17. A Trend-Setter Tank
Entering service in 1944, the Comet’s superiority over the Panther was not limited to firepower. While the Panther had thicker armor, was roomier, and carried more ammunition, the Comet had a lower profile and was mechanically sounder. Its Rolls Royce Meteor engine – a conversion of the Merlin engine that powered P-51s and Spitfires – was far more reliable than the Panther’s Maybach engine.
The Comet’s Christie suspension system was also more durable than the Panther’s. Weighing 11 tons less than the Panther, while powered by an engine that produced equivalent horsepower, the Comet had a better power-to-weight ratio that gave it greater acceleration and made it 6 mph faster. Comets continued in British service until 1958, and with other militaries until well into the 1980s. The Comet led directly to the development of the Centurion, Britain’s primary tank of the post-WWII era.
Also Read: Epic Tank Battles in History.