice illustration, of the IDF Avia and the RGAF Spit, I put it up as a new background on my comp.

Landshark, the Syrians may have had some East German advisors and trainers, with experience in these vehicles.
 

MacCaulay

Banned
Are these Centurions with 105mm L7 guns which were blowing holes in T-72's twenty years later?

You're god damn right they are. :D

The Israelis had L7-equipped Centurions as far back as 1963.

I'm going to say it again: the L7-series 105mm rifled gun is the best gun ever made.

Centurions were equipped with the L7 from the Mk5/2 onwards and anyway the 17pounder or the 20 pounder that replaced it would have dispatched Panthers with ease.


I can put some more focus on that: the Israelis used Mk. 5s originally, then upgraded their fleet so they had a constant mix of Mk. 5 & 6s, and 7 & 8s.

So we're talking a 105mm against a 75mm. Though if you take into account what the Israelis did with getting a 105 onto a Sherman, then I'm willing to bet the Panther turret could take an upgrade.

Hashasheen said:
Mac, I must say this: It just might be because you're a pseudo-Canadian, but you come-up with some of the most Badass things.

Thanks. I try!

MrP said:
Ooh, I've got a modelling magazine somewhere with a Syrian PzIV in it.

You totally need to scan that and post it...
 
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