you are totally right. The better longer guns, have been always used, cause of the better enemies.
What many forget about, is that german tanks, have been very bad. Al tanks, from the Panzer II to the Panzer IV, have in a direct comparison, not shown succes against there enemies.
In france. The Panzer III + IV in fight again tanks like the Charron B1 Bis, Charron D and, probably best french Tank Somua S35, most of the time heavier and better armored then the german tanks. But the german tactic, better equipment and training, lead them to a succses against the french military. Using tanks singly, or just with a crew of 3, sometimes even just 2 men. In some french tanks, the commander, had to main the gun, with reloading, aiming and shooting, telling the driver where to go, spoting enemy tanks AND to use the radio. Not possible.
With russia, and Africa, it was even more worst! In africa and russia, some battles have been only won, cause of the use from the 88 Flak, for ground! In Afrika, where germans, faced the Matilda II just with panzer IV Ds and III, only leaving "scratches" in its armor, some battles, have been going up/and down with destroying all matildas on the field! It was called by the brits the queen of the desert.
The new gun and slight change, for the Panzer IV, was made, cause of this, very bad experience in Afrika, as they enganged, as the first, with the new german tank, given the name Mark IV special, it was such a danger for the brits, that they ordered, to destroy this tanks with highest prioirty as soon they where sighted. How far the quantity of the new Gun (L43) realy was I have no sources about, but im sure anyone, with the Spielberger book, can give here exact details! Guderian, which was famous, for its work with tanks, was it, that ordered, from himself, that NO fight with the T34 shoud be took apart with any german tank, less armed, then with the new gun, capable, destroing the T34 from great distance.
Well, when i say, the german tanks, where bad, i of course, do not want to say, that the enemies, have been, superior, with there armor, in any way. As cause it was most of the time, with just some, units, the german tanks, just coud not realy deal with, but the wrong use, from there enemies, has give the germans a huge advantage, as like it was in france, there tanks, only in a support role for infantry, slowing them much down, while germans, used there tanks, as lone divisions, separately, from the other units, using to tear holes in enemy lines, and "fill" them up with infantry, with there main focus, to hold the ground, tanks have conquered. All with support from air as well. The blitzkrieg.
All this, "succes", has let the military leadership, assuming, that there was no new better equipment, needed realy fast on the battlefield, cause they thought, there tanks/aircrafts/infantry etc. woud already have been the top of evrything, and superior to any enemy unit! But reality was another, as KV1+2, T34, Somua and Matilda(II)s showed, and germany later, after there enemies, learned there lessons, payed thankefully the prize for. People often just see the "glorius" side of the german conquering medal (which is meant more in general,, to the internet, not realy exactly, pointing at someone here
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