| The Soviet Union began the war with some world class tanks that really had no equals at the time. The Soviets also had the advantage of battle testing their tanks and crews in numerous engagements, including Finland, Spain, and boarder clashes with Japan. However, when Germany invaded in 1941, the Soviets suffered enormous losses in their armored formations. Some estimates put the tank loses alone at 18,000 vehicles! However, many of these tanks were outdated, and as the Soviet industries geared up for war, old outdated models were thrown to wind, and production concentrated on some superb tanks, possibly the best in the world. When the war finally ended, Russia had an updated T-34 that could compete with any other medium tank, and the might Joseph Stalin Heavy tank was possibly the only tank capable of meeting Germany�s might Tiger tanks head on. |
