Quality v Quantity? | Panzer IV v Sherman | Tank V Tank - Normandy, 1944

Panzer IV v Sherman. These two stalwarts of their respective armies go head-to-head in the fighting around the Allied bridgehead in Normandy. With similar capabilities, it’s hard to tell which will prevail.

The Panzer IV was a pre-war design that proved itself to be extremely versatile. With upgrades to its armour and gun, the Panzer IV remained a potent weapon in the German arsenal. Whilst Allied crews may have feared the heavy Tiger and Tiger II – they were far more likely to meet a Panzer IV on the battlefield.

By this time in 1944, the M4 Sherman is the most numerous Allied tank in Normandy. Since its introduction in 1942, the Sherman has already proven itself as reliable, economic and good to crew. While it may have been weaker against some of Germany’s latest heavy army, its benefits certainly outweighed its issues in this encounter.

Three weeks on from the D-Day landings, the Allies are still attempting to secure the vital city of Caen. Whilst the Germans were on the back foot, the Normandy bocage is proving difficult for the Allied tanks to manage. On 28 June 1944, a zug of Panzer IVs engage the tanks of 3rd County of London Yeomanry. It is an engagement they will ultimately lose…


Thank you to World of Tanks for sponsoring this video - and for providing representative in-game animations to help us tell this story. Download World of Tanks to claim exclusive historical tanks and support the museum: https://www.worldoftanks.eu/tankmuseum

For every new player who signs up via this referral, World of Tanks will donate to The Tank Museum. You can also share the invite code ALPACA with friends!


If you're seeing this, why not let us who you think really came out on top when Panzer IV went head-to-head with the Sherman? Or, if you loved the video, give us a like!

Interested in learning about tanks? Subscribe to The Tank Museum and enjoy hours of FREE tank content at your fingertips. And if you're a real Tank Nut, why not consider becoming a channel member or joining our community on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/tankmuseum

Looking for presents for the Tank Nut in your life? Shop our wide range of tank products at our online shop! https://tankmuseumshop.org/


00:00 | Intro
01:45 | Meet the Tanks
03:08 | Armour
07:37 | Firepower
12:19 | Mobility u0026 Operation
13:29 | Tank Crews
16:37 | Summary
17:15 | Mouen, Normandy, 28 June 1944
23:10 | Conclusion

This video features archive footage courtesy of British Pathé.


In this film, Chris Copson breaks down the engagement at Mouen between the Panzer IV and the Sherman. Two medium tanks, both with exceptional service records, going toe-to-toe in the bocage of Normandy. On paper, it looks pretty evenly matched, with both designs having similar armour, firepower and mobility. But in the end, the sheer number of Shermans overwhelms the Panzer IVs – and these are losses that Germany simply cannot afford at this stage in the war. This is just one of many engagements that shows how the quantity of Allied forces will eventually overcome the supposed quality of German armour.


Support The Tank Museum!
- Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/tankmuseum
- Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@thetankmuseum/community
- Friends: https://tankmuseum.org/support-us/friends-of-the-tank-museum
- Online Shop: https://tankmuseumshop.org/


#tankmuseum