how many tanks were lost in the battle of the bulge?

Steven Zaloga is likely aware that the US numbers are incorrect given his knowledge of other source material which he used in other books and which in general is known to those researching Armored warfare in WW2. Actual research comes to other conclusions and so the 733 is always unsupported by break downs or lists. This is true for pretty much every author who ever quoted the 733. In neither of his books he gives a breakdown or any other reasoning for why he thinks those numbers approximate the actual losses in the Ardennes. I am not aware of his solution for this mathematical paradox unless he thinks the strength number was reduced accordingly. Interesting is that Zaloga in all books explains the Germans lost 45% of their force despite different numbers for the actual losses. He gives the same exact sentence also in “ Battle of the Bulge : Bastogne” compared to about 730 American tanks and tank destroyers The Wehrmacht lost about 610 tanks and assault guns …. So do his loss numbers for German soldiers which he first stated as above 100.000 in other publications. In Armored victory, his numbers for the Germans change. US tank and tank destroyer losses in the Ardennes were about 730 vehicles. The Wehrmacht lost about 730 Panzers and other AFVs about 45% of its orginial strenght. I personally have seen the original reference quite often as well. In Snow and Steel from Peter Caddick-Adams Eisenhower as origin is mentioned. Zaloga and others don't mention the origin of the number. If this is an approximation or a count is unknown to me. The number was given by Eisenhower but no actual context for this was ever given. Other authors refer to this number as well. Zaloga personally cites this number or the variation ~730 quite frequently. This subject was chosen by me because the losses of Shermans in WW2 seem to be one of the most discussed topics when it comes to armored warfare, this is in part due to the reasonable assumption that losses in some form are connected to performance. Now I give a closer look on where this number comes from and why it is likely wrong.

The validity of his claims are often disputed in forums where as counter argument Zalogas books are mentioned which state the figure of 733 AFVs losses. As source, for this, I cited Bergstroms book: „The Ardennes“. I have frequently pointed out that US losses in the Ardennes were far higher than generally thought.

How many tanks were lost in the battle of the bulge?