Would this thing have been better than the burning turd

>>3376049
What is this, some bizarro T-34?

>>3376061
a german ripoff of the T-34, looks cool i guess, but nothing could really save them, besides not starting the war in the first place

File: Panzer IV.jpg (675KB, 2400x1554px) Image search: [Google]

675KB, 2400x1554px

>>3376049
No.
>cramped, hinders crew performance
>weak armor even at the front, low survivability
>unreliable (the T-34 wasn't reliable like the M4)

The Panther was alright, after they figured out initial flaws (Version A and D were shit, Panther G was good). For the needs of Germany it was suitable (good ergonomics for the crew, strong frontal armor, strong anti-armor gun). It was still comparatively unreliable and not really suited as an infantry support tank, though.

Germany was on the defense against numerically superior enemy tanks, it didn't need an all-around tank like the M4, but essentially a tank destroyer, this role was filled by the Panther.

For offensive warfare, were a general purpose medium tank was required, the later versions of the Panzer IV were still fine, being comparable to the M4 and T-34.