T-34 taught the Germans how to design tank armor, engines and tread. In late 1941 it gave the MkIII’s and MkIV’s Matilda style trouble. The T-34 with the 85 gun was still an excellent medium/light tank in 1945!
PZIV was obsolete in 1942 but had a solid gun. I believe the same gun the StugIII’s used to good effect the second half of the war. PZIII’s and PZIV’s had their success against the lighter tanks in France due to better German tactics. WAY better tactics and good crews. Don’t get me wrong, these were good tanks. Little things like radios and well designed loading systems go a long way.
Panther, good tank but a 1943 design that was as good armor wise as the Soviet’s 1941 T-34. Showed the German engineers learned their lessons from the Communists. Panther did have an excellent gun and good speed. Once the Panther became reliable the good command control, use, and ride habits of German tanks.
Tigers had to be like a tank destroyer to use. A 3 legged slow dog with a gun a battleship would be proud of. Stick it on a hill in a building or under cover and let it command a battlefield. Then wait for it to catch up with your infantry.
King Tiger has to be compared with the 1944 Allied low production tanks. Soviet IS2’s probably had more than 3,000 produced during the war. TigerII King Tigers list 492. (Don’t even mention our 20 Pershings which saw service during the war.