From the Vault: Vulnerability of German Panzer III, IV and VI

The following charts are taken from the document Terminal ballistic data, volume II, artillery fire released August 1944.  These charts (pages 31 -51 in the report) show what the US Army thought at the time regarding the effectiveness of their tank and anti-tank guns versus German armor (Panzer III, IV and Tiger I).  It is worth noting that according to the report, this data was gained by firing US projectiles at captured German tanks.  They note that “the plates in many cases were completely defeated and whole sections dropped out of the tank.  This was caused by failure of welds and cracking and spalling of the plate.  Thus, many plates failed under the impact shock of the hit, as well as from actual penetration.”