Standardisation turns replacement parts into combat power

Tiger tanks varied enough that replacement parts often required individual hand fitting. That lack of standardisation made field repair slow and turned damaged machinery into a larger logistical burden. Replacing a Panzer IV transmission required stripping and rebuilding the crew compartment, while a Sherman could fail just as often yet be much easier to restore. Soviet vehicles also benefited from enough commonality for units to remove needed parts from tanks moving toward the front. The Royal Navy's attempt to standardize aircraft engines illustrates the opposite limit, because rapid horsepower growth could overtake a chosen common design. Peak specifications matter less when a force cannot replace, cannibalize, and repair equipment quickly.