BG Counters21: Pz M3G 747(a) & Pz M3L 747(a), Pz M4A1 748(a), Pz M4A1(76) 748(a), Pz M4A2 748(a), Pz M4A3 748(a) & Pz M4A4 748(a) & Pz MkVC 748(a)

Vinnie

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25e Pz M3G 747(a) & Pz M3L 747(a):
Relatively few Lee and Grant tanks ( British Vehicle Note 11) were captured but those that were proved to be a useful addition to the straitened Axis forces in North Africa.
No record exists of captured Lend Lease Lees being used on the Eastern Front.
See also German Vehicle Note N, BG.
 

Vinnie

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25f Pz M4A1 748(a), Pz M4A1(76) 748(a), Pz M4A2 748(a), Pz M4A3 748(a) & Pz M4A4 748(a):
Captured Shermans were used on the Western front, sometime leading Panzer units. Shermans were captured on all fronts where they were used. Those captured in Tunisia are thought to have been returned for analysis rather than pressed into use.
American Vehicle Note 8, Note 9, Note 10, Note 12 and British Vehicle Note 12, Note 13 & Note 14.
There is photographic evidence of Shermasn taking part in the battle for Berlin.
See also German Vehicle Note N, BG.
 

Vinnie

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5f Pz MkVC 748(a):
This represents a Sherman Firefly (British Vehicle Note 16) one of which was captured from 4th County of London Yeomanry after the Villers-Bocage battle, another seized from 148th RAC / 33rd Armored Brigade by sPzAbt 503.
The "Ist-Kriegsgliederung" of May 8, 1945, shows that 3.Panzer-Kompanie of PzJagAbt 346 had the following composition: 5 PzKpfw III and 3 Sherman tanks. 1 × 7.62cm Sherman and 2 × 7.5cm Sherman. The Firefly was still in operation until the end of the war.
See also German Vehicle Note BG.
 

jrv

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The Firefly was still in operation until the end of the war.
You can use, "The Firefly was still in operation at the end of the war," or "The Firefly was in operation until the end of the war," but not that.

JR
 

Paul M. Weir

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The only German usage of a Lee in Europe, that I remember, was a film clip of comparative mobility trials at some testing ground. The Lee was not liked by the Soviets who nicknamed it "Grave for seven brothers". I doubt that German opinion was better. Having said that, I suspect that the odd Lee was used on the Eastern Front until it broke down but not reported. Not reporting captures was moderately common on the basis of "If the higher ups don't know about it, they can't take it away!". That attitude would apply to anything, not just Lees. So overall I agree that no even half organised usage of Lees unlike T-34 or Shermans.
 

Tuomo

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Hey, thanks Vinnie! Certainly the reasons why we suggested you move this stuff to the Designer's Forum three weeks ago aren't valid anymore!
 

footsteps

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From what I've found online:

Only about 20 Shermans (of various versions) were captured and used by the Germans over the course of the war. This is a testament to two things:
  1. The Germans were on the defensive; and
  2. Shermans were not built to be repaired. ;) (It was cheaper/quicker to replace an M4 than to repair it).
 

Vinnie

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Although I don't know details, I believe they were fairly easy to maintain/repair.

JR
They were indeed very easy to repair. There are reports of units complaining that they never got new tanjs but always had second hand, hand-me-down ones.

The main reason the Sherman did not feature more predominantly as a beutepanzer was they failed to capture many supply depots for those spare parts. When a captured vehicle broke down, it had to be abandoned.
 
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