Evening star., 1942-10-16
Fourth .ot a Series.).
BY LELAND STOWE,


war Correspondent Of TIE star and Chi.
caso Daily News.
WITH THE RED ARMY ON THE
RzHEV FRONT.-From the time
we. reached the first front zone
headquarters I began hearing COM
ments about American tanks, but
not exactly the kind to make you
throw your hat in the air. The
major general expressed it bluntly
when he said, They burn like
torches"
1t should be noted that this re-
mark concerned the only American
tank which has yet seen plenty OF
action In Russia, the original MS
which is called the Gen. Grant
These tanks have been used on the
Rzhev 'front.' for several months now,
along with Russian tanks and Bri-
tish Matildas.
But because the newer and i'm
proved American models have not
yet undergone battle tests, it is un-
fortunate, but true, that American
tanks at present have a decidedly
bad reputation in the Red Army. On
performance over this exceedingly
dihtcult marshland terrain, they are
widely outranked-the Ms medium,
that is-by both Soviet and British
models OF similar size.
First Hand Testimony.
The major general and brigade
commissar both cited to me some
Of the major failings of the Gen.
Grant tank. I also learned that in
one recent operation, three out of
four tanks lost we're American. It
was rather sharp blow to any
Americans industry-conscious ego
tism to hear their factual reports
but that is part of the price that
Is exacted for the United States
failure to create an up-to-date war
industry years ago.
That, of course, does not make
IL any easier on the young Russian
tankmen who also have to risk pay
ing the price in American Gen.
Grants.
I decided 1 must talk with Rus
slams who fight in our tanks. In
another sector. many miles away,
another general arranged for me
to do so. The major of a battalion
Of American tanks and several of
his tank crewmen were brought
back from their battle positions so
I could get absolutely first-hand
testimony of Ms performance along
the Rzhev front In the past several
months of fighting.
Maj. Ivan Irmakov, 80 years old,
has been tankist for 10 years in
the Red Army and has been handling
Yankee Gen. Grants for the past
six months. He is a slender, keen
eyed, extremely intelligent officer
and obviously first-class techni-
clan.
Firepower Is Very Good.
1--WE used American tanks in COM
bat here for the first time about
four months ago" Maj. Irmakov
said. when we got more of them
I was assigned to command q bat
talon of American tanks"
Have you actually fought in
American tanks7" I asked.
That brought smile to Maj. 1r-
makov's face.
Naturally. I lead our tanks in
attack quite often. l have led at
tacks in American tanks 13 times.
Once I was wounded in one"
I explained that I wished the
major and his men would be COM
pletely frank in telling what they
considered good and what they con-
sidered bad about the Ms on the
basis Of their combat experience.
Then Maj. 1rmakov began to give
me his findings, item by item. It
sounded exactly like an engineering
experts report after having given
her the works" on an Army testing
ground-plus the fact that these
tests were made with the ma jor's
life at stake.
Lets take the positive, FIRST"
Maj. Irmakov said. The American
tanks firepower is very good, both
cannon and machine guns. It's
lnunition is good and its nose con-
struction. slanted so as to ricochet
the enemys fire, is also very good
This is the model which you call the
MSS. Yes, 1t has it's cannon down
low, on the right side instead of on
top.
Difficult to Maneuver.
Now as to the negative. First.
the tanks turret is too high 1t
makes too much target The British
Matilda's turret Is much lower and
its much better in this respect.
Second, the American tank takes
fire very easily. It's motor used
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