Comet or M50 Sherman?

[Sunray]

Its 1965. The East African state of South Coryria is in need of second hand tanks. Her belligerent neighbour North Coryria has just acquired T-34/85s. (They got a free Cuban with every tank!)


Two arms dealers (Leon and Dave) have offered a choice: Ex-South African Comets or ex-French Shermans upgunned to M50 spec.

How would you advise the South Coryian Arms Mission ?  Which tank should end up on their End User Certificate and why ?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Logically you should take the Sherman - rather more of them around. Against T34/85 you only need the 76's, as Easy 8's. You could also go for AMX-13/75, French seem to have sold those to all comers.

The Comet is also valid - but not freely available, some armies were still using them as front line tanks.

Course - if you can persuade Mart there is the Charioteer, they went all over the place, from Finland to the Lebanon (via Jordan).

IanS

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Shermans, more roomy for the crew, more spare parts, runs well on red diesel, better gun, allows the Americans in to sell you more kit (they are going to be a global superpower soon)!

[fsn]

Comet.

1) Never let a 3rd party muck with a design - Davide.
2) Leon is a lot harder than Davide. Now, if you were buying them off Israel, there would have to be second thoughts.
3) Comets look cooler - c'mon everyone did Shermans. They're so 1943!
4) 61 rounds main ammo to the Comet, 40 to the M50.

Since both are capable of taking on a T34/85, serious considerations would be:
1) Diesel (M50) or petrol (Comet)? Which can you get a better supply of?
2) Crew availability - 4 needed in a M50, 5 in a Comet
3) Ammunition availability.
4) Servicability. Sherman has a long history of reliability, but South Africa's a lot closer for spares.
5) What sort of terrain are you fighting over? If there's a lot of flat land, the lower, nippier Comet may have the advantage. In hilly terrain does that make much of a difference? Don't know the relative effective ranges of the main guns, but this may have an bearing.
6) Cost. Is it as cheap to buy 5 M50s as 4 Comets?

Comets for me. Real reason is that, and whisper it softly, Shermans post 1945 are a bit boring.  

[Sunray]

   I remember the Irish   Army still having serviceable Comets in the early 70s.  It seems the lack of suitable ammo was the reason for withdrawal.  They still maintain one at the Curragh as a runner.

The real intrigue is that the poor old Comet never really go a chance to show its paces.  It never gained the battle kudos of  the Centurion or even the Churchill.

It also appears to have just one mark - this must be a record for British tanks !

Yes, it a good fun topic. Feel free to express your opinions Forum.

[Orcs]

Its got to be the Comet. 

[mart678]

France has some war surplus Panthers and Arl44's also there where some Panzer iv and Stugs in Syria which may be up for sale

[Steve J]

Shermans would be the choice for me.

[Matt J]

Er.. both of course!

[Sunray]

Er.. both of course!

Matt j - are you trying to bankrupt this small African nation ?

However, I might indeed see both Comet and M50 on the table.  The neighbouring province of Zembala is going to secede from North Coryria  and the mercenaries involved favour the Comet.  South Coryria will indeed go for Shermans, and be a US client state for the M41 in future conflicts. 

[Ithoriel]

Course - if you can persuade Mart there is the Charioteer, they went all over the place, from Finland to the Lebanon (via Jordan).

IanS

Excellent suggestion! Start with the Sumerian donkey carts and work up to the four horse scythed versions, though given the charioteers seem to have abandoned the latter before impact perhaps there's no need for the actual charioteer for those

That was what you meant, right?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Excellent suggestion! Start with the Sumerian donkey carts and work up to the four horse scythed versions, though given the charioteers seem to have abandoned the latter before impact perhaps there's no need for the actual charioteer for those

That was what you meant, right?

Erm - BOG OFF.....

IanS

[Ace of Spades]

Shermans, always really...
But they have proven to be very reliable, spare parts are available all over the world and because it's relatively roomy there are endless possibilities for conversions and upgrades...

Cheers,
Rob

[FierceKitty]

Excellent suggestion! Start with the Sumerian donkey carts and work up to the four horse scythed versions, though given the charioteers seem to have abandoned the latter before impact perhaps there's no need for the actual charioteer for those

That was what you meant, right?

The two-horse variations are a lot more mobile. Do you need great big ones, where the loss of one horse means four are out of action?