Comment on If America didn't have 11 Aircraft Carriers. by hyokkim

Parent Post: If America didn't have 11 Aircraft Carriers. · In Reply To

hyokkim · 8/27/2026, 5:15:24 AM · permalink

19 bumps

sacredcow · 8/27/2026, 2:47:33 PM · permalink

18 bumps

hyokkim · 8/27/2026, 5:36:54 PM · permalink

17 bumps

sacredcow · 8/28/2026, 11:46:43 AM · permalink

15 bumps

hyokkim · 8/28/2026, 3:56:39 PM · permalink

''Most Russian commanders were idiots who waited on Stalin's bitch ass to come out of hiding after Hitler invaded.''  
  
Actually, that was not necessarily the case; yes, it was true, most Soviet commanders did not dare to disobey Stalin even when he was wrong.    Stalin had absolutely forbidden the Red army not to counterattack the Germans during the initial phase of Operation Barbarossa.  He believed that it was a German provocation for Soviets to over-react to go on to attack Germany, and giving the excuse Hitler would need to launch the invasion in earnest.  
  
''Stalin purged his commanders.''  
  
Yes, and mostly for the right reason.   Red Army before the purge was neither necessarily the most professionally updated nor politically reliable.  
  
It had contained too many rank and file promoted upward way out of their league during the civil war and too many from the former Russian Imperial Army officer corps, who in turn, had been led by Trostky, Stalin's internal political foe.  
  
Hitler invaded Soviet Union before Germany was 'ready'; many German military leaders cautioned Hitler to wait till 1943 before invading the Soviet Union.   This caught Stalin flat footed; he did not have the time to integrate new officers/generals into the Red Army.   
  
''The only reason Germany didn't conquer Russia was because of the vast distances and snow.''  
  
That was one big reason, but Germany still could and would have conquered the Soviet Union if Hitler had not made one grand strategic mistake, and one major operational strategic mistake.  
  
The grand strategic mistake was not inviting Japan into German plan earlier; Japan had already her plan of invading the Soviet Union, either in conjunction with Germany, even alone if necessary.  
  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokushin-ron  
  
Had Japan been invited earlier, the Red Army could not have withdrawn 250,000 men from the Soviet Far East for the defense of Moscow, ensuring the German capture of Moscow, and the rapid collapse of the Soviet Union, due to the death of Stalin in Moscow.  
  
The major operational strategic mistake was redirecting the Germany Army Group Center from attacking Moscow to attacking the South to capture the oil fields.   This gave time for Stalin to build up the defense of Moscow.     
  
''Germany fighting on two fronts possibly 3 didn't help either.''  
  
No, it didn't, but still had Germany not made those two mistakes, she still would have won the war despite other mistakes she had made.  
  
''America pouring 5 shermans onto the battle field for every 1 tiger changed the war.''  
  
Yes, as for how quickly it ended war, but not necessarily whether Germany would have won the war or not.    If Germany had not made those two mistakes, no amount of Shermans would have changed the outcome.  
  
Btw.  Shermans were better tanks for winning the war; Tigers were better tanks for winning the battle; one does not go to war win battle; one fights battles to win the war; one goes to war for reasons other than winning battles.  
  
Tiger had a longer range, due to more powerful ammo, longer range, due to better optics, better protection, due to stronger/thicker/heavier armor.     
  
Sherman was lighter but wasn't necessarily faster, but it could cross terrain Tigers couldn't cross; it could go over bridges Tigers couldn't go over.   It was more reliable, and easier to fix/maintain than Tiger.  It was easier to train the new crew.   It also had wider field of view for the gunners, an advantage once the battle become close range fight.     
  
Kinda similar to 5th gen full stealth fighter jet vs 4th gen non-stealth fighter jet.

14 bumps

sacredcow · 8/28/2026, 5:54:28 PM · permalink

13 bumps

hyokkim · 8/29/2026, 6:09:43 AM · permalink

12 bumps

sacredcow · 8/29/2026, 2:24:20 PM · permalink

11 bumps

hyokkim · 8/29/2026, 3:33:55 PM · permalink

10 bumps

sacredcow · 8/29/2026, 3:50:07 PM · permalink

8 bumps

hyokkim · 8/29/2026, 4:05:35 PM · permalink

7 bumps

sacredcow · 8/29/2026, 8:46:23 PM · permalink

6 bumps

hyokkim · 8/30/2026, 8:42:18 AM · permalink

5 bumps

sacredcow · 8/30/2026, 12:37:17 PM · permalink

4 bumps

hyokkim · 8/30/2026, 4:01:54 PM · permalink

3 bumps

sacredcow · 8/30/2026, 4:15:35 PM · permalink

2 bumps

Signature