WWII tank destroyers?

Question

aka TD ... let's narrow it to the turreted ones - what was the key distinguishing feature from light tanks? What was their basic usage, when compared to standard tanks - yes, the doctrines say the best antitank weapon is another tank - were they issued to the infantry or mech units?

i understand why Germans were building the PzJ panzejaegers -no turret means less workhours per unit delivered- but why the Allies kept building vehicles such as Wolverine /M10?/, Jackson and such? why not use similar gun with a standard /sherman/ turret? i believe the speed was not the key element in this decision

thanks

Answer 1

the answer is the same as the german reasons. the sherman was maxed out in production. but older vehicles like the LEE/GRANT tanks could be converted to M-10's and the like. As for the standard sherman that doesn't exist. the turret changed to speed production from casting to welding. Then they put on any gun that would fit that was lying around. The other reason was politics in the pentagon. Those who believed in armor pushed for the sherman and M-26 Pershing. While others who believed speed was armor pushed for light tanks and tank destroyers. The tank destroyers faded from history and the tank won out.

Answer 2

well for starters the purpose of the TD was simply to fight tanks, and tanks was to give the Infantry formations a direct fire support weapon. As we all know now that's not how the doctrine developed in the end.

Speed and maneuverability were to be a TD's primary means of defense. the M-10 was not a downgraded Sherman, but actually upgunned when compared to most of the Shermans that were produced. they were built on the exact same chassie as the Sherman the only difference being the light open topped turrent, and more powerful 3 inch gun(76.2mm) as compared to the Sherman's original 75mm gun.

in the end from the Allied stand point the TD,and Tank were used more in the Direct fire support role of Infantry than fighting tanks. this was however due to 1. the Airplane destroying large numbers of them before they were ever able to get in the fight. 2. towed anti-tanks guns set up in ambush, and 3. lack of fuel to maneuver them in large numbers.

in answer to brian the turrent on a Sherman was always cast never welded, the hull was welded. the M-3 Lee started out with a riveted hull and cast turrent, later models had the hull welded also. the TD's desinged by the US were built on M-4 sherman chassies,and the M-3 chassies were used for both self propelled artillery,and tank recovery vehicles.  

Answer 3

Bazooka's and rocket launchers dude.