Exactly, the Americans were (sadly) 2 step behind. What bugs me is the loss of life because of that.
Even at the end of the war they didn't catch up, but would have if the war lasted a bit longer IMHO.
ORIGINAL: mustclime
The sherman was a great tank in 1942- early 43 when the germans were using 50mm guns.....just like the panzer 3 and 4 were great tanks in 1939 and 40....but they ran into the t34. The t34 forced the germans produce tanks that could fight the t34. When the sherman was designed, it was made to fight the panzer 3's and 4's of the early 40's....20/20 hindsight it would have been better for the americans to design a tank that could fight the t34, then theywould have come out with something like the easy 8.....jmo