Did Sherman or Panther display greater combat value on the battlefields in World War II? This book will be a fascinating comparison of combat performance of two of the most important tanks during the crucial fighting of 1944 as Germany struggled to regain its former dominance of the European battlefields. All tank designs attempt to balance the essential technical triad of armor, mobility and firepower. Analyzing the design and development of each tank, Steven Zaloga concludes that the Panther was clearly a superior tank to the Sherman. But this alone is not enough to ensure one tank is victorious over another in combat. Instead tactical circumstances are often more critical. Who saw the enemy first? Who fired first? This book provides a compelling account of the ferocious fighting in the Ardennes region to explain the successes and failures of each tank.

Introduction -- Chronology -- Design and development -- Technical specifications -- The combatants -- The strategic situation -- Combat -- STatistics and analysis -- Conclusion.