Marten III
| Panzerjäger Marder III | |
|---|---|
Marder III Ausf. H on the Eastern Front in 1943 |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 4th |
| length | 5.68 m (with pipe) |
| width | 2.15 m |
| height | 2.40 m |
| Dimensions | 10.5 t |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 11-25 mm |
| Main armament | 7.5 cm PaK 40/3 L / 46, 7.62 cm PaK 36 |
| Secondary armament | 1 × 7.92mm MG 34 |
| agility | |
| drive | Praga EPA TZJ 150 hp |
| Top speed | 32 km / h (road), 19 km / h (off-road) |
| Power / weight | 14.3 hp / t |
| Range | 210 km (road), 140 km (terrain) |
The Marder III (Sd.Kfz. 138 and 139) was a tank destroyer of the German Wehrmacht from the Second World War .
history
Like all vehicles in the Marder range, they were a makeshift solution to make up for the lack of movable anti-tank weapons. The Marder III was built in three main variants, all of which were based on the chassis of the Panzerkampfwagen 38 (t) .
Marder III Sd.Kfz. 139
In the first series, initially designated as Panzerjäger 38 (t) for 7.62 cm PaK 36 , the Soviet 7.62 cm field cannon F-22, captured in large numbers, was placed on the unchanged hull of the Panzer 38 (t). The gun was reworked, among other things, the charge chamber was lengthened in order to achieve a higher muzzle velocity with the stronger propellant charge of the PaK 40. Due to the construction, the vehicle was very high. The gun crew was positioned above the engine compartment at the stern, where it was only poorly protected and there was no armor protection at the top or rear. Originally designed for the Eastern Front, the vehicle was also delivered to the German Africa Corps at short notice . The British troops were so impressed by the Marder III that they believed they were dealing with the 8.8 cm anti-aircraft gun . 30 rounds of ammunition were carried. 344 vehicles were built from April to November 1942.
Marder III Sd.Kfz. 138
The later variant Marder III Ausf. H received, like many Marder II , a German 7.5 cm PaK 40 as its main weapon. The construction of the protective armor for the gun was made more homogeneous and significantly enlarged to the side. The fighting area could also be lowered a little. 38 rounds of ammunition were carried. 275 vehicles were built from November 1942 to April 1943, another 175 vehicles were converted from Panzer 38 (t).
The chassis of the Panzer 38 (t) Ausf. M , which was now specially redesigned for self-propelled guns , was used for the last production series. The engine was moved to the center and the fighting compartment on the floor in the back of the hull. The splinter protection for the team was also improved, since the fighting area was now closed at the back, but it was still open at the top. The redesigned driver's front also offered better protection against fire. 27 rounds of ammunition were carried.
With 942 units, the vehicle now called Marder III Ausf. M was the most built version of the Marder series and proved to be an effective but vulnerable tank destroyer when used on all fronts. The production of the Ausf. M ran from May 1943 to May 1944, after which production was switched to the more effective and better armored Jagdpanzer 38 (t) , which was also based on the chassis of the Panzer 38 (t).
Technical specifications
- Armament:
- 7.62 cm PaK 36 (Sd.Kfz. 139) or 7.5 cm PaK 40/3 L / 46 (Sd.Kfz. 138 versions H and M)
- 7.92 mm MG 37 (t) (up to version H) or 7.92 mm MG 34 (Auf. M)
- Engine: Six-cylinder in-line engine Praga EPA TZJ with 150 HP
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Thomas L. Jentz, Hilary Louis Doyle: Panzer Tracts No.23 - Panzer Production from 1933 to 1945 . Panzer Tracts, 2011, pp. 23, 76.