What other countries listed the Panther as a medium tank?
Panther was a medium tank, like it or not. The Germans listed it as a medium tank, they used it in a role of a medium tank. The Allies and Soviets had the unfortunate role to experience that the Panther is a medium tank, because it was common, it made up half the Pz Division, unlike heavy tanks which were rare, and were employed into specialized independent units.
Yet the T-34/85 is not in the poll.
The T-34 is.
You are including in your poll a vehicle which is much heavier than all the other contenders, which was purpose made by the Germans based on studies of the T-34, to destroy medium tanks.
The weight hardly matters, the M26 pershing was also in the weight class of the Panther, and it was referred to as a medium tank, save the propaganda purposes during the war.
I still take the Panther in your poll, but the T-34/85 is a much better medium tank.(In my opinion of course)
I fail to see in what the T-34/85 was a better medium tank. On the battlefields, Panthers seemed to own the T-34/85. Panther`s gun was better, it carried more ammo, it`s cross country performance was superior due to superior floatation, the optic were better, the front armor was much heavier. The T-34/85 had only better range, and was more easy to repair. Important aspects for any army, but not when the tank isn`t survivable enough on the battlefield... burning tanks go nowhere.
Should have read your post better. Thought you were saying Panzers rare. From the conculsions of Normandy 1944, and Panzer Aces II I've found that the Germans did loose a lot of tanks in the Normandy fighting. But a lot of IV's were still operational during the retreat. And the ferrys were able to get them across the rivers. Only at nite ofcourse. But the heavy tigers and Panthers had to be put out of action. The ferrys could not handle the weight.
). The major advantage of diesel fuel is consumption, and better torque curves. On the other hand, the diesel engine in T-34 took a lot more space away than a petrol tank engine.