Blitzkrieg Mod Forum

Pretty informative.

German tanks tended to cost a lot because of many novel features the allies had determined to be unnecessary, the Tiger's and all their halftracks used Pre-Selector Gearboxes, which are bascially automatic transmissions. The other German tanks like the Panzers and Panthers had Six Speed Triple-Clutch Synchromesh Gearboxes with helical cut teeth which made them much nicer and much smoother to drive than vehicles like the T-34, which had four speed Crash Gearboxes with straight cut gears, which were fragile and very rough, and were difficult to learn let alone operate correctly.

Things like the Maybach 210 were Aluminium Blocks rather than using iron, though this was remedied with the 230 if memory serves correct.

Most German vehicles were overly expensive and complicated, using high quality steels and irons for all generic componants and milling rather than stamping, little things can bring up the costs in total by a significant amount.

Various info I have about shermans give an average cost of 50.000 $ ( around 1940). And dont think a hellcat for exemple could be less expensive.

I have that as exemple everyone can access. http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/cost.htm

However basic cost even interresting is not all. A rich country can afford to pay more. Others important factors are.

Did the country have access to strategic raws ?
How many men/hours to produce a tank. On that, how many men/hours providing by an highly skilled workers are needed.

And once your tank is produced, have you fuel for it ? Have you oil to train crews ? Have you even planed and can you affort a long training planing ?

Have you logistic to support your tanks ?

Just for exemple ; the tiger around 55 tons, but no maintenance tractors for towing it on battlefield if disabled.

It stay an interesting and informative post anyway.