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Moreover, the T-34 was of Russian design and manufacture, and proved to be best pound-for-pound tank of the war, forcing the Germans to devise Panthers and Tigers to compensate. If the Americans invaded France with 1944-era T-34s instead of 1944-era Shermans, well, it would've been a lot easier.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Walter_Christie

Pz-Kw 5 vs. a Kommie...my money is on the Panther

I have to begrudgingly give Ivan credit for the diesel powerplant compared to our mass produced "Ronson Lighters."

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Nice Wiki link. Quoting from same:

"The two Christie tanks, falsely documented as agricultural farm tractors, were sold without prior approval of the U.S. Army or Department of State, and were shipped without turrets to the Soviet Union. Christie even concluded an oral agreement to provide personal technical support services to the U.S.S.R.[3] The Soviets later improved upon the basic Christie tank design, adopting its sloping front armor for its BT tank series of infantry tanks. The BT itself was further refined into the famous Soviet T-34 tank of World War II, retaining the sloping front armor design, now adopted for side armor as well.

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Following the outbreak of World War II in 1939 and the United States' entry into the hostilities in 1941, Christie again submitted various tank designs to the army, all of which featured his suspension system and large, convertible road wheels. But as with his earlier dealings with the army, attempts to secure U.S. government adoption ended largely in frustration and rejection. He died at Falls Church, Virginia on January 11, 1944, nearly broke, as the tanks based on his designs were shaping the course of world history."