Spotting and German Assualt Guns as Efficient Armor

[plloyd1010]

Out of context, many, if not most tanks in WWII used hand cranks for turret traverse. This was one, of many reasons why the Sherman was a superior tank because of its electric drive turret.

I did a quick check of the major combatants and here are some cursory findings:

• Germany: PzKw III and later have hydraulic powered traverse. Very early PzKw III might not. PzKw i & II are hand cranked.
  
• Soviet Union: T-34 & KV-1 electrically powered turret traverse. Tanks before them and the T-60 are hand cranked.
  
• United Kingdom: Tanks before the are Cromwell & Churchill are hand cranked, except for the Matilda II, which has electric powered traverse. The Cromwell, Churchill and later are hydraulic.
  
• Italy: M11/39 and onward have hydraulic powered traverse.
  
• United States: M3 Stuart, M10 Wolverine and onward electric variable speed traverse. Starting with the M4 & M18 there are also gun stabilizers, which are not extensively used until later in the war.
  
• Japan: Type 3 Chi-Nu and later designs have electrical power traverse. This wasn't produced until 1944.
  
• France: Char B1 bis & S35 electric power traverse. All one-man turrets and the Char 2C are hand cranked.
  

 

Oh, and do you remember the myriad of knocked out, turretless, SU-100, SU-122 and SU-85s that the Israelis -- in fast moving, turreted tanks -- outmaneuvered & levered out of their prepared positions in 1956 and 1967 in both Syria and the Sinai.

According to a recently retired tanker (battlecarrysabot), it is quicker to turn the vehicle than to traverse the turret when in a hurry. As this was with an Abrams tank, having a jet engine, it might not hold true for WW2 vehicles which have diesel engines.