The Panzer Podcast
The Panzer Podcast
John Burgess
A podcast about all things tanks! Primarily focused on the Second World War, I will be taking deep dives into the world that made up armored fighting vehicles during that horrendous conflict. If you're a fellow history nerd and love gritty detail and archival document digging-- then this is the podcast for you!
Episode 217- Sherman XVII (M4 I)
Today's episode finally introduces the M4 Medium Tank, "The Sherman", to our wonderful Panzer Podcast audience. The long awaited episode is here to guide us through the T6 Medium Tank prototype all the way up to the very first production of the M4A1 vehicles.We're ready to get into the meat and potatoes of the Sherman Tank!I appreciate everyone's continued patience, but we're back baby!Additional Sources: “Sherman: The M4 Tank in World War II” by Michel Esteve, “Sherman Tank, Vol. 1” by David Doyle, “Sherman Tanks: US Army North-Western Europe, 1944-1945” by Dennis Oliver, “The Secret Horsepower Race” by Calum E. Douglas, and “Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank” by R.P. Hunnicut.
Aug 31, 2025
39 min
Episode 216 - Sherman XVI (M3 X)
On today's episode, we are concluding the M3 Medium Tank and the Kasserine Battle Experience-- we will still have a "coda" episode to cap off some final M3 numbers, but we are now in M4 Sherman territory after today. Additional Sources: “The Hut Six Story: Breaking the Enigma Codes” by Gordon Welchman, “Iron Coffins” by Herbert Werner, “Oil & War: How the Deadly Struggle for Fuel in WWII Meant Victory or Defeat” by Gorlaski & Freeburg, “The Italian Navy in World War II” by Gale Hoffman, “Afrika Korps” by Major K.J. Macksey, “The Land That God Forgot: The Saga of General George Patton’s Desert Training Camp” by David Henley, “Panzer III and its variants” by Walter Spielberger.
Sep 23, 2024
1 hr 6 min
Episode 215 - Sherman XV (M3 VIIII)
On today's episode we are covering more of the day-to-day life of being an M3 Medium Tank Crew as well as the Kasserine Pass. “Wüsndrof - Abandoned Berlin” by Ciaran Fahey, “Armored Thunderbolt” by Steven Zaloga, “A Survey of Tank Warfare in Europe from D-Day to 12th August 1944 prepared by HG Gee, Army Operational Research Group” by HG Gee, “Warriors Rage: The Great Tank Battle of 73 Easting” by Douglas Macgregor, “M1A1 Firepower Enhancements Program” by Capt. CS Roos, “Myths of American Armor in WWII” by Nicholas Moran
Jul 29, 2024
1 hr 27 min
Episode 214 - Sherman XIIII (M3 VIII)
On today's episode we are taking a look into the combat foray of the M3 Medium Tank-- this episode has been a long time coming. We are going to North Africa to see how well the M3 Grant and the M3 Lee managed fighting in and around French occupied North Africa in 1942 and beyond. Thanks for being patient! Enjoy! John Burgess Additional Sources: “Operation Torch, 1942: The Invasion of French North Africa” by Brian Lane Herder, “Desert Armour: Tank Warfare in North Africa” by Robert Forczyk, “Churchill’s Lions: a biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II” by Richard Mead, “By Tank into Normandy” by Stuart Hills, “Operation Torch” by Brian Lane Herder,  “Armor Command” by Paul Robinett
Dec 4, 2023
1 hr 28 min
Episode 213 - Sherman XIII (M3 VII)
On today's episode we are taking a look at the training centers in Britain, the Canadian Armored Forces, and a curiosity called "Canal Defense Lights" Thanks for being patient! Enjoy! John Burgess Additional Sources: “Worthy: A biography of Major-General F.F. Worthington” by Larry Worthington. Forty, George; Livesey, Jack (2012), The Complete Guide to Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Jul 3, 2023
1 hr 15 min
Episode 212 - Sherman XII (M3 VI)
On today's episode we are taking a look at the some of the training facilities and the nature of the soft factors regarding the US Armored force from 1940-1942. A change of pace. Enjoy! John Burgess Additional Sources: “October 6, 1941 issue of Life Magazine”, “The 1940 Maneuvers: Prelude to Mobilization,” by Christopher R. Gabel; “Careers of Officers Involved in the Louisiana Maneuvers,” by Rickey Robertson; “In the Presence of Soldiers, The 2nd Army Maneuvers & Other World War II Activity in Tennessee” by Woody McMIllin, “TM 9-1750H Ordnance Maintenance--Hydraulic Traversing Mechanism (Logansport) for Medium Tank M3 and Modifications” War Dept., and “Eisenhower: A Soldier’s Life”, by Carlo D’Este. “British and American Tanks of World War Two”, by Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis.
Apr 17, 2023
47 min
Episode 211 - Sherman XI (M3 V)
On today's episode we are deep diving into the M3 Grant -- the British version of the M3 Medium Tank. Enjoy! John Burgess [email protected] thepanzerpodcast.bigcartel.com Additional Sources: “Arsenal of Democracy: The Automobile Industry in World War II”, by Charles Hyde, “The Legacy of Albert Kahn” by Hawkins Ferry
Mar 21, 2023
1 hr 17 min
Episode 210 - Sherman X (M3 IV)
On today's episode we are deep diving into the M3A1 and M3A2 Medium Tanks. Enjoy! John Burgess [email protected] thepanzerpodcast.bigcartel.com Additional Sources: “Technology of Tanks”, by RIchard Ogorkiewicz, “Elements of Armament Engineering Part One & Two” by US Army Materiel Command, “Modernizing the Watertown Arsenal” by Brig. Gen. R.W. Case, “Historic Properties Report” by US Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center Watertown, Mass.
Feb 20, 2023
1 hr 9 min
Episode 209 - Sherman IX (M3 III)
On this episode of The Panzer Podcast we are going to get into the details of what a M3 Medium Tank really had within it, from the treads, to the compass lamp shield alignment-- you wanted a deep dive? We're in it. This is a longer episode, and I think we really get into a lot of the equipment outside of the weapon and engine basics. Buckle Up!!! John Burgess [email protected] thepanzerpodcast.bigcartel.com Additional Sources: “TM 11-317 Signal Generator I-208”, “Panther” by Michael and Gladys Green, “Designing the T-34” by Peter Samsonov, “TM 11-600 Radiot Sets SCR 508”, “TM 9-750 Medium Tanks M3, M3A1, and M3A2”, “TM 9-1527 Gunners Quadrant”, “FM 17-12 Armored Force Field Manual: Tank Gunnery”, “Early FM Radio” by Gary Frost, “War of the Worlds” HG Welles, “Joint Electronics Type Designation System” DoD, “Handbook for Definitions of item levels, item exchangeability, models and related terms” DoD, “World War Two Nomenclature Systems” by Ray Mote, and “Radio Amateur’s Handbook” by American Radio Relay League
Feb 6, 2023
1 hr 47 min
Episode 208 - Sherman VIII (M3 II)
On today's edition of The Panzer Podcast we are going right under the hood to get into and out of the R-975 engine in full detail. On top of that we will also detail  main armament of the M3 Medium, both the 75mm and 37mm cannons along with some production woes faced early on.  I know we have been lagging on output over the holiday break, but we are back at it and get ready to pursue the M3 Medium Tank to it's finale.  Thank you everyone for your patience! Please Enjoy! John Burgess [email protected] thepanzerpodcast.bigcartel.com Additional Sources: “US Anti-tank Artillery 1941-45”, by Steven Zaloga.
Jan 23, 2023
1 hr 17 min
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