3 Worst Tanks of WWII

[RichardS]

Okay we had the 3 greatest, and Panther3485 did a great job, now the question is what are the 3 worst tanks of WWII?

My Nominees:

Matilda I: Super heavy tank with a single machine gun turret? What were you thinking?



L3/33 Tankette: Looks like a tracked shoebox with twin machine guns. Good against colonial opposition.



Hotchkiss H35: A modern version of the Renault FT-17. 2 man crew. Good grief.



Dishonourable mention
KV-2 Giant lumbering SPG gun that screams out to SHOOT ME! SHOOT ME! which the Germans did a lot.



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[Cougar1]

[Scott Fraser]

In fairness, the KV-2 was never intended to be a combat tank. It was meant to be purely for infantry support, specificaly to reduce strongpoints, much like the later Sturmpanzer.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by Scott Fraser

In fairness, the KV-2 was never intended to be a combat tank. It was meant to be purely for infantry support, specificaly to reduce strongpoints, much like the later Sturmpanzer.

True. That was why I gave the PzKpfw I a pass. It was never intended to be anything more than a training tank. But still it saw combat!!

[Kirasjeri]

I know the M13 was not the worst, but what are you thoughts about Italian and Japanese tanks? Worst and best of that bunch.

[RichardS]

Best Japanese

Type 97 Shinto-Chi-Ha. Based on the standard Type 97, but optimized with a high velocity 47mm Anti-Tank Gun.



Worst Japanese

Type 95: Worked okay in China when they didn't have tanks, but was killed by everybody who had even a modest tank or anti-tank capability.




Best Italian

P-40. 75mm and decent hull shape. Let down by subpar engine. Still would have been very good if produced in numbers.



Worst Italian

See 1st post in this thread.

[The Exorcist]

HOw about a poll, like the other thread has?

[panther3485]

Originally Posted by RichardS

"Worst Japanese

Type 95: Worked okay in China when they didn't have tanks, but was killed by everybody who had even a modest tank or anti-tank capability.

Obviously, you haven't taken much of a look at many (if any) of the other Japanese light tanks and tankettes developed during the 1930's and still used in WW2. As feeble as the specs of the Type 95 Ha-Go may appear, this tank doesn't look anywhere near so bad when compared to some of its 'stable mates'. It was arguably the best Japanese light tank of WW2 (yeah, I know that may not be saying much in many ways); certainly the best of the types that were produced in any great numbers. In fact, during the war it was their most produced tank period, and formed a stubstantial part of the basis for the best amphibious tank of any nation in the entire war.

So yeah, it was kinda 'crap' in certain ways but there was 'crappier crap' around.

[panther3485]

Originally Posted by RichardS

"Hotchkiss H35: A modern version of the Renault FT-17. 2 man crew. Good grief."

In 1940, there were certainly some less capable French light tanks than this on the battlefields. Some of the AMR and AMC types spring to mind. Even some of the FT series were still being used. The Germans captured large numbers of the Hotchkiss light tanks - H-35, H-38 and H-39 - and used them quite extensively. (The illustration you provided would seem to be an H-39 btw, which was essentially the H-35 with an upgraded engine and an improved gun)

[teak]

Finnish BT-42...

I haven't heard anything good about it...

[Granatiere]

The L3 tankette wasn't so bad if you used it as a tankette (against abyssinian troops, rebel or guerrilla units, or like a mobile pillbox...)! The problem starts when you think to have 3 armoured division based upon 10-12 L3 battalions...
The worst tank, IMO, was the M11/39

[Listy]

Originally Posted by teak

Finnish BT-42...

I haven't heard anything good about it...

BT-42 is not a tank!

[teak]

As far as I've understood it had a rotating turret (I might be wrong), so in my books it would be counted as a tank.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by Exorcist

HOw about a poll, like the other thread has?

I thought it would be easier for everybody to just name theirs as there are so many to choose from.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by panther3485

Obviously, you haven't taken much of a look at many (if any) of the other Japanese light tanks and tankettes developed during the 1930's and still used in WW2. As feeble as the specs of the Type 95 Ha-Go may appear, this tank doesn't look anywhere near so bad when compared to some of its 'stable mates'. It was arguably the best Japanese light tank of WW2 (yeah, I know that may not be saying much in many ways); certainly the best of the types that were produced in any great numbers. In fact, during the war it was their most produced tank period, and formed a stubstantial part of the basis for the best amphibious tank of any nation in the entire war.

So yeah, it was kinda 'crap' in certain ways but there was 'crappier crap' around.

I knew about the Japanese tankettes and such, but after giving the L33 an award I'd figure more tankettes would be overkill. So I went for a real tank made in numbers that was pure crap.